converting the G&U from steam to electricity. Was the Hopedale Electric Company located in Hopedale? I don't think it was. I've never seen anything on it here, and I have heard that the company that made batteries for the trolleys was located in Milford. The battery manufacturing building later housed the Lapworth Elastic Fabric Company (which was originally in Hopedale) and is now the home of Grandma's Attic Moving & Storage.
Milford and Hopedale Street Railway Co. This line received a franchise in Milford on June 19, 1890 to operated a storage battery system. The line would run out W. Main Street entering Hopedale on Mendon Street to Hopedale Street and ending at the intersection of Hopedale and Freedom streets. This would provide service to the Draper plant. Six single truck storage battery passenger cars were ordered from the Ellis Car Co., Amesbury, MA. The company began service on the 6 ½ mile long line on April 13, 1891. On April 28, 1893 the company constructed a building in Milford for the manufacture of storage batteries. This ultimately led to the end of operations. Another storage battery manufacturer brought suit against the railway for patent infringement. The resulting litigation resulted in the line ceasing operation on October 1, 1893.
EDWARD PRESTON USHER was born Nov. 19, 1851, at Lynn. He graduated from Harvard College in 1873, received the Degree of Master of Arts in 1875, and that of Bachelor of Laws in 1880. He practised law in Boston, and published, in 1886, a treatise on the " Law of Sales of Personal Property," having special reference to the law as it existed in Massachusetts. On the occasion of the dedication of the Soldiers' Monument in Lynn, Sept. 17, 1873, he delivered an original poem. He was a member of the Lynn School Committee for several years. He projected and built the Grafton and Upton Railroad, running from North Grafton to Milford, a distance of sixteen miles. He became President of this company in 1887, and has held that position up to the present time. He was also President of the Milford and Hopedale Street Railway Company, and General Manager of the Hopedale Electric Company, which companies were organized to exploit the use of storage batteries for traction purposes. He devised a new type of cell, by which the cars were run successfully, and secured twelve patents there-on. This led to protracted litigation, which is still pending. From 1873 to ^78, he was Deputy United States Marshal. He moved to Grafton, Mass., in 1888, where he has since resided, retaining, however, his office in Boston. He married, June 25, 1879, Adela Louise Payson. She was born March 31, 1852, and was the daughter of Edwin Payson. G & U Menu HOME |