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Hopedale’s “Little Red Shop” gets Pike Tourism Grant |
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August 8, 2005 – Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew J. Amorello visited the “Little Red Shop” textile history museum today to present a check for $10,000. The grant to the Hopedale Historical Commission will help to re-open the unique museum as a tourist attraction. Joining Mr. Amorello for the award presentation were Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) and Rep. Marie J. Parente (D-Milford), who supported the Historical Commission’s request for funding, along with Town Administrator Eugene Phillips, as well as other Hopedale officials. “These grants go a long way to bringing tourists to historic sites in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, which is highlighted with signs along the Massachusetts Turnpike,” said Mr. Amorello. “The more tourists who use the Pike to visit our state’s nationally significant historic sites, that helps us keep tolls down,” he added. The tourism funds are provided by direction of the Legislature to boost tourism and use of the tollway. Senator Moore, who as a Hopedale Selectman in the 1970’s was instrumental in obtaining the museum for the town from the Rockwell Corporation as it disposed of its Draper Division assets, noted that, “Tourism, which is among the state’s top industries today, is helping to restore a symbol of one of the Commonwealth’s top industries of yesterday – textile manufacturing. This museum helps to tell the next generation about our proud past and the success of inventors and entrepreneurs of America’s Industrial Revolution. It should inspire today’s youth to be the entrepreneurs of tomorrow,” he added. Last fall, the museum received a $100,000 historic preservation grant from the Legislature to fund a major portion of the museum renovation. |
