The DeRoche family lived at 7 Maple Street in Hopedale at the time. PFC DeRoche was killed in combat in Epinol, France on Jan. 24, 1945.
How did his family learn of his death? A Begian Taxi Cab pulled up in front of the DeRoche home. The driver handed a telegram to the person answering the door. Mrs. DeRoche, seated in a chair at the time, read the announcement of her son’s death.
Mrs. Santucci recalls that her mother’s life stopped for two days at that moment. Mrs. DeRoche never left that chair nor changed her position for two days. Mr. DeRoche suffered a stroke soon afterwards, which ultimately took his life.
The paragraphs above are from a Milford News article written about the dedication of the veterans’ memorial at Hopedale Village Cemetery. Click here to see more about Francis.
Strike at Draper Company – May 1913
May 1 – Residences in Milford stoned. One Hopedale worker assaulted, receiving a fractured skull.
May 2 – About 150 boys and girls marched to Hopedale from Milford this morning and were sent back by the police. Leader Coldwell was again in Hopedale and less than 50 of the strikers were with him.
May 3 – Arturo Giovannitti, a leader of the Lawrence strike and strike leaders Coldwell and Howard led a crowd of 400 men and women from Milford towards Hopedale this morning. At the Hopedale line, a big squad of officers blocked their way. Giovannitti, Coldwell and Howard were allowed to pass, only to be arrested on their arrival in front of the Draper works. Giovannitti was found guilty in District Court, fined $10, as were the other defendants, and appealed.
May 6 – Draper Co. to build 60 houses in Milford and Hopedale.
May 7 – Efforts of State Board of Arbitration to settle the Draper strike fruitless. Pupils of Plains school started a miniature strike. They armed themselves with clubs and forbid other children to attend school. Police were called to round up the “strikers.”
May 16 – Edgar A. Sherman of Hopedale, a special policeman, arraigned in District Court before Judge C.A. Cook, charged with manslaughter in causing the death of Emidio Bacchiocchi in Hopedale, April 24. He waived the reading of the complaint and furnished sureties in $5,000 for his appearance in Superior Court.
The first break in the ranks of the strikers was today when twelve Polish-speaking former employees resumed work.
May 23 – A crowd of 200 strike pickets stood in front of an electric car at Braggville this morning, refused to move and compelled employees of Draper Co. to get out of the car. Picketing was renewed, street cars were stoned and women and children were active in the trouble. Many employees of Draper Co. were forced to return to their homes as they attempted to go to Hopedale to work.
This evening rioting occurred at Depot square. Strikers stoned the police, who freely used their clubs. Three men arrested charged with rioting.
May 29 – Riot at Lincoln Square tonight when strikers refused to obey police not to parade or conduct a meeting. The riot act was read and the crowd of 2,000 soon scattered in all directions by fully 100 officers. Atty. T.G. Connolly and Morrison Swift, as well as five others, arrested.
Click here to read much more about the strike.
Thanks Trugreen, but my lawn is plenty green enough without any help from you.
Nine years ago this month a group of Hopedale’s oldest homes were being demolished. Click here to see more pictures of them going down.
Parklands brush fire, May 18, west of the Rustic Bridge and south of the path. Pictures taken May 19.
Seen while walking around Inman and Dutcher.
Gilbert Thompson, who grew up on Freedom Street in Hopedale, was a descendant of Deborah Sampson. He had quite a fascinating life. Click here to read about him.
Click here to see more pictures of the Memorial Day program at Hopedale Village Cemetery this year.
Click here to see a page of pictures of Memorial Day observances in Hopedale in past years.
G&U cars being scrapped in May 2008. Click picture to see more.
Swan family on Hopedale Pond.
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