Last updated: July 7, 2021
Place
Adin Ballou Park
Quick Facts
Location:
Hopedale, MA
Amenities
2 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Scenic View/Photo Spot
The centerpiece of the Adin Ballou Park is a statue of Hopedale's founder. Adin Ballou established Hopedale in 1841 as a Practical Christian community. Ballou and his followers attempted to create a utopian community based upon the practical application of the tenants of Christianity. This community outlived most of its utopian counterparts of the 1840s, and the community served as the basis for the company town that the Draper's constructed in the century that followed. Also within the park, you'll find the beaten front door step and boot scraper, the only remnants of the original farmhouse the first Hopedale settlers called home. The spirit of hope that inspired these Practical Christians is evident in the town's name — Hopedale — which they chose for their fledgling experiment in communal living.