Hopedale History May 1, 2017 No. 323 Hopedale Schools, 1886, Part 1 Hopedale in April
Boston Marathon in Natick Recent additions to previously existing pages on this site: Hopedale High Class of 1941 fifty-year Reunion (Class names added.) Richard Bodreau (Memories of the 1955 flood.) War Veterans' Menu (Links to town website list of Hopedale residents in military service from the Spanish-American War through Afghanistan and Iraq updated.) Deaths
Twenty-five years ago - May 1992 - Russian leaders in Crimea declare their separation from Ukraine as a new republic. They withdraw the secession on May 10. Space Shuttle Endeavour makes its maiden flight, as a replacement for Space Shuttle Challenger. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson airs its final show on NBC. Fifty years ago - May 1967 - Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu are married in Las Vegas The United Kingdom and Ireland apply officially for European Economic Community membership. The Soviet Union ratifies a treaty with the United States and the United Kingdom, banning nuclear weapons from outer space. The news above is from Wikipedia. For Hopedale news from 25, 50 and 100 years ago, see below the 1886 school information below this text box.
Hopedale Schools, 1886, Part 1 The appropriation meeting was held so soon after the town election, that we had not had opportunity to thoroughly study the condition of the schools and their wants. The estimates in some directions were not enough to cover the expenses incurred, but as the year was a short one the most needed improvements and repairs have been made without exceeding the amount credited to the department. ("...but as the year was a short one..." because Hopedale had separated from Milford in April.) The South Hopedale school was very badly out of repair and with few facilities for the school work. Water was only to be obtained through the courtesy of neighbors living at quite a distance from the building. A well was located by parties acquainted with the premises, and although some extra expense was incurred by striking a ledge, the job was all the better when completed. Having been dug in a very dry season there is good reason to suppose the supply to be unfailing. From previous inattention to the roof, the plastering had become very badly stained, cracked, and in many places loosened. The blackboards were unfit for use. This has been entirely taken off and replastered and the blackboards so made that they should last as long as the building. The outhouse was so far gone that we were obliged to replace it with a new one. At the Hopedale building (Chapel Street School) windows were put in and the attic gables and a floor laid wide enough to walk upon when occasion occurs. Considerable work was done on the cornices to close cracks which added to the difficulty in heating the building. Here, too, we had been dependent upon outside sources for water. As the only supply form the water works was on Hopedale Street, it necessitated blasting through a very bad ledge. The water is, however, such an advantage that all will admit the advisability of securing it for both buildings. Vocal music has been added to the branches taught in all the schools. The interest shown by the pupils, and the progress they have made during the four months since it was adopted are alike evidence of the ability of the teacher and of the success of the system. At present, charts only are used, but in the coming year it will be necessary to purchase an equipment of books. As yet no set rules and regulations have been adopted. A part of those handed down from Milford are in operation, but teachers blessed with good sound common-sense will not often be obliged to appeal to formal rules. Report of the School Committee, 1886. Frank Dutcher, Anna Bancroft, Albert Ham History of the early days of the Hopedale schools Ezine Menu HOME . |
Hopedale News - May 1992 |
Above - A class at the South Hopedale school. Below - Chapel Street School |
Hopedale News - May 1967 |
These pictures are from back when the Milford News printed photos of all the high school graduates in the area. There must have been more for Hopedale in 1967, but these are the ones I ran across while at the Milford Library. |
Hopedale News - May 1917 |
Hopedale Boy Scouts from that era. |
News items from 25 and 50 years ago are from the Milford Daily News, and were found at the Bancroft Library in Hopedale and the Milford Library. News from 100 years ago is from the Milford Gazette (a weekly newspaper) and is from the Hopedale history collection at the Bancroft Library. |
In the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, Calvin's teacher is Miss Wormwood. Hopedale had a teacher named Miss Wormwood, too, as you can see in the list of teacher to the left. |