Hopedale History
No. 397
November 2021
Rockwell Sells Draper Property
Hopedale in November
Pictures (about 25 of them) of members of the HHS Class of 1971.
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Twenty-five years ago – November 1996 – UNSCOM inspectors uncover buried prohibited missile parts. Iraq refuses to allow UNSCOM teams to remove remnants of missile engines for analysis outside of the country.
Incumbent Democratic President Bill Clinton defeats his Republican challenger, Bob Dole.
Fifty years ago – November 1971 – The U.S. tests a thermonuclear warhead at Amchitka Island in Alaska, code-named Project Cannikin. At around 5 megatons, it is the largest ever U.S. underground detonation.
President Richard M. Nixon sets February 1, 1972, as the deadline for the removal of another 45,000 American troops from Vietnam.
Intel releases the world’s first microprocessor, the Intel 4004.
The People’s Republic of China takes the Republic of China‘s seat on the United Nations Security Council
During a severe storm over Washington State, a man calling himself D. B. Cooper parachutes from the Northwest Orient Airlines plane he had hijacked, with $200,000 in ransom money, and is never seen again (as of March 2008, this case remains the only unsolved skyjacking in history).
One-hundred years ago – November 1921 – After a speech by Adolf Hitler in the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany, members of the Sturmabteilung (“brownshirts”) physically assault his opposition.
The National Fascist Party (Partito Nazionale Fascista or PNF) is founded in Italy.
During an Armistice Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknowns is dedicated by Warren G. Harding, President of the United States.
The Sheppard–Towner Act is signed by President Harding, providing federal funding for maternity and child care.
News items above are from Wikipedia. For Hopedale news from 25, 50 and 100 years ago, see below this text box.
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Rockwell Submits Land Sale Plans
Airport, Garages, Larches in Company Proposal
The perimeter plans, which defined by chairman Edward Condon is the process of moving lines on paper were reviewed before one of the best attended meetings of the Planning Board in some time. There were at least 25 people resent.
Two of the eight parcels under discussion were taken under advisement by the Planning Board, another was withdrawn by the firm’s representatives and the others were approved.
Plans approved included:
–The Larches property with 68 acres in Hopedale and frontage on Adin, Prospect, Freedom and Williams streets here, and Water Street in Milford.
–Motor vehicle garages off Inman Street with 4 ¾ acres in Hopedale and 125-foot frontage on Inman Street. One acre of this parcel is in Milford.
–A parcel of land at the corner of Elm and Dutcher streets, containing two lots.
–Lake Street motor vehicle garages with frontage on Progress and Freedom streets.
–Draper Airport which is to be divided into six parcels to allow for frontage in compliance with zoning by-law.
The two plans taken under advisement included one for the Hopedale Coal & Ice Company and another for land in Bancroft Park.
Withdrawn for the present time was the plan for the home located on 46-48 Hopedale Street.
Plans were presented to the Planning Board by George Sweeney of Rockwell and engineer Louis Guerriere of Milford. First plan to be presented was referred to as the Larches property. The huge piece of property contains 68 acres in Hopedale and 10 acres in Milford.
This parcel is to be divided into four parcels, which break down to a parcel in Milford, the land and buildings in Hopedale, “B” parking lot used by Rockwell International employees and a small strip of land, 25 feet in width presently leased from the firm by Charles Espanet of Williams Street.
Condon noted that approval of this plan was not required by law in as much as it has frontage on town streets.
The Larches, which is the name of the home on the property holds an abundance of history here. The home consists of approximately 20 rooms and for many years the building was used for functions of the firm and for providing lodging for those visiting the plant on business. At the present time, the Larches is used for this latter purpose.
However, several years ago the building was used as a home for top officials of Rockwell and their families. A large swimming pool and other accessory buildings are located on the property.
Yesterday, George Sweeney, who is in charge of the arrangements for land sale noted that the home is not as yet for sale, but that it will be in the future.
Click here to go to a page with the rest of this article and several more on Rockwell’s sale of former Draper property.
Ezine for October HOME