The Larches. Claude Snider is to the left of the man with his back to the camera. Draper president Tom West is at the same table, on the right.

Claude Snider delivering Draper Corporation report for 1956-57 to the Town of Hopedale at the Draper Gym. Tom West is on the left and Edwin Darrin to the right of Snider. At the far right is Draper head of personnel, Hamilton (Ham) Thayer.

Claude and Melissa Snider at the airport in St. Croix, 1965.

David Snider

Claude Snider    The following was sent by Claude's son, David.   Dan, A few recollections about my father's career in Draper Corp. There are a couple of really priceless anecdotes to be included, but I won't write a book this time. Claude Franklin Snider was recruited from the US Patent Office in Washington DC some time in about 1931, give or take, to be the Patent Attorney. First home was in Bancroft Park, but the family moved to 31 Hopedale St. before I was born in January, 1933. Our home was half a block from the main office, which leads to Anecdote #1. In the habit of going back to the office after dinner to get some work done in the quiet of the evening, Claude Snider was sitting at his desk one evening in November. No other lights were on but for his office. While he was deep in thought, Claude became aware of a figure standing in the doorway, and he looked up to see B. H. Bristow Draper, Chairman of the Board standing there, overcoat on, hat in hand. "What are you doing," asked Mr. Draper mildly. As he recounted the story later, my father replied that he had wanted to summarize the notes on such-and-such a case, then clean up another matter, and so on. Mr. Draper listened politely, not saying anything until the explanation was over. Then he drew himself up to his full height and said, "Mr. Snider. At this time of night, your place is at home with your family. Now, if you can't handle your job in normal working hours, we'll find someone who can. Is that clear?" For the rest of his life, Mr. Snider was very rigid on the point of working normal hours, and had many explanations of why extended workdays, heroic hours, etc. were not only unproductive, they were symptomatic of undesirable work habits. Some time in the 1940s he was elected to the Board of Directors, and not long after became Secretary of the Corporation. He took on the added role of Treasurer in the early 1950s. When a heart attack put him in the hospital for a while in '53 (?), at one point he asked his doctor if he could have his secretary come in for a few hours a week because he was falling somewhat behind! While I was growing up, more people worked for Draper Corporation than lived in the town of Hopedale. (Population 3,175 at one point while I was still in grade school) Consistent with the story of C. F. Snider's late evening in the office, the general sociological climate in the town was sometimes described as a 'benevolent dictatorship'. Once, a feature article about Hopedale in the Boston Herald started with the words, "This almost feudal community..." As a school child, my impression was that, five minutes before you even thought of doing something, the whole town was gossiping about it! Claude Snider was an intensely private person, with not a shred of ostentation or self-importance. He never lost touch with his roots as the son of the village blacksmith in Weston, Oregon ( pop. 400). When he retired in 1959, his duties were assigned to 3 people, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Controller. Fair to say that he and Erwin Darrin were the two strongest powers supporting Tom West in his years as President. I promised I wouldn't write a book this time, and meant it. David (Snider)                                                    <><><><><><><><><><> Old New England Saying "If it takes longer than 40 hours, there's something wrong with the man or the job." Go right ahead with that story, and any others I might send along. My youngest, Melissa Snider, has promised to compile the family oral history when I give her the material (ahem, ahem!). My mother, Melissa Snider, named her youngest Melissa Claire Snider, so it's only right that I should name my youngest Melissa Marie Snider. We like to do successive generations of things. Tracing back, I have found five generations in a row on my mother's side where someone was born on a Friday 13th. My sister and I are two in my generation. We broke the chain, though, unless you count my middle son who was born on Halloween. (Does a backwards 13 count?) I don't gamble, and can't afford superstition. Speaking of Draper looms, there's a story I've never verified about Japanese looms. It was said that a team of Japanese people came over in the late 1930s and bought a number of different looms, but they bought only one of each kind. After the War, the story has it that whole factories of identical (to Draper) looms were found in Japan.                                                       <><><><><><><><><><> December 31, 2008 Dan, At work this morning, I took a few minutes to browse your latest email and wandered onto the page of The Larches. 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! A little earlier in my wanderings I saw the portrait of Bristow Draper. One very similar to that - except that he had a cigarette in his hands! - hung in our living room for years. I still have it, and will do some Photoshop restoration to make up for years of fading. As I recall, the portrait we had was sent one Christmas to directors, managers and such. Thanks for the memories! David                               Draper Menu                   Memories Menu                 HOME