What is it like to live in Hopedale?
Parks, ponds, and planes.
Rich Gleason doesn’t have the back story you’d expect from your typical small-town firefighter. In 1995, shortly after relocating to Hopedale from Sherborn, the then-insurance salesman had a couple of beers at a house party with the chief at the time and one of the town’s firefighters.
“They said I should come down and be an on-call member of the Fire Department,’’ Gleason said. “I thought that was a bit nutty because I wore wing-tipped shoes, silk ties, and button-down shirts, but I fell in love with it.’’
Gleason has served his community ever since, full time for the past 15 years. The veteran firefighter loves his adopted hometown. He describes the bedroom community as “idyllic,’’ and it’s easy to see why. Hopedale is small (the entire town is 5.17 square miles) but with that size comes a tight-knit area where people care about one another. The town’s schools, places of worship, Fire Department, and library are all centrally located. Hopedale Pond and Parklands is a popular recreation area for residents looking to get fresh air in its very scenic setting.
There are unique circumstances that come with working in the same town you reside in — Gleason knows most of the people he is called to help — but he wouldn’t change a thing, especially considering how much firefighters are admired in small towns like this.
“We’re definitely held in high regard,’’ Gleason said. “Sometimes I don’t know people who I’m called to help, but they know me.’’
BY THE NUMBERS
1B6
The Federal Aviation Administration identifier for Hopedale Industrial Park Airport, a single-runway facility
$7.29
The price for the “Uncommon Common’’ at The Town Common, a favorite among locals (especially the firefighters, according to Gleason). The dish boasts three eggs, two pancakes or slices of french toast, breakfast meat, home fries, and toast.
78,000
The number of Northrop Looms sold in 1903. The Draper Corp., based in Hopedale, was the largest producer of textile machinery in America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2
The number of schools in town. Memorial Elementary School hosts kindergarten through sixth grade, and Hopedale Jr.-Sr. High educates the rest.
PROS & CONS
PRO & CON
Location
Hopedale is in Worcester County on the Suffolk County border, less than an hour away from Boston, Providence, and Worcester, making it a prime choice for families with multiple commuters. There is no commuter rail service, however, and you have to trek through other towns to get to a major highway.
CON
Limited excitement
Hopedale won’t blow you away with attractions and amenities. While there are nice parks and the Blackstone Valley IcePlex, the dining, shopping, and entertainment options are extremely limited. Don’t fret. There’s a drive-in movie theater right up the street in Mendon and bowling and a number of restaurants next door in Milford.
Jon Mael is a freelance writer based in Sharon. He can be reached at [email protected]. See more open house listings here and subscribe to our free newsletter at pages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUp.
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