| One of the outstanding features of the Bancroft Memorial Library
is the classic statuary gracing its grounds. Susan Preston Draper, a member
of Hopedale's founding family, commissioned the prominent Roman sculptor,
Waldo Storey, to design this fountain with the statue of the Roman goddess,
Hope, as its centerpiece. The Statue of Hope is constructed of Carrara
marble from Italy. She ensures that the cornucopias surrounding her are
spilling with plenty for the town. Medusa, the dolphin, and eagles provide
a fitting complement to her spirit. The statue was a gift to the town
for the library from Susan Preston Draper and presented on November 12,
1904. Today, the fountain is no longer in operation, but Hope remains
a focal point in the center of Hopedale. |
