Regional painter and Hamilton resident Thomas Kelly has donated an image from his recent New York City gallery show, “Water, Water, Everywhere,” to help the nonprofit Hopewell Quarry raise funds for the operations of the facility.
The original painting 30” x 48” depicts the iconic 100-year-old Hopewell quarry filled with swimmers, tubers and divers enjoying the spring-fed water on a warm day.
For the better part of a century, the Hopewell Quarry Swim Club on Crusher Road in Hopewell was an old-fashioned, privately owned, members-only swimming hole on the site of a former mining operation. In 2021, the Friends of the Hopewell Quarry completed their purchase of the facility from former owns Jim and Nancy Gypton, converting it to preserved open space but maintaining the swimming facilities. Seasonal and one-day passes are available.
Kelly, a regular Community News contributor, suggested that images of the painting be added to merchandise that is offered for sale by the organization. The quarry’s goal is to raise $100,000 to improve water quality, replace the water well and implement a lake management plan.
Lindsey Young-Lockett, executive director, agreed, and the Quarry now offers T-shirts, hoodies and totes with the image. Kelly says that all proceeds will go to the quarry restoration fund.
Besides the one-acre, spring-fed quarry lake, the club offers volleyball, kids camps, picnic grounds, swim lessons and a second large pool on the 5-acre property.
