During the past two weeks, additions have been made to the following pages on hope1842.com: Gannett
    Family (Memorial service for Bill Gannett.)     Deaths   

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    The stamp savings system was introduced into the schools in June, and the results have been most
    gratifying. Two-thirds of all the children in the grades have stamp books, and have purchased stamps to the
    amount of $342.23. In addition to this, 39 pupils have opened new savings bank accounts, and 35 have
    added to bank accounts previously opened. The children are not only encouraged to save, but they are
    taught to spend wisely. F. G. Atwell, Superintendent of Schools, 1909

    In the South Hopedale Branch, Miss Caldwell is completing twenty-five years of faithful service as librarian.
    For fifty weeks of each year she has opened her home on Thursday afternoons so the residents in her
    neighborhood might borrow books and periodicals and use reference volumes. Her interest in the reading
    programs of her community has been much appreciated and the good-will of many friends goes to her in
    her retirement. The Branch Library has found a suitable location at the home of Mrs. Asa H. Jones, a place
    centrally situated in this fast growing district. Rachel C. Day, Librarian, 1948   Click here to see the history of
    the South Hopedale Branch Library.

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                                                                              "I'm Engaged!"
                                                                                                                                                     January 29, 1899

    Dear Sunie:

      I know that you are overwhelmed by the news that I am engaged.  I thought that I would write a joint letter to
    father and yourself in order to break the news more gently.  Now, however, I wish to let you know personally
    what a charming young lady I have captured.  I sincerely hope that you will like her and am sure that she
    cannot help loving you.

       I suppose that we appear like mere children just out of school, without the knowledge or experience to
    guide us through this world, but be that as it may, for myself, I am absolutely gone heart and soul and think
    only of our coming marriage.

       Of course, I will not be able to live in the style to which I am accustomed at first, but I think that the mere
    fact of our starting in on a small scale will make us appreciate far more the time when I can afford to live
    more elegantly.

      I am working hard at the law office and in a few years, ought to be able to be making enough money to live,
    if not in luxury, at least in absolute comfort.

       I dined with Aunt Jessie and Uncle George tonight and spent a very pleasant evening.  A week or two ago,
    Aunt Nannie invited me to dinner, and I have been asked out by several of my friends.  Outside of this, I have
    not been indulging in gayety, as my whole time is taken up with my work.

      I read about you time and again in the papers, which portray you as adding new laurels daily to your social
    achievements.  My engagement was written up quite a bit in the papers, Town Topics of January 12th
    cracking a joke at the expense of the Lexington young ladies.

      Give my love to Margaret, and kiss her for me for sending me that lovely Christmas token.

      I have had the grippe and been busy with pressing matters or would have answered sooner.

                                                                                                                                                             Yours devotedly,
                                                                                                                                                               Arthur J. Draper

    The engagement Arthur refers to was to Lily Duncan Voorhies of Lexington, Kentucky.  He was the son of
    General William F. and Lydia (Lilla) Draper. From the context of this letter, it would seem that Sunie must be
    Arthur's step-mother, Susan.  (General Draper's second wife) It was typed so it's not a matter of mistaking an
    s for an n.  Also, it's hard to imagine that he would be calling her Susie, although Sunie seems a bit odd, too,
    considering how formal they were in some ways, such as their signatures. Jessie was Susan's sister and
    George was George Albert Draper, the general's brother.  Nannie was Nancy Bristow Draper, wife of Eben
    Draper.  Margaret, later Princess Boncompagni, was the daughter of Susan and the general.


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                                                                                                                                                              Lexington, Ky.
                                                                                                                                                               August 18th
 
    My dear father:

      I write to inform you that I am engaged to be married to Miss Grace Engman of Lexington.  That you may
    not think this a hasty or thoughtless step, I will say that I have known and been in correspondence with Miss
    Engman for over two years, and have always considered our marriage as more than a possibility.  Before
    taking this step, I wanted to be earning my living and able to support a wife, a point which I have now
    reached.

      Some time ago, I reached the conclusion that marriage was a necessity for my success and happiness,
    but never pressed the point as you and Susan seemed to hold a different view.

      Of the young lady, I will simply say that she is my ideal of a lady with a character that you will admire.  I feel
    personally a great deal more than this, but will allow you to judge for yourself instead of saying more.

      Hoping that you will not be too greatly surprised, and that you will not withhold your approval, I am

                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                         Your loving son,
                                                                                                                                                         Clare Hill Draper

    Clare Draper was a brother of Arthur Draper. After his marriage to Grace, their home was on Adin Street in
    Hopedale, where Memorial School is now. I've never come across photos of either Lily or Grace.

                                             Susan Preston Draper              Gen. William F. Draper   

                                                Arthur Joy Draper                          Clare Hill Draper   

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Arthur Joy Draper

Clare Hill Draper