Bancroft Memorial Library
Also known as: Hopedale Public Library
Why it's listed
Bancroft Memorial Library, at 50 Hopedale Street, is a one-story Romanesque Revival building of pink Milford granite with a slate cross-gable roof, designed in 1898 by C. Howard Walker of the Boston firm Walker & Kimball. Joseph Burbier Bancroft, a vice-president of the Draper company, had it built as a tribute to his late wife, and it was given to the town. Inside, the original plan survives, including oak arched ceiling trusses, carved oak screens, leaded-glass windows, fireplaces and a semi-circular oak circulation desk. On the lawn stands a marble drinking fountain topped by the Statue of Hope, sculpted by Waldo Story in Rome, given by Susan Preston Draper in 1904 and dedicated in 1905. Both gifts reflect the civic improvement campaign in Hopedale, a planned company town shaped by the Draper family. The property was recognized for its architecture, art and local educational role between 1898 and 1948.
Significance in brief: The library is presented as a fine example of Hopedale's late 19th-century institutional growth as a planned company town under the Draper company. Its Romanesque-inspired design and intact interior are noted. The 1904 fountain and statue by Waldo Story is the town's most elaborate piece of outdoor sculpture. It meets Criteria A and C at the local level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000188, listed February 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 50 Hopedale St., Hopedale |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000188 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898-1948 |
| Architect / builder | C. Howard Walker of Walker & Kimball (Boston); fountain sculpted by Waldo Story |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Library described as in excellent condition and still used as a library; the fountain is deteriorating, with cleaning and stabilization anticipated. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hopedale Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.13034, -71.54120 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000188.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4854160
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.