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HONOR HOLYOKE
HER HEROES HER HERITAGE HER HISTORY
OLD HOME WEEK 75 + ANNIVERSARY 1873
1948 PRICE 50$
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/completeprogramo00unse
COMPLETE PROGRAM of Holyoke's Seventy-fifth Anniversary and
Home Coming Days
with
A History of the City
DUSTRIA
Inc.
ATA 1873> V16
1873
HOLYOKE CONDITA.A.O.
REGIMINE DON
September 3, 4, 5, 6, 1948
SEVENTY - FIFTH
ANNIVERSARY
Introduction
This Program Book is strictly a Holyoke product. The cover design ... the cover itself, the cuts, the pictures from which cuts were made, the printing, binding, the paper, and all that contributes to its workmanship, belong exclusively to local industry, labor and materials.
The history is, of necessity, lim- ited by the time element, and allotted space, restricted to certain phases of our beginnings and growth
You will find among our adver- tisers the general historical theme of the book emphasizes, both in wording and illustrations, the Anniversary and Old Home Coming Program. All this makes interesting reading, and gives a true picture of our mercantile and industrial institutions. A stronger apprecia- tion of our resources, and our manpower should come to those who read every page in this book.
To the many who have contributed of their time, labor, and funds, I personally desire to give iny many thanks. The public owes them a debt of gratitude.
Whether you were born in Holyoke, or are an adopted citizen, matters little. Holyokers possess an indefinable quality of open heartedness, frankness, and friendliness, that sets them apart from peoples of any other city. There is, at the same time, differences of opinion, and a strong spirit of allegiance to causes, and to men, but with all of this, we are a peculiarly united people. Many times the fires of political and economic controversy burn brightly, pro- ducing a torrid temperature, but this is mostly surface heat. Under- neath this, are the steady and true heart beats of a loyal, earnest, and God-fearing people.
As a city, we have existed for three-quarters of a century, and studying the future in terms of the past, it is easy, and good, to prophecy that Holyoke will go on for many generations to come, and with every year, become a stronger and better place in which to live.
HOWARD CONANT
ANNIVERSARY
SEVENTY - FIFTH
Commemorative Ode
75TH ANNIVERSARY HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS
I
Ever the curve of the noble river, riding In majesty down to the sea, with the darkling gleani
Of the tree-edged stream, and the flooding color gliding,
Mirror for golden sky; and ever the dream
That lies in the splendor of wind-swept hills, ringed deep, Massive and couchant shapes, with the glory of God On their heights. Such has it always been. With exultant Roar the great falls leap,
As they leaped to the Indian's canoe; and the mountains broad Ageless, inscrutable, stand, as ever, triumphant.
II
This our heritage proud, beauty most rare, Beauty beyond compare, vibrant with surging
Of love that long since quickened to visions fair, Richest imaginings from the minds of heroes emerging ;
Actualities now, our treasures for long, the sun-lit
Canals, the soaring grace of our granite tower,
The long, straight streets with vistas beyond, the housing For sumptuous silks, the spirit
Motivating the machine, paper for precious dower
Of thought, and the mighty dam. But richer the browsing
III
Into breathless delights, birds and the ringing Of bells, the moon o'er the Castle, and gardens slumbrous
In heat, the resonant music of organ, and singing And dancing of children. With a past such as this, lustrous And gemmed, like the great planes that soar from the Field, may flight Wing us on to future achievement, building the mystery Of youth to the stars, for the race to swing upwards, higher, Into the dazzling light.
"Honor Holyoke, her heritage, her heroes, her history."
From the glorious torch, Heaven-lit, comes undying fire.
By ANNA MARIE LAPORTE
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SEVENTY - FIFTH
ANNIVERSARY
HONORABLE HENRY J. TOEPFERT Mayor of the City of Holyoke Elected to fill an unexpired term in 1932. Elected to full terms: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949.
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A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR TOEPFERT
Holyoke is indeed happy in celebrating OLD HOME WEEK in conjunction with the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of her incorporation as a city. And there are men and women in our city today, who recall the date of Holyoke's incorporation as a city,-1873.
I am sure there is nothing finer in life-nothing that we look forward to more- than GOING HOME. There is a sweetness in this anticipation that just sets one aglow.
The citizens of Holyoke have been looking forward to the return of those whose business interests have taken them to other cities and towns. Yet I know that they will make this return visit, one to be long remembered.
Never has a call come to the city of Holyoke for the good of her citizens or for the defense of our country that has not received mag- nificent response. And I think our slogan,- "Honor Holyoke, Her Heroes, Her Heritage, Her History," is splendid, because we are proud of each and every one of the honors.
