A series that looks at Hopedale in 1926

By Dan Malloy
Special contributor 

In 1926, Hopedale had a population of 2988, with the people living in 568 houses. There were 50 cows, 24 horses, and 995 chickens in town. 

The fire department reported on all of their calls. A large number were for grass and brush fires, and also more chimney fires than I'd expect would happen now. There was just one out-house fire. Unfortunately, it doesn't explain the circumstances. Someone smoking while sitting in there, perhaps.

Among many other items, the sealer of weights and measures reported that he had inspected six milk wagons, two junk wagons, and 23 peddlers; licenses.

The school doctor found 258 pupils to be in good condition, but he also came across 162 cases of diseased or enlarged tonsils 41 with defective teeth, 20 with nits, and six with wax in ears. Seems like they might have been over-diagnosing tonsils in those years and removing too many. Nits, on the other hand, had to go.

Dan Malloy is the founder of www.hope1842.com, a website devoted to the history of Hopedale.