A Jazz Age estate built by one of Massachusetts’ most powerful industrial families has come on the market in Hopedale, a former mill town about 35 miles southwest of Boston.
Known as “The Ledges,” the 12-bedroom, 11,600-square-foot stone-and-brick mansion sits on more than 17 acres and is listed for $9.5 million at 55 Adin Street. The property is represented by Nicole Willey And Robin Tamburrini from TEAM Metrowest.
The property is rich in local history. Just Draperwho was governor of Massachusetts from 1909 to 1911 and headed the Draper Corporation – once the largest manufacturer of textile looms in the country and the engine of Hopedale’s economy – built his original residence here in 1885.
After his death the previous house was destroyed and his son, Just Draper Jr.built the current property in its place in the 1920s, preserving the family’s influence on the site.
This newer house was ambitious even by the standards of the time. Listing materials describe the house as an exact replica of a Scottish castle, with parts dismantled in England, sent across the Atlantic and rebuilt on site. Some original New York cobblestones were even used in the reconstruction.
Inside, the historical details have largely been preserved. The ground floor ceilings reach up to 20 feet, while the great hall is 50 feet long. There is imported English oak and flagstone, coffered ceilings, rows of leaded glass windows, a banquet-sized dining room and 14 fireplaces.
The floor plan is designed in an unusual “cloverleaf” design. There are many special features: a separate bar room, a hidden half bath, a walk-in safe in the basement, a heated greenhouse-style basement, a stunning library and a finished top floor apartment with exposed brick, a private full bath and even more leaded glass. The oven from 1926 is also preserved.
But the best thing about this historic gem is that everything behind the walls is brand new. Electrical, plumbing, heating and central air were all replaced. The original wooden ceilings have been restored and the floors replaced. All bathrooms were gutted and rebuilt with marble and tiles. The kitchen was remodeled around an oversized center island with dining and seating areas, a Wolf range, Sub-Zero refrigerator and Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers.
The site extends to a depth of approximately a quarter of a mile and has its own amenities.
“The expansive grounds include an in-ground pool, tennis court, pavilion and pond, creating a private estate designed for both comfortable living and memorable entertaining,” says Willey.
The town itself is home to the nearly 180-acre Hopedale Parklands, with trails around Hopedale Pond for hiking, biking and wildlife viewing, as well as a park with playgrounds and ball fields. Routes 16 and 140 connect locally with I-495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike nearby.
“Hopedale offers a distinctive balance of historic New England character, open space and regional connectivity,” she says.
Willey also points out that the address is on what locals call “Millionaire’s Row,” and sees a wide range of potential buyers for it.
“Someone who wants to live in an exceptional home that can be passed down from generation to generation, a developer who wants to develop the buildable land on the property, or perhaps a business who wants to host a retreat or is looking for options like a bed and breakfast or wedding venue,” she says.
According to the listing, the property also has several lots that could be developed, opening the door for buyers interested in expanding.
“The Ledges is a place where historic architecture and exceptional craftsmanship come together in a truly extraordinary setting,” she says. “You just don’t find houses like this in this area.”
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Larissa Runkle is an experienced real estate writer, lifestyle journalist and marketing strategist with over a decade of experience and more than 2,000 published articles. Her work on housing, personal finance and lifestyle has appeared in major publications such as Bankrate, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance and New York Post. In 2023, she founded a boutique copywriting studio to work with real estate developers and top brokerage firms to create strategic content that builds lasting brand authority. When she’s not writing, Larissa enjoys the outdoors at her home in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, where she lives with her husband, son, and German Shepherd, Yoko.
