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Hopedale History
January 2026
No. 447
Hopedale in 1926, Part 1
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Twenty-five years ago – January 2001 – Apple Inc. launches iTunes, a software program that acts as a media player and media library .
Wikipedia, which became the world’s largest encyclopedia, is launched.
Fifty years ago – January 1976 – The United States vetoes a United Nations resolution that calls for an independent Palestinian state.
The first commercial flights of the Concorde supersonic airliner took place, as two of the jets— a British Airways flight from London‘s Heathrow Airport and an Air France flight from Paris‘s Orly Airport— departed simultaneously at 11:40 in the morning. With 98 passengers, British Airways Flight 300 landed at Bahrain after a trip of 4 hours and 10 minutes. The price of a round trip ticket was £676.20. (US $1,366 at the time, equivalent to $7,754 or £6,250 in 2025).
One hundred years ago – January 1926 – The Director of the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Dr. Émile Roux, announced the discovery of an antitoxin vaccine that could provide immunity against tetanus.
The Allied occupation of the first zone of the Rhineland in Germany formally ended. At 3:00 in the afternoon, local time, the British, French and Belgians in the zone all hauled down their flags and withdrew their remaining troops in advance of much of the Rhineland’s sovereignty being formally returned to Germany at the stroke of midnight.
News above is from Wikipedia. For Hopedale news from 25, 50 and 100 years ago see below this text box.
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Hopedale in 1926, Part 1
According to the Hopedale Town Report for 1926, the town’s population was 2,988. The assessors’ report lists 50 cows, 24 horses and 995 chickens. The news items below are from the Milford Gazette. Many of them are not the sort of thing we’d read in papers these days.
January 1 – At the Milford Hospital Monday Dr. J.F. Keane operated on the foot of Mrs. Gladys Faunton.
January 8 – After having kept the property at 160 Hopedale Street, near the railroad viaduct, under surveillance for some time, Deputy Sheriff S. E. Kellogg (28 Dutcher Street) conducted a raid Monday and seized nine barrels of wine, some 60 bottles of home brew beer, and a half pint of what appeared to be whiskey. Samples have been sent to the state chemist for analysis and arrests will follow his report.
January 15 – During 1925, Town Clerk Jordan (72 Bancroft Park) has recorded 56 births, 44 marriages and 34 deaths. All the figures are less than those of 1924.
Walter E. Meade, (27 Hopedale Street) who has been acting as librarian at the Bancroft Memorial Library since October, has been appointed librarian.
January 22 – An illustrated address on missionary work among the Indians was given Sunday evening at the Union Church.
January 29 – The fire department will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Central fire station with a ladies’ night, turkey supper, entertainment and dance, Feb. 6.
February 5, 1926 – About 85 members of the Henry Patrick Co. recently enjoyed a supper in observance of the founding of the business.
February 19 – The Adult Gym class exercises will be given in the Community House, Feb. 28. Mrs. Freeman B. Arey (90 Hopedale Street) and Mrs. Albert Woodhead (26 Bancroft Park) are members of the committee.
February 26 – The Penny Vaudeville building which George Phipps (47 Bancroft Park) purchased from the Lake Nipmuc Park Co., has been moved across the ice to the Phipps lot and will be made into a summer cottage.
March 5 –Mrs. Gladys Faunton is incapacitated by an infected forefinger on her right hand.
March 12 – About 35 couples attended the apron and necktie party of the Winter Dancing Club Saturday.
March 19 – Vivian Scott (28 Prospect Street) entertained friends Friday in honor of her birthday. Dinner was served at the Wayside Inn, and after games at the Scott residence the company attended the high school dance.
April 2 – James McAuley (125 Mendon Street) won the Henry Ford cup in the North Atlantic states radio fiddling contest, recently conducted from Station W.B.Z., Boston.
April 9 – The body of Fred Edmands, (66Dutcher Street) who died last week in Worcester, was brought here Friday and placed in the tomb at the Village cemetery to await burial in the spring.
April 16 – George Davenport, (37 Inman Street) who was taken to the Milford hospital with a fractured right ankle, sustained Saturday by slipping between the timbers while crossing the street car trestle over Hopedale Pond, died Wednesday of pulmonary embolism. He was 44 years old, a carpenter by trade and leaves a wife.
April 23 – The girls of the roll room at the Draper plant will go to Boston tomorrow for a theatre party and dinner.
April 30 – The Draper plant is operating on a five-day schedule in all departments, the shops being closed all day Saturdays. It is expected to resume full time in all departments the first of June.
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Hopedale News – January 2001
Hopedale News – January 1976
Hopedale News – January 1926
