Hopedale History February 15, 2019 No. 366 Hopedale in 1919, Part 4 Hopedale in February <><><><><><><><><><> One night, when officer of the guard, a runaway slave came to Post 1, and was referred to me. I must confess to a disobedience of general orders, for I took him in and kept him in the guard tent over night. He had been whipped by his master, and sought refuge in our camp, convinced that Massachusetts soldiers were his friends. I reported his arrival at regimental headquarters, and a subscription was taken up for him, and he was sent on his way North, in the early morning. Later in the day civil officers searched our camp, but the bird had flown. Gen. William F. Draper, Recollections of a Varied Career, September 1908 edition, p. 42. (The event referred to occurred in Maryland in late 1861. At that time, escaped slaves who found their way to the Union Army were supposed to be returned to their masters.) During the year we have arranged a complete system of pathways on the eastern side of the pond, from the bath house to the "second bridge" so called, with a branch from Dutcher Street and connecting side path loops. Care has been taken to provide dry footing through the swamps and brooks, and this whole region is now available for foot passengers at any period of the year. We find many availing themselves of the opportunity to use these paths, and thereby form acquaintance with a very interesting portion of the park reservation. Board of Park Commissioners, 1905. <><><><><><><><><><> Hopedale in 1919, Part 4 October 3 - The Park House is to be reopened under the management of Mr. and Mrs. William Cox. John Stare, chauffeur for B.H. B. Draper, is enjoying a vacation at St. Louis and Illinois. E. Carleton Hammond and family spent the weekend at the home of Frank J. Dutcher. Mrs. H.D. Bowker entertained a half-dozen guests from Worcester at the golf club supper Saturday evening.(A 1925 Hopedale and Milford directory includes the name Herber D. Bowker, but gives the residence as Florida. It also said Bowker and Barnard had a clothing store in the Harrison block.) October 10 - The late Gustavus A. Crockett left an estate of $6260. Charles E. Pierce made the appraisal. Mr. and Mrs. Roy. E. Westcott left town Wednesday for an automobile trip over the Mohawk Trail.(The Westcott home was on Mill Street, near Spindleville Pond.) Dr. H. L. Fiske expects to open his new and finely equipped dental quarters in Town Hall building early next week. Private John W. Harris, who served with the Canadian forces, has been discharged and is at the parental home here. (The Harris home was at 16 Elmwood.) The automobile of Ernest Chaplin skidded near Patrick's Corner Tuesday night, striking a tree and damaging the radiator and one mud guard. (Chaplin was a fireman who lived at 218 South Main Street.) October 17 - J.H. Gibbs is operating a new Dodge automobile. (The Gibbs home was at 5 Peace Street.) Teams from Hopedale and Mendon high schools will hold a track meet here next Friday. Mrs. Annie E. Hersom of this town is seeking a divorce of the grounds of cruelty. The last known address of her husband was Fitchburg. The Boston Post cane, for the oldest male resident of Hopedale, was recently presented to Emory U. Hall, a Civil War veteran residing at 33 Hopedale Street. The play, "Miss Mosher of Colorado," will be presented next Friday evening in connection with the Unitarian fair. E.W. Marso and W. L. Scott are in charge.(Marso was at 36 Daniels Street and Scott at 28 Prospect Street.) October 24 - Mr. and Mrs. Leon Wright are enjoying a vacation in New Hampshire. (The Wrights lived at 21 Dutcher Street.) Miss Eleanor Stone was recently operated on for appendicitis at the Milford Hospital. October 31 - The 8800 ton steel freighter, Nipmuc, built for the United States shipping board, was launched Tuesday at the Atlantic Corporation shipyard at Portsmouth, N.H., and was christened by Mrs. B.H.B. Draper of this town with the traditional bottle of champagne and in the presence of several thousand spectators. The occasion was made a holiday in Portsmouth. The Liberty Bond committee of this town won the right in the Victory loan drive to name a sponsor for the vessel and the choice of a name. November 7 - Mrs. Henry Burrill and Miss Millicent Burrill of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, are guests this week of Mrs. Archie Rogers. (Mrs. Rogers lived at 34 Mendon Street.) A number of children enjoyed the Halloween party at the home of Mrs. Harold McPhee, Bancroft Parkway, Friday evening. The Camp Fire Girls held a pleasing Halloween party in Pythian Hall Saturday evening, about 25 couples attending. Refreshments were served. November 14 - Gertrude Crawford, who is to be married to Thomas Glennon of Milford, November 26, was tendered a surprise party Saturday evening at the home of Mrs. James Monahan on Lake Street, and was presented a large basket of groceries. Games, music and refreshments rounded out the evening. (Miss Crawford lived at 15 Progress Street.) The local Suffrage Club met Friday evening with Mrs. H.L. Patrick and completed work for a table for children's garments and aprons, of which the club will have charge at the Victory bazaar at the Copley Plaza, Boston, next month. Material for the work has been contributed by Miss Fanny C. Osgood. Following the meeting, tea was served. November 21 - The first meeting of the Victrola club was held last evening at the home of John S. Henry. A welcome home celebration will be held here the latter part of the month. Of the general committee. George Albert Draper is chairman, E. A. Darling secretary, and C. F. Butterworth treasurer. The high school seniors will hold a food sale this afternoon for their Washington trip fund. Hopedale again leads all the other towns and cities of New England in the total sales of thrift stamps, war savings stamps, and treasury savings certificates, according to the report of the director of the First Federal Reserve district, with a per-capita sales to date of $7.30. December 5 - Donald Arey was taken to the Milford Hospital Friday afternoon for treatment of a severe injury sustained at the Draper plant, when his hand caught in the machinery. The flesh was gouged from the palm, and the arm was cut to the bone from wrist to elbow. Edward P. Marshall, a veteran of the Civil War, died Monday morning of heart difficulty at his home on Hopedale Street. He had been ailing for some time and dropped to the floor while completing his toilet, dying instantly. Mr. Marshall was 82 years old and had lived here about 11 years, being a moulder by trade. He had served in many of the leading engagements of the Civil War and was a member of the Grand Army post at Hoosick Falls, N.Y. December 12 - The Draper Corporation has purchased the Daige property on Dutcher Street. Dr. Conant of Boston operated on Mrs. T. E. Hill, Monday, at the Milford Hospital, for gall stones. A Swedish prayer meeting was held last evening at the home of N. P. Danielson. Nellie J. (Cunningham), wife of Thomas E. Hill, died Wednesday at the Milford Hospital, following an operation for gall stones earlier in the week. She was born in Mendon nearly 58 years ago and was highly esteemed in this section. December 19 - Boston architects are preparing plans for 16 new two-story tenement houses for the Draper Corporation. They will cost approximately $150,000. Dispatches from Reno, Nevada state that Mrs. Helen H. Draper Taft, daughter of George Albert Draper, has instituted divorce proceedings against her husband, Captain Walbridge S. Taft, who was attached to the ordnance department during the war. The grounds for the suit were not stated. December 26 - Mrs. Charles E. Corey is suffering from an attack of blood poisoning in her hand. The Draper Corporation has acquired the George A. Draper tenement houses on Dutcher and Peace streets and the William Bancroft homestead on Hopedale Street.
or Naval service in the World War. Ezine Menu HOME . |
Town Hall in December 1919 decorated for a welcome home event for the returning servicemen. Note the honor roll on the right that had been erected not long before this picture was taken. |
One of the medals given to each Hopedale resident who had served in the armed forces during World War I. |