Hopedale History March 15, 2013 No. 224 Community House to be Built Hopedale in March A collection of G&U Railroad clippings sent by Paul Butcher Paul also sent an article by Gordon Hopper on Edward Usher. Among many other accomplishments, Usher founded the Hopedale Electric Company (which made batteries for another company of his, the Milford and Hopedale Trolley) and the Grafton & Upton Railroad. On No. 223, I included a link to a page with a picture of a mysterious device in the entryway at the Bancroft Library. The page had about ninety hits, and one response. That was from Don Howes who has evidently solved the mystery. Here’s the page again, with Howsie’s explanation. In the first Hopedale town report, 1886, there was a complete report of the assessors. It includes assessments on houses, barns, horses, carriages, cattle, swine, oxen, cranberry meadow, tannery, old shop over the river (Red Shop?), foundry, annealing house, dam privilege, ice house, hoop shop, and more. Fascinating. At least, I find it fascinating. I don’t know about you. During the past year or so, Patricia Hatch has come up with several interesting discoveries related to the Hopedale Community. I thought it was worth putting a web page together with links to pages with her findings, plus some of her comments and observations. Here it is. Strike at Draper Corporation, 1953 Hopedale Centennial parade, 1986 More on the centennial, including the parade booklet with many names from that era. Over the past two weeks I’ve made additions to pages on the Rosenfeld family and company and Hopedale history chronology. In 2008, I started a page on Pete and Laurie Eaton's loom in Pennsylvania. The Eatons bought an old Draper loom and got it running. Now there’s another Draper restoration project going on in Pennsylvania. Michael Masterson has purchased and is restoring a Draper model X-3 loom. Here are some pictures of the early phase of that project. And just as Michael was getting to work on his loom, Rob Fahey sent me this page from Cone Denim which mentions that their material is woven by Draper X-3s. Here’s a page Rob sent on Draper looms, denim, and the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. Recent deaths <><><><><><><><><><> Magnificent Plans for the Hopedale Community House Are Now Underway Hopedale, April 8 (1922) Workmen are excavating for what will be one of the finest community buildings in the state, a civic memorial to the late George Draper by his son, George Albert Draper, treasurer of the Draper Corporation. It will be built on the site of the old home of George Draper. The building will be under the control of the Hopedale Community House, Inc. The expense of its erection and equipment will be borne by Mr. Draper. In addition to this, a fund sufficient for its maintenance will be provided by Mr. Draper. Neither he nor those associated with him desire to make public the amount to be expended for the building of the structure or for its maintenance. The architect is Edwin J. Lewis, Jr., 9 Park Street, Boston, who was the architect of the beautiful old English memorial church, given by George A. Draper and his brother, the late Eben S. Draper, to the Hopedale Unitarian Church, some years ago, in memory of their parents, George Draper and Hannah B. (Thwing) Draper. The building will be of brick, with limestone trimmings, and will face on Draper Street. It will include two stories and a basement. The dimensions are 186 by 67 feet. In the basement, there will be bowling alleys, a rifle range, a gymnasium, and shower baths. Connected with the gym will be a kitchen. Such banquets as may be held in the building will be prepared in the kitchen and served in the gymnasium. On the ground floor will be a large assembly or community hall. This will occupy by far the larger part of this floor. Connected with the hall will be administration offices, a lounge and smoking room for men, a ladies’ room, a matron’s room, and two anterooms. The assembly or community hall will reach to the roof and on the second floor the galleries will open on the great hall. On the second floor will be the quarters for George Draper Lodge, Knights of Pythias, long known in the state as “the big lodge in a small town.” There will also be a large billiard room and another for club purposes. The construction of the Community House, which will not be completed until late in the year, will be most substantial, the interior to be of hardwood and tiling. From the Bancroft Memorial Library Hopedale history collection. The Community House Now and Then - The Community House Hopedale History Ezine Menu HOME . |