05/29/2026
LOCAL HISTORY FEATURE: HISTORIC HOMES & PROPERTIES OF BRASS HILL
For the first in this series of local history posts highlighting the historic homes and properties on Brass Hill, we are featuring the home of Isabella “Belle” Hopkins.
Victoria Inez Hopkins (1838-1915) had this historic home built in 1900, on land once owned by Smith and Matilda Wilson. Mrs. Hopkins bought the property from the Wilsons’ son, Issac H. Wilson.
Mrs. Hopkins’ husband, William Brown Hopkins (1842-1898), was a local merchant who built, owned, and operated a general store located at the bottom of Brass Hill (this building is now converted into a dwelling). Prior to this, he had taken over and operated his father’s store, Captain Issac Hopkins, which was located down on the Neck.
Before the construction of their large family home, the Hopkins family had been living at the Neck in William’s father’s house. William and Victoria had four children: Inez, Isabella, Thomas, and Ralph. William passed away in 1898.
Construction reached completion, and the family moved into their new home in 1901. The home was beautiful and spacious, and much closer to the family store that had been built in the 1880’s at the foot of the hill, which their son Thomas H. Hopkins had taken over after his father’s death. Thomas continued to operate the business until he sold it in 1905. As for the rest of William and Victoria’s children, Inez Hopkins sadly died young from diphtheria; Ralph Hopkins was a postal inspector, who bought the historic Wilson home next door upon retirement; and Isabella, locally and affectionately known as “Miss Belle Hopkins”, was a school teacher and a charter member of the local historical society. She was additionally very active with church, Sunday School, and other community affairs.
When their mother passed away in 1915, she left the home to Belle. Miss Belle Hopkins owned the home until she passed away in 1957 at age 83. The home was then sold to Inez Norcutt from Alberta, who soon after sold the property to Cecil Swimm.
The Hopkins family are buried nearby their family home in Hillside Cemetery on Brass Hill. This historic home continues to stand today at 126-years-old.
Stay tuned for our next feature on the historic homes & properties of Brass Hill!
