Autos Whirled Around Milford and Hopedale

Ten Thousand People Crowded Main Street
Last Evening to Witness
The First Event of Kind
Ever Held Here

    The first automobile parade ever attempted in Milford was held last evening as
    the chief event of the fifth day of Old Home Week, and was a conspicuous
    success in every detail. Seventeen machines of all descriptions traversed the
    principal streets of this town and Hopedale for about an hour, led by the 16
    horsepower Wayne touring car of W.D. Leahy, and tremendous crowds lined the
    streets admiring the gaily decorated cars as they passed in review.

    Click here to read the article and to see photos of the makes of cars there were
    in the parade.

    You can't take it with you, but evidently you can receive it
    by mail after you're gone. Vernon Grove Cemetery, Milford.

    Above and below - Draper houses at the corner of Inman and
    Elm streets under construction in 1920. These photos are from
    Draper photography department negatives at the Bancroft Library.

    More Inman Street houses. These, photographed
    in 1920, are south of the Elm Street intersection.

    North side of Depot Street. Left to right, highway
    barn, Little White Marketplace, police station.


    The Town Hall Spa, Mei's Diner, Rebecca's, The Town
    Common, and maybe a couple of other names over the
    years. Click here for Don Handley's memories of it
    when his father ran it as the Town Hall Spa.

    I don't have a picture of the Hopedale High Class of 2017.
    Hope you'll settle for the Class of 1919. I'll leave it to you
    to match the names below with the faces above.

Hopedale in June 2017

Ezine for June 1 - The Height of Luxury   

Ezine for mid-June -
94 Freedom   

Hopedale in June 2016   

Recent Pictures Menu, 2017             HOME   

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    A well-fed rabbit in the front yard eating clover. That's okay as long
    as he stays away from the lettuce, etc. Thanks for the picture, DJ.

    June 2 and it's Groundhog Day again? I thought we had that
    a while ago. This guy is looking out from under my shed.

June 4 - Draper Park, Milford.

    June 4. Gypsy moth caterpillars on one of my apple trees. It hasn't been as
    bad as it was in 1982, but I'd say this year is the worst it has been since then.

Click on the poster to go to MASSWALKINGTOUR.ORG for more information.

    The Parklands fairy walk, June 10. Unfortunately I didn't have the
    time to go all the way to the bridge for more pictures. It appears
    to have been a huge success. Loads of people there. For more
    (and better) pictures, see the fairy walk Facebook page.

Cumberland Farms project.

    Thanks to Ron L'Heureux for these binders from his days in the Draper Apprentice School.
    In addition to hands-on training, students were required to study correspondence course
    material. Ron said that some of the booklets were written specifically for Draper looms.
    Click here to read Ron's memories of the course.

    Why does the turkey cross the road? There's been some mention lately
    of the "Shaw's turkey" that's been seen often near Shaw's Market on
    140 in Milford. This guy was in Hill's Plaza on the other side of 140  
    Thanks to DJ for pointing it out. I was looking the other way. A few days
    later I saw it on the nearby traffic island.  DJ also noticed the Apple
    Maps vehicle in the picture below. I wonder if it was doing street views.

    We have had a very strenuous year in
    combating the Gypsy Moth and
    considerable time has been devoted to this
    part of the work, having destroyed many
    thousand Gypsy Moth clusters. The Gypsy
    Moth menace will probably be very serious
    the coming year, and cooperation will be
    imperative to successfully combat this
    common pest. Report of the Tree Warden,
    Charles E. Nutting , 1917

    Thanks to Sarah in West Virginia for sending
    these photos of Dutcher temple rolls. Click here
    for a page about Draper and Dutcher temples.

    Charles River, Boston - June 20. Photo taken
    from the Mass Ave bridge by my son, DJ.

    Yes, it's evidently the same turkey again. I saw her in the
    nearby traffic island on Monday. I took this picture of her
    in the Santander Bank parking lot by Freedom Street on
    Thursday. (June 21) I was told at Rite Aid that she's
    been around for two or three months and they've named
    her Theresa. I presume that's because turkeys should
    have names beginning with T. A few minutes after
    seeing Theresa, I passed by a little skunk at the side of
    the road. I was a bit worried about him in that location,
    but after taking a few pictures decided to leave him
    there and hope for the best.

    I saw her on the traffic island at 3 Friday afternoon. She seemed to be
    getting around okay.

