On Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30 PM, Hopkinton’s Chuck Joseph will present The Story of Hopkinton: 1950 – Present at the Hopkinton High School auditorium. The event is free to attend and all are welcome.
In his presentation, Mr. Joseph will relay the history of how Hopkinton grew from a rural farming town to a thriving suburban community. The presentation will end with a question & answer period.
“I really believe that we’ve lost a sense of history,” said Mr. Joseph “I also believe firmly that we cannot live in the past. We can only let the past enlighten our future.”
Mr. Joseph is the Broker Owner at RE/MAX Executive Realty in Hopkinton, but prior to that he taught history at Hopkinton High School. He has been researching and preparing the presentation for nearly a year, with support from his friend Aubrey Doyle, Jr. Joseph and Doyle were motivated by their observation that oral history, which is foundational to the development of the human race, is a lost art. “We need to take the tradition forward. We need to be able to tell our children what happened, so that they can tell their children. This will contribute to the uniqueness of our town,” he said.
He chose the 1950’s because, in Mr. Joseph’s view, that is when Hopkinton “woke up from its 50-year sleep”.
“Hopkinton reverted to a small farm town in the period between the boot factories leaving and the highways coming in. But in the 1950’s we started accelerating, powered by the GI Bill, low-cost loans for veterans, and the expanding development of Metrowest.”
This event is sponsored by the Hopkinton Historical Society and the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce.
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LOVE the photos!!
What a great idea. Next to Osbornes was a taxi stand and Gene’s barber shop. Osbornes used to sell tiny turtles for 25 cents. The building across the street housed the post office and Emma’s clothing stores. The town barn was located where CVS is now.
I GREW UP WITH THOSE BUILDINGS. NICE TO REMEMBER WHEN HOPKINTON WAS A PLACE PEOPLE COULD BE PROUD OF. KNOWING THAT ALL PEOPLE IN TOWN MATTERED.
Will this event be recorded? I want to attend but work too late.
I remember being in the Osbourn’s store when I was a child, they were friends of my family in Vermont.
Osbourn’s was a 5 and dime store. Dot and Ray Osbourn were my grandparents and my sister and I used to “help” out at the store when we were little kids. They always had their bulldog, Jigs, (and later on, Muggsy) behind the counter or in the stockroom out back. Kids loved the dogs and used to buy them penny candy from the store. My grandmother would give them back their money when she found out. And, Ed, I remember the little turtles they sold. We always had one! I still have a copy of the Osbourn’s grand opening handbill…”Men’s White Handkerchiefs…7 cents, etc.” Chuck, I’d be happy to email it to you if you want. And, if the event is recorded, I’d love to see it.
Does anyone remember when an oil truck rolled thru the front of Osbournes? And i also remember Woods grocery, also Mcdoughers store at Hayden Rowe and maple st. Good times
McDonoughs.
Also would love it if this was recorded…would love to share it with our family during the holidays!
Thanks, Penny, for your memories…we bought many a turtle there. Our parents gave us 10 cents a week, and if we didn’t buy an Ice Cream cone at Katz Pharmacy on Sunday, we’d spend it at Osbourn’s on Monday buying penny candy or turtles. My Mom, who sewed almost all of our clothes, would depend on Osbourn’s when she needed thread, zippers, buttons, etc. I remember buying a gift for my Mom there…a small black and white braided rug that cost $1.00. Years later, my husband’s parents–Connie and Brandy Hehn–purchased the store. Kemmy remembers washing the floor during those years. Sooooo many memories!
Wayne, I certainly remember the accident with the oil truck. It rolled down the hill across the street and crashed into the window behind the check out counter. My grandmother was working the counter at the time. Miraculously, she was not hurt but needed help getting out from behind the counter.
Chuck, my first job was at Katz’s Soda Fountain and then at Osbourn’s Five & Dime for a few years while in high school. Ray & Dot were the best people to work for and they taught me so much about work ethnics. I also remember Emma’s store on the corner of 135 and Cedar Street and Murphy’s Drug store at the top of the hill. Great memories.