The area that eventually became the main plant of Draper Corporation was home to a number of companies in the mid 1800s. This photo shows the Hopedale Machine Company.  It was started in 1856 by E.D and George Draper when they pulled their stock out of the Hopedale Community.  Joseph Bancroft was the superintendent.  Other companies operating in this area included the Hopedale Furnace Company, the Hopedale Machine Screw Company, the Northrop Loom Company, George Draper and Sons, the Dutcher Temple Company, the Sawyer Spindle Company and the Hopedale Elastic Goods Company.  By 1898 these had all been absorbed by the Draper Company, which in 1916 reorganized as the Draper Corporation.                                                               Draper Menu                         HOME