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Buildings & Grounds

What is the history of the Library building (or, did it used to be a church?)

The Bancroft Memorial Library was built in 1898 by Joseph Bubier Bancroft in memory of his wife, Sylvia W. Thwing Bancroft. The building is constructed of pink Milford granite with a slate shingled roof. It was designed by C. Howard Walker of the Boston architectural firm Walker & Kimball. The Library was fashioned after the Merton College Chapel at Oxford. The Library was dedicated and opened to the public on December 14, 1899, at which time Joseph Bancroft transferred ownership of the Library to the Town of Hopedale for one dollar. It has served as a public library without interruption since that time. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Hopedale Village National Historic District.

What is the Statue of Hope?

The Statue of Hope was a gift from Susan P. Draper to the Town of Hopedale. The statue includes a fountain, and was originally used as a drinking fountain until the State Board of Health outlawed shared drinking glasses. The statue was sculpted by the American sculptor Waldo Story in Rome of Carrara marble.