    Minor mystery solved. Now and then for some
    years I've seen mention in old newspapers and
    town reports of Gleason's Corner. I had no idea
    where it was. Yesterday while looking through a
    list of fires in the 1926 town report, I saw that there
    had been a chimney fire at the home of a Mr.
    Varnum, and his address was given as Gleason's
    Corner. I checked a town directory for 1927 and
    found George Varnum at 221 South Main Street.
    That's near the intersection of Plain and South
    Main streets. I'll probably never go through there
    again without thinking of it as Gleason's Corner.
    Now to see if I can find out anything about Gleason

    On June 26, the Milford News, as part of its neighborhood series, had a nice article
    about White City. That said, there's one little point of disagreement I'd like to make.
    Immediately under a paragraph that ends with a reference to Hope1842 it continues
    with, "When the houses popped up, there were no driveways, locals here have heard.
    Draper employees were shuttled to work at the expense of the company at the now-
    vacant Hopedale Street factory." Shuttled to work at the expense of the company???
    They walked to work. I agree with the part about no driveways. Drapers didn't allow cars
    to be parked in the yards of the houses they owned.  See page on garages. There were
    buses parked in front of the shop at the beginning and end of the work day years ago,
    but they were for out-of -town employees.      White City   

    STARTING JULY 9, 2017, LOCAL PRODUCE & HISTORY TOURS at Daniels Farmstead, 286 Mendon
    Street, Blackstone, MA

    Daniels Farmstead Farmers’ Markets Open EVERY SUNDAY, 11am to 3pm


    Delicious, sun-ripened produce at the Daniels Farmstead Farmers’ Markets every Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. through
    October 1, 2017.   Enjoy entertainment listed below.  Take a history tour. Three centuries, tn generations of one family, and
    many great stories to share!

    Weekly vendors include:

    •        Trolley Crossing Farm, Bellingham, Donna Galipeau, [email protected] – vegetables and grass fed lamb and
    flowers;
    •        Shamrock Hives Farm, Sterling, Dawn Hartnett,  [email protected] – natural meats, bakery/confections,
    honey, jam, jelly, pickles.
    •        Spring Brook Farm, Joe Wojcik,  Natural beef and pork.
    •        Sunny Knoll Alpacas, Home grown/Hand made Alpaca products
    •        Elzire’s Acre Goat Milk Soap, large selection & many scents of goat milk soap
    •        Andy’s Heaven & Hell Gourmet Foods, Hot Sauces, & Jerky
    •        Giacomo’s Gourmet Cranola, Granola bars, Pesto, Olive Tapenade, Roasted garlic, Roasted Tomatoes, Herb infused       
    dipping oil & Soups
    •        Hurricane Farm, local produce, home made bakery items, jams, jelly
            Daniels Farmstead’s own organic produce and Daniels Farmstead Honey.

    Daniels Farmstead house tours are available every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Enjoy food from the grill, burgers, beef
    & veggie, franks, Italian sausage, peppers & onions with all the fixins.

    We sell our produce locally, not only because it’s good for our community's economy, but enhances food security, health and
    the smells and flavors are unbeatable!

    Upcoming Special Events &  Entertainment,
    July 9                   Farmer’s Market & Mushroom Walk at 11am.  Boston Mycological Society will lead walk.
    July 16                Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3,  Bobby Gadoury, jazz pianist, noon to 2pm
    July 23                Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3, Blackstone Valley Music, local students led by Shanna Keegan
    July 30                Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3, Vito Caccavelli, noon to 2
    August 6            Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3, Grey Whiskers Pickers, noon to 2
    August 13          Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3,  Abbi & Rachel, noon to 2
    August 20          Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3, Cameron Sutphin, noon to 2
    August 27          Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3, Vito Caccavelli, noon to 2
    September 3     Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3, Fox and the Dragon, noon to 2
    September 10   Farmers’ Market 11am to 3pm, Annual Antique Tractor Show, TRACTORS & TRUMPETS,  9 to 3, Claflin Hill
    Patriotic Concert starts at 3pm.  Bring chairs, blankets, snacks & grill food will be available.
    September 17   Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3, Grey Whisker Pickers, noon to 2
    September 24   Farmer’s Market, 11 to 3, Vito Caccavelli, noon to 2
    October 1           Farmer’s Market 11 to 3, and Apple Festival with many special events.
    Blackstone Valley Music, vocal students led by Shanna Keegan noon to 2.

    The Daniels Farmstead Farmers Markets takes place rain or shine. For additional information please email:
    [email protected] or call 508-726-2042 or Michele Daley,[email protected], 508-883-6399