The mansion on Williams Street that straddles the Hopedale-Milford line was originally known as The Larches. It was named for the larch trees that can still be seen on the grounds. The estate was owned by George Otis Draper, a son of General William F. and Lilla Draper. "Otis" left there sometime before 1920 and his aunt, Hannah (Draper) Osgood, and his cousin, Fanny Osgood, moved in. Both Hannah and Fanny died in 1929. The Hopedale street listing for 1930 shows George Osgood, 42, Fanny's brother I assume, living there. (By 1939, and perhaps sooner, George was living at 50 Greene Street, the home of Dana Osgood, later known as the Harel House.)
At some point, The Larches became the residence of a Townsend family. I believe they were related to the Drapers. When I get a chance, I'll check on the relationship and the years they were there.
By the 1950s, The Larches had become a Draper Corporation inn. Visiting businessmen could stay there, and as the fourth photo shows, there was a restaurant. As I recall, families could purchase memberships at The Larches, and one of the benefits was the use of the pool. Marge Horton recalled the Draper years at The Larches as being a time of elegant parties and events. She said that the Milford National Bank would hold its Christmas parties there every year, and that it was also the site of wedding receptions, and formal dances. The Fecteaus, who operated the cafeteria at the Draper shop also ran the kitchen at The Larches, and Marge said that the meals there were excellent.
The Larches is now the site of Community Clubhouse, a rehabilitative community offering oportunities and support in employment, education and housing for adults with mental illness. Following the "Clubhouse Model" of rehabilitation, the program emphasises work, participation and choice. Participants are members, not patients, and the focus is on their strengths, not their illness.
The upper three pictures were scanned from postcards. They show the original home on the site. The two that show the fire weren't mailed, but both have the date, May 21, 1909 on the backs, so I presume that was when the fire occurred.
"In that crumpled-up shot of the dining room is my father! He is looking to his left at something Tom West has (hidden by the man back-to). I can't place the 4th man at the table, but you might have a candid of four Draper executives there!" This identification, referring to the fourth picture, was sent by David Snider. His father was Claude Snider.
The last two pictures show the second home on the site. The one taken from the air was shot before the water tower was built - probably in the early 1950s.The last photo was taken in 2006.
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