Later, about the 1st of July [1843] the press was located in an upper room of the mechanic shop, and thenceforth was run as a Community branch of industry. The department of Agriculture...was this year comprised in two divisions, Agriculture and Livery. A small amount of traffic was carried on by the Intendant of Finance and Exchange. The manufacture of hats was continued; the Boot and Shoe business started, also the making of boxes, Painting and Glazing, Tin and Sheet Iron working, all on a small scale and all under Community management. The department of Religion, Morals, and Missions included all the professional labors of our ministers and lecturers, whether rendered within or without our territorial boundaries. Adin Ballou, History of the Hopedale Community, pp. 108-109. For some time after first reading this, I felt it must be referring to what later became known as The Little Red Shop. However, in the Practical Christian in 1842, Ballou mentions that work was underway on a mechanic shop and that it was going to be 30 by 40 feet. That probably would be the one completed in 1843. Another building mentioned in the same article, used in part as a shop and completed in 1842, was 14 by 32 feet. The building long known as The Little Red Shop is 20 by 90 feet. The building in the photo appears to be the Red Shop but It has had many additions and removals over the years. The Shop is presently on its fourth location. The picture above shows it on its second site, probably between 1890 and 1900. To start a series of pictures of The Little Red Shop, click here. The clothes of the men and women were of the simplest, but always neat and clean. Men wore overalls, and the women, calico dresses, aprons and sunbonnets to church. Flowers in their bonnets were forbidden. When Alonzo Cook brought his bride, who was a school teacher from Blackstone, to church, and she wore a silk dress and a bonnet much bedecked with flowers, it was said that they feared Alonzo had married a very extravagant woman. Ida Smith, Hopedale Reminiscences, p. 29. The park territory has been enlarged during the year by the donation of Messrs. Wm. F., G. A. and Eben S. Draper, of a triangular piece of land about an acre in extent, situated at the intersection of Adin and West Main streets, [now Route 16] to be held by the town as a public park, the acceptance being given with the understanding that the park commissioners are to receive interest on a fund of $1500, also given to the town by the above parties, for the purpose of keeping the said land in proper condition. The donors, before conveying the territory, removed the unsightly bill boards and dump refuse, carefully grading and seeding the entire plot. The improvement in the appearance of the town at its main entrance is gratifying to all citizens. Town Report of 1906. Report of the Board of Park Commissioners, p. 94. A warm and generous personal friend in Cincinnati, O., Andrew Ernst, Esq., being kindly disposed towards the Community, made us a valuable donation, the receipt of which was acknowledged in our fortnightly publication of June 10. as follows: The undersigned, on behalf of Fraternal Community, No. 1, gratefully acknowledges the receipt of 325 young apple trees, carefully packed in four boxes, comprising thirty choice varieties, sent as a donation by our kind friend and brother, A.H. Ernst of Cincinnati, Ohio. They arrived in good condition and promise to do well. Adin Ballou, The History of the Hopedale Community, p. 114. My dad was superintendent of the Milford Water Company in the 1880s. He put in the water mains in both Milford and Hopedale. He had to cope with a lot of granite. To do this, he used to go to Boston, meet the boats and hire the Italian immigrants on the spot. As a result of this, he knew all the old timers in White City when I was growing up and he could speak Italian. He moved to Hopedale about 1890. He managed the Hopedale Coal and Ice Company from 1890 to 1942. He lived at 37 Adin Street from about 1895 to 1942. William Barney, June 23, 2002. Short Stories Menu Next HOME |