We have had the pleasure of entertaining many organizations at their conventions held in Holyoke. And we have learned that they felt they had been splendidly taken care of. In fact, they look for- ward to a later return. Our parting words to these groups, as we wished them Godspeed, were :- That it was not to hasten their de- parture but rather to speed their return.
We are proud of the marked advancement that Holyoke has made during her seventy-five years as a city, which we will gladly share with the new citizens to come, keeping progress with the change in times, that we may safely look forward to a greater city, built on the solid foundation that is ours. This will be the goal of all the people of Holyoke, working together to achieve the fine destination that should and will be ours.
When consideration was being given for the construction of the City Hall, there were two groups-one having in mind building it on Depot Square where the old Boston & Maine Depot stood. The other group favored building it on its present site.
On the pros and cons of its consideration, one group said: "You are building it in the woods. There is nothing there but one ten- footer." The other group said: "Yes! But some day that is going to be the center of the City of Holyoke." And we all know how near that is to being almost definitely true. The City Hall was completed in 1876.
This project was well thought out. This is a project where our forefathers had the best interests of the city in mind; gave delibera- tion, too. And I am sure that we all feel they chose wisely.
In the days to come let us, too, give calm deliberation to the projects that are Holyoke's needs. I feel certain that, in these chang- ing times, our people are united and willing to give their very best to make the future of Holyoke secure.
HENRY J. TOEPFERT Mayor, City of Holyoke
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ANNIVERSARY
WYATT HARPER Historian
Preface to History
History reveals the past to the present, and is a guide, and in- spiration, to future generations.
This has been the aim of our historian, Wyatt Harper, beloved teacher and friend of Holyoke youth for a quarter of a century.
I am certain the reading of Holyoke's history will recall many pleasant and interesting events to our older generation, and emotions of pride, and gratitude, to those who now enjoy the blessings of the labor, and foresight, of the builders, and makers of our city.
May the reading of this history increase in all of us the true spirit of civic righteousness, cooperation, and good will so that it may be said of each one, "He is a true citizen of no mean city."
HOWARD CONANT
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ANNIVERSARY
SEVENTY - FIFTH
The Story of Holyoke
QUINNI-TUKQ-UT
The region of the Connectient Valley was first inhabited by Englishmen in 1633 by virtue of a post established at Windsor by traders from the Plymouth Plantation. Very shortly it became subject to rival claims on the part of New Neth- erlands, the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Plymouth. When the Dutch built a fort at Hart- l'ord. John Winthrop countered by erecting an English stronghold at Saybrook at the mouth of the river.
The Massachusetts Bay men explored the over- land route to the "Great River." and their favorable reports encouraged inhabitants of Dorchester. Watertown, and Newton to come to a region where greater religious and political l'reedom as well as material betterment might be lad. In 1635-1636 settlements were made at Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford.
At about the same time William Pynehon and others of Roxbury, acting from similar motives, took the westward eourse ; but instead of eontin- uing down the river as the others had done. stopped at its banks and made a settlement at Agawam, where was constructed a warehouse and wharf for purposes of trade with the In- dians. Out of this trading post at Agawam grew the Springfield settlement ; and out of Spring- field evolved West Springfield whose third Par- ish, called North Parish, or "Treland Parish," became Holyoke.
For a time the Connectient River settlements banded together as more or less of a political entity. Hartford was the center. It was from this group of settlers on the Quinni-tukq-ut that America received "the first written constitution known to history that created a government," and also that great basic precept of American democratic philosophy, "the foundation of an- thority of government is laid firstly in the free consent of the people"; expressed by Thomas Hooker at Hartford.
From the standpoint of trade with the Indians the location of the Agawam settlement was a happy one. At the confluence of two rivers and a junction of Indian trails, it commanded not only the wide network of tributaries of the ten- nous Connectient, but the upper reaches of the Westfield as well; and the far ranging moun- tains beyond. Along the waters of the Chicopee River to the east another prolific source of trade was to develop. Truly here was the key to a magnificent hinterland.
The fur trade prospered. For a time it was
the chief business just as farming was the chief occupation. Pynchon, who paid the Bay Colony $20 for his monopoly of the trade at Springfield and Northampton, purchased during the years 1652-1657 almost ten thousand beaver as well as sundry otter, muskrat, moose, and mink skins to the value of $27.000. Good beaver pelt was worth ten shillings to the pound; but the price was ratable in the current value of wheat per bushel not in Sterling.
Agriculture became the means of livelihood for the majority of settlers in the valley. Cut off from Boston Bay by an hundred miles of hills and forest, to be traversed only at some peril along the old "Bay Path," they immediate- ly embarked upon subsistence endeavor.
They had come to a bountiful land. Soon the deep, rich, alluvial soil of the valley began to yield adequate crops of corn, rye, barley, wheat, and grasses. Lush meadow lands came under the control of the white man. Cattle and horses, sheep and hogs were driven in to play their part in an agrarian economy. The virgin timber of the not too distant foothills resounded to the woodsman's ax, and lumber began to float down river as a commodity in trade for the outside world.
The best agricultural land of New England was to be found in the Connecticut Valley ; and the best farm land of the settlement was to be had on the west side of the river. In the north- ern part of the grant was a magnificent rapids in the river where fish were to be caught in great plenty at certain seasons of the year.
EARLY INDIAN LIFE
Often in summertime bands of Indians came down from the higher hills on both sides of the valley to fish in the river. They pitched their temporary camps near the rapids and occupied the region with all their straggling, ill-kept retinue. The Quinni-tukq-ut or long river was more or less a dividing line between the family of tribes of the coastal Indians or Algonquins to the east and the Iroquois or Mohawks to the west. It is certain that tribes of both nations came to the river; but it was seldom that they crossed except in time of war and for purposes of invasion.
The river was also a main artery of travel from the sea shore up to the St. Lawrence and it was known that the Mohawks eame annually down the Deerfield and the great river to gather tribute from the Agawams who lived near
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Springfield, the Nonotneks who lived near Northampton, and perhaps the Woronocos who lived near Westfield.
Some of the longer-headed Indians were pro- vident enough to plant small patches of maize in desirable spots along the rich bottom land. Lawfully they gave up this right by virtue of the first Indian deed to the settlement dated July 15 1636. conveying all their valley land to Pynchon, Smith, and Burr. Occasionally, how- ever, they returned to their ancient domicile and little question was raised. Even after the white man had taken over fully, an occasional brave resented the conversion of the land of his fore- fathers.
Of recent years much light has been thrown upon early Indian habitation of the region that is now Holyoke, by the joint investigations of the late William J. Howes, William S. Fowler. and Edward Danaczko. All are enthusiastic members of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society.
A few years ago, while searching for traces of old Indian camp sites. Edward Danaczko found evidence of habitation on the shore of the river near Bachelor Brook. Not satisfied with this he went further and explored the bed of the river out a hundred feet from shore. After days of work with shovel and sieve he located several gravel bars, each of which yielded relics of Indian life, continuing this work until he had collected a great many specimens.
Several other members of the Archaeological Society joined the search and putting all the evidence obtained together substantiated a be- lief that at least one of these camps had been occupied in very early prehistoric days. prob- ably before overland travel had permitted trade between these people and distant tribes. This site was the first such of its kind to be discovered in the Connecticut Valley. Mr. Fowler in de- scribing the findings for the Massachusetts Archaeological Society declared that a more or less permanent camp was maintained here, prob- ablv for a long period of years.
A Quarter of a century ago John Gordon, a collector did some sifting on this same inner bar below Bachelor Brook. He washed out eight well made arrow points from a rather small area. He stated : "Nearly all relies I find on this bar are quartz. I sent a quantity of unfinished im- plements and quartz chippings from here to the Smithsonian Institute and they pronounced this gravel bar the site of a prehistoric workshon."
There is certain presumptive evidence that other such camp sites existed on the west bank of the river, not too far up or down from the great rapids ; possibly at the dingle at what is
now the end of Dartmouth Street. Many In- dian graves were opened on Depot Hill in 1870, just north of what is now DeRoy Park. One grave was found in the area of the park itself and several more have been unearthed at Springdale.
The significant truth about Indian life in the Holyoke area in the early days of the Springfield settlement is that the Indians overran the whole region at will and constituted such a menace as to preclude the development of individual farm- steads in outlying districts. In this respect they delayed settlement of the Chicopee plain and the "Field" where Holyoke later was to grow for the best part of a century.
This reluctance of the settlers to build their homes on the west bank of the river lest they be caught outside the lines in another great Indian uprising or murdered in some sporadic raid was well founded. The danger was real.
When in September, 1637, Ludlow Pynchon, and others journeyed overland to Boston Bay. carrying a piece of the skin and a lock of the hair of the dead sachem Sassacus, "a rare sight and a sure demonstration of the death of their mortal enemy," the Pequot War was at an end. Captain Mason had recently administered d ernshing defeat and a cruel massacre upon the Pequots in their own Mystic River stronghold. A great day of prayer and thanksgiving was held in three colonics. For a time Indian troubles were banished from the Connecticut ; but not for long.
ELIZUR HOLYOKE
Among the vigorous younger members of the settlement and a leader in Indian warfare was Eliznr Holyoke, son of one Edward Holyoke of Rmnney Marsh or Chelsea. The original home of the Holyoke family had been in Tamworth. Warwickshire, England. Elizur decided to cast his lot with the Connecticut river settlement and about the year 1640 married William Pynchon's daughter, Mary. In time he came to be a large landholder by virtue of estates purchased from the town or acquired by grant for public service.
The services of Elizur Holyoke to Springfield were many and varied. While still a youth he often served as juryman or even as foreman of the jury. When the land on the west side of the river was laid out in 1642, he was a leader in the work. For many years he served in the important post as constable. Finally he became a member of the commission of magistrates, and after Hampshire County was organized in 1662 an associate county judge and recorder of the court. Springfield's first representative to the General Court, he, with Pynchon and Chapin,
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was appointed by that body to lay out a new plantation at Nonotnek. Nonotuek in time be- came Northampton.
It was probably in the course of this survey of Nonotnek that Mount Tom and Mount Hol- yoko were given their names. Mount Tom was first Mount Thomas after Rowland Thomas, a chopper. Mount Holyoke was named for Elizur Holyoke.
The story goes that, as the group of planters went, northward to explore the country, one party headed by Holyoke went up on the east side of the river and another, headed by Thom- as went up on the west. The parties arriving abreast at the narrow place in the river below Hoekanum, Elizur Holyoke and Thomas held conversation with one another across the river. Each then and there gave his own name to the mountain at whose feet he stood.
As a military man Holyoke served his towns- men as lientenant and finally as captain of militia. He died February 5, 1676, while com- manding troops fighting the Indiaus in King Philip's war.
PERILOUS DAYS
In July of 1675, Philip of Poconoket and his Wampanoag warriors were defeated in the "Swamp Fight" at Tiverton, Rhode Island. From that time on the theatre of King Philip's War moved westward. Danger eame to the val- ley again.
The Indians of this confliet were a formidable enemy. Their weapons were no longer the tom- ahawk, the arrow, and the sealping knife. Now they had the white man's weapons; firearms, powder, and ball. Still they fought with stealth. surprise, and ambush. Under the guidanee of the sagacious Philip they had organization and a plan.
Tragedy came to the river settlements. North- field, Deerfield, and Hadley were attacked. Set- tlers were eut down in their houses and meadows, their eattle slaughtered, their grain for the winter burned. Each day of early September brought tidings more ominous. The foree of Captain Beers was ambushed south of Northfield and more than half of his soldiers slain. Three survivors were burned at the stake. Northamp- ton and Hatfield were in peril. Finally eame "the saddest day that ever befel New England," the massaere of a hundred picked soldiers and a seore of ox eart drivers at the site of Bloody Brook, several miles south of Deerfield.
Bands of pillaging Indians began to work their way southward. In Northampton houses and barns were burned. Later a group of farm-
ers gathering erops on the Northampton mead- ows south of the town were fired npon and three of their number killed. Men returning from Westfield were ambushed in the northern part of West Springfield and half their number killed. Finally at Northampton the Indians broke through the palisades and infiltrated into the town. Only the presence of the troops of Major Treat and Captain Turner saved the in- habitants from massacre.
In the meantime Springfield was burned. The Agawam Indians, who had long been the staunchest friends of the white man, succumbed to the persuasion of Philip and let some three hundred of Philip's warriors into their Long Ilill fort. The inhabitants, warned by a friend- ly redskin, managed to get to the cover of fortified houses from which they could see their unguarded houses and barns set afire. The river settlers were learning a terrifying lesson; one which it would take them ahnost a century to forget, one which delayed settlement in the Holyoke region.
Philip was finally brought to bay through his own duplicity. In order to embroil the Mohawks in his crusade, he cansed a number of their braves to be killed and aceused the English of their murder. The plan miscarried. One of the victims supposed to be dead revived and got back to his people. Thereafter all the pent-up enmity of the Mohawks coneentered upon Philip alone. Even his own braves began to desert.
Report has it that it was at this time that the Indians of the falls vieinity left this region for all time. "On Friday, August 11, 1676, the last remnant of the Hadley Indians, numbering fifty or sixty warriors and a hundred women, besides children, erossed the Connectieut River on rafts at the foot of the great falls in Hadley." (Prob- ably a little above the present Holyoke dam