Hopedale History
No. 417
July 2023
The Community in March 1842
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Twenty-five years ago – July 1998 – In Saint Petersburg, Nicholas II of Russia and his family are buried in St. Catherine Chapel, 80 years after he and his family were killed by the Bolsheviks in 1918.
Russell Eugene Weston Jr. enters the United States Capitol Building and opens fire, killing two members of the United States Capitol Police, Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson.
Fifty years ago – July 1973 – Watergate scandal: Former White House aide Alexander Butterfield informs the United States Senate Watergate Committee that President Richard Nixon had secretly recorded potentially incriminating conversations.
A Delta Air Lines DC-9 aircraft lands short of Logan Airport runway at Boston, in poor visibility, striking a sea wall about 165 feet (50 m) to the right of the runway centerline and about 3000 feet (914 m) short. All 6 crew members and 83 passengers are killed; one of the passengers died several months after the accident.
One hundred years ago – July 1923 – The Hollywood Sign is inaugurated in California (originally reading Hollywoodland).
Pancho Villa is assassinated at Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua.
Hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic (Germany) has seen the number of marks needed to purchase a single American dollar reach 353,000 – more than 200 times the amount needed at the start of the year.
News items above are from Wikipedia. For Hopedale news from 25, 50 and 100 years ago, see below this text box. The Hopedale news items, printed in the Milford Daily News and the Milford Gazette, were obtained at the Bancroft Library and the Milford Library.
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The Community in March 1842
From History of the Hopedale Community
By Adin Ballou
Perhaps I can best realize to the reader how we started out in our experiment at Hopedale by making a few extracts from the Community Journal and Record Book as they appear during the first month of our residence there. Our unitary life began on the twenty-second of March 1842, and appraisal of goods on the twenty-third. I proceed with my quotations from and after that date, as follows:
March 24 was the day appointed by the Council to pay for the farm and take a Deed. But the money not coming in as expected, and there being an old mortgage to discharge by Claflin and Daniels (our grantors), the matter was postponed till Saturday the 26th. The President (Ballou), however, paid John Claflin, Esq. $1,900.00 and took receipt accordingly. A Mr. Howard came down from Leverett bringing $200.00 from Brs. Butler Wilmarth and Phineas Field. He was taken ill and had to be provided for to the best of our ability.
On March 25, the President went to Woonsocket, R.I., via Mendon and Chestnut Hill, bought various articles, and called on his friend, Carlisle W. Capron to see about promised money, got meal of Kelley, etc.
Saturday, March 26, he attended funeral of Noah Cole’s wife in the forenoon; P.M. he completed payment for the farm to John Claflin, Esq, $3,5000 [excepting the $300.00 due Cyrus Ballou], received the Deed and went to Worcester to enter it for record. Agreeably to vote of Council the title was taken in the sole name of the President. As agreed with William Cargill of Cumberland, R.I., a mortgage was executed to secure the payment of $2,000 borrowed from him for two years. The instrument was also put on record for the satisfaction of Cargill, who is to furnish the money next week. The President purchased sundry account books for the Community in Worcester before returning home, which he reached about midnight.
Sunday, March 27 He preached his valedictory discourse in Mendon.
Monday, March 28 Mr. Howard having recovered from his illness, left for his home.
Tuesday, March 29 A.B. went to Upton and married John C. Sweet and Sarah Redfield. Afterwards he gave a lecture in the schoolhouse nearby on “The Spirits in Prison.”
March 30, Mr. Cargill a brother of William, called on his way to Worcester to examine Registry of Deeds and see that everything was safe. Next day he returned, delivered to the President the $2,000, and went on his way.
Hopedale News – July 1998
Hopedale News – July 1973
Hopedale News – July 1923
