Series looks at Hopedale in 1920s

As we continue to look at the Town of Hopedale 100 years ago, here are a few newsworthy events from 1926 from the weekly Milford Gazette.

A girls' fencing club has been organized at the Community House under the direction of Supt. R.E. Gourley.(5 Park St.).

E.L. Chichester (86 Hopedale Street) has been confined to the house with an injured foot, sustained recently when a barrel of sugar fell at the Patrick corner store.

Moving pictures in Town Hall, Saturday afternoon and evening. Mary Pickford in "Little Annie Rooney, " Pathe News and Pathe comedy. 

At the high school rhetoricals last Thursday, Edith Deiana (230 Mendon Street) and Joseph Saville won first, and Barbara Shippee (7 Highland Street) and Henry Spadoni (7 Home Park Avenue) second honors.  

The Penny Vaudeville building, which George Phipps (47 Bancroft Park) purchased from the Lake Nipmuc Park Co., has been moved across the ice to the Phipps lot and will be made into a summer cottage. 

Mr. and Mrs, B.H.B. Draper (45 Adin Street) are at Miami, Florida, where they have chartered a houseboat for a cruise. 

At the Community House, Women's Club meeting at 3 on Tuesday, Mrs. Harry Burnham, State Chairman of Home Economics, will speak on "Poetry and Dishwashing."

The High School senior class will hold a rummage sale in Town Hall Tuesday afternoon. Those willing to donate articles please call Janet Turner. (12 Progress Street) Tel. 1056-J. 

Princess Margaret Draper Boncompagni has been the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Clare H. Draper (54 Adin Street – now where Memorial School is located) this week. 

A gas explosion from soft coal started a fire Wednesday afternoon which gutted the printing plant of H.C. Forbes at 9 Dennett Street.

Paul Bracci,(138 Mendon Street) who has spent the winter in Italy, has returned to his home here. 

Julius E. Hoyle, a forger at the Westcott Mills, died of pneumonia yesterday at the Milford Hospital. He was 31 years old and leaves a wife, daughter, and four brothers. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Giles of Tulsa, Oklahoma, are guests of the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman A. Shippee. (7 Highland Street) The trip of 2000 miles was made by auto. 

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