The War at Home, 1917
scrapbook at the Bancroft Library in Hopedale. What you'll see below is just a small sample of the many articles related to the war that were in the paper. The recent concert at Town Hall for the National Allied Relief Fund netted $148. The money has been sent to the Star & Garter house of English soldiers who have been permanently crippled in the war. Jan 19, 1917 (This is an example of the fact that people didn't wait for the U.S. to enter the war before picking sides and helping out. War was declared on Germany on April 6, 1917.) Tuesday in a telegram to Senator Lodge and Weeks the plant of the (Draper) corporation and all its facilities is placed at the disposal of the government in case of need and the government is invited to send here any engineer or other agents necessary to carry out the offer. With some changes in machinery, easily made, munitions of war could be turned out at the plant at short notice. Feb 19, 1917 The directors of the Draper Corporation adopted resolutions Monday to meet the crisis now confronting the country. The treasurer of the corporation was instructed to make financial arrangements to take up for the company war bonds of the United States to the amount of $1,000,000. It was voted to provide suitable employment to all men now in the company employ, who enter into the service of the United States, upon their return from such service. All families of enlisted men be allowed to continue in Draper Corporation tenements. It was deemed wise to defer other action until the needs of the situation are more fully known. Apr 13, 1917 Department 20 of the Draper plant held flag raising exercises Monday afternoon. The men sang patriotic songs and George Joslin recited “The Yankee Men.” Apr 20, 1917 Other similar ceremonies were reported for that week by the women of the temple department and at the main office where the Hopedale Brass Band participated. Employees of the Grafton & Upton Railroad held a flag raising at the local station Saturday noon. Master Robinson Billings (who was killed in WWII) unfurled the new flag. J. A. McKenzie gave bugle calls, George Foster, a short patriotic address, and the men sang ”The Star Spangled Banner,” and “America.” Apr 27, 1917 Under the plan of action mapped out by the council on national defense, B. H. Bristow Draper has been selected as chairman of the sub-committee on securing textiles for the United States. Work is already well underway, and Mr. Draper will devote his entire attention to the work of the committee as long as his services may be needed. Apr 27, 1917 A big parade, the unfurling of a new flag on the Town Hall building, and an oration by Guy A. Ham of Boston were features of the big patriotic celebration here Saturday afternoon. Over 1,000 persons participated in the parade. Apr 27, 1917 William Northrop has taken examinations for the Plattsburg training camp. Edward Dufresne has secured employment at the torpedo station at Newport, R.I. These reports in the May 11 paper were followed by many similar ones over the next year and a half. The Hopedale Suffrage Club recently purchased a “Lafayette bag,” which was sent to France, and an acknowledgement had just been received from the French soldier to whom it was given. May 18, 1917 At the Union Church Sunday morning, Colonel Adam Gifford provincial officer of the Salvation Army for the New England States, gave a forceful address on “The Selective draft.” June 1, 1917 Applications for Liberty Loan bonds and information regarding payments, etc. may be obtained at the local post office. The Draper Corporation has distributed notices to is employees urging all who can to subscribe for Liberty Loan bonds, and offering its aid in securing the bonds through small weekly payments. The corporation agrees to purchase the bond, should it be necessary to sell it, at cost to the subscriber. June 1, 1917 A largely attended war prohibition meeting was held in Town Hall last evening. Rev. Paul Revere Frothingham of Boston was the chief speaker and the high school pupils furnished music. June 8, 1917 War prohibition? That sounds as though it could have been an anti-war meeting (hardly the spirit of the times, though), but actually it was in the usual meaning of prohibition at that time. Rev. Frothingham was against alcohol, not war. Mr. and Mrs. John Raymond received a telegram Monday that their son John, 17 years old was struck by a train while guarding a railroad bridge near Warwick, R.I., and died from his injuries four hours later at a Providence hospital. June 8, 1917 Employees at the stores of H.L. Patrick had subscribed nearly $1500 in Liberty Loan bonds up to yesterday afternoon. June 15, 1917 Reports from the local Red Cross campaign show 275 members and $450 collected., $40 being donated by the Roundabout Club. June 15, 1917
between 1300 and 1400 subscribers. June 22, 1917
surprised by friends Saturday evening and was presented with a pocket shaving kit. June 22, 1917 Eben S. Draper has been transferred from the training camp in Pittsburg to Fort Wadsworth, where he will serve in the engineering and coast artillery corps. June 22, 1917 Joseph Haig, chief signaler for the 286th battalion McLain Kilties of America and Charles Marsden, a drafted man, were presented comfort kits by about 35 friends Monday evening at the home of Jonas Taylor. September 28, 1917 A United States service flag is displayed at the post office for Mortimer Dennett, a former clerk. He has been succeeded by Walter Pike. October 12, 1917 William H. Cox, proprietor of the Hopedale House, has displayed a United States service flag with 14 stars. October 26, 1917 The officers of the local Boy Scouts have decided to open the employment bureau to assist members in making heir pledges to raise $10 each for Y.M.C.A. war work. November 30, 1917 Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Northrop are enjoying a trip through the south, during which they will visit their son who is in camp at Greenville, S.C. December 7, 1917 Postmaster George Sheldon reports a growing and satisfactory demand for thrift stamps and war savings certificates at the post office. Several sales of $1000 have already been made. This is the maximum amount the government allows to any one person. December 21, 1917 Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Northrop have presented the Union Church with a service flag bearing 20 stars. December 28, 1917 In the interest of coal conservation the selectmen have offered the free use of Library Hall for the Red Cross work which is being conducted twice a week in each of the churches. January 4, 1918 So where was Library Hall? Until the opening of the Bancroft Library in 1899, the library was at the Town Hall. Perhaps the room where it had been, continued to be called Library Hall after the move. I don't think they were referring to the Bancroft Library for two reasons. First, they most likely would have called it the Bancroft Library and not Library Hall. Second, it seem that any offer of the use would have been from the Library trustees, not the selectmen. To conserve coal, the library will be closed Sundays except the first Sunday of the month when a Victrola concert will be given and the library will be kept open until 7 o’clock. January 18, 1918 A service flag with 30 stars was dedicated at the high school yesterday with appropriate exercises. January 25, 1918 The Loyal Workers have taken up the Red Cross work of making comfort pillows for the soldiers. February 1, 1918 A roll of honor of the young men of the Unitarian Church now serving the country has been placed in the church vestry. February 15, 1918 On a per capita basis the town of Hopedale occupies first place in the state at present in the sale of thrift stamps, having disposed of nearly $14,000 worth. March 8, 1918 The Boy Scouts are canvassing the town in the interests of the sale of thrift stamps. March 15, 1918 The high school seniors have given up their Washington trip, and they visited Boston Friday. March 22, 1918 Tomorrow evening. Sergeant George Grayson of Camp Devens will give an address in Pythian Hall on “Gas, gas masks and grenade throwing.” The address is for the benefit of the war fund of George Draper lodge, Knights of Pythias. March 22, 1918 The local surgical dressings committee sent 1695 pieces to headquarters Saturday as a result of that week’s work. April 12, 1918 The Draper Corporation has subscribed $1,000.000 for the third issue of Liberty Loans bonds, and George Albert Draper’s personal subscription is for $250,000. April 12, 1918 The large lawn on the estate of Eben S. Draper is being plowed up for a vegetable garden. April 19, 1918 Town Hall was filled Friday evening for the play, "A Southern Cinderella," presented by the girls of the roll room at the Draper plant for the benefit of the Red Cross. General dancing followed the performance, music being furnished by Marsh's orchestra. May 17, 1918 The successful and enjoyable lawn fete Saturday afternoon on the spacious and beautiful grounds of Mr. and Mrs. B.H. Bristow Draper netted $500. June 18, 1918 Under the auspices of the Knights of Pythias Wednesday evening an enthusiastic patriotic demonstration was held here with the fire department, Boy Scouts and Campfire Girls, school children, and soldiers and sailors and a score of societies of this town and Milford in the big parade which opened the affair. July 5, 1918 Several of the girls employed at the Draper Corporation main office have offered to adopt a Belgian or French orphan. October 25, 1918 Hopedale jubilantly celebrated the signing of the armistice Monday. Whistles were sounded about 4 a. m. and the streets were soon crowded. The Draper plant and the schools were closed both Monday and Tuesday. Several parades were held during the day and during the afternoon, when the Milford parade visited town, all united in a jubilant demonstration. Open house was held at the fire station. November 1918 Tuesday evening a short parade headed by the Hopedale band was held, after which an effigy of the Kaiser was hanged on a scaffold in the rear of the Draper Co office and then burned. Funeral services were then held, the band playing a dirge. November 15, 1918 Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Burnham were notified by telegram Saturday afternoon that their son, E. Clifton Burnham, Jr, had been killed at rifle practice at Camp Hancock, Georgia. December 14, 1918 |
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