By 1941, the Draper Corporation of Hopedale was one of the largest manufacturers of automatic looms in the world. But as war raged in Europe, the company shifted gears from making textile equipment to producing weapons for the military.

Drapers adapted its massive plant and, with the help of nearly 500 women workers, began to undertake several armament projects. One of the largest and most important contributions to the war effort was manufacturing parts for the 75mm “pack howitzer.” This portable field weapon was pivotal in battles in the South Pacific and on the mountains of Italy. Even before the war ended, the company’s work was being hailed by military officials as “one of the best tooling jobs in the country.” 

Drapers had rarely hired women in the past, and their story has long been minimized or even forgotten. Join historian Linda Hixon to learn about these unsung heroes on Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Little Red Shop Museum, 12 Hopedale Street, Hopedale. 

This event is sponsored by the Hopedale Cultural Council and the Hopedale Women’s History Project, and is free to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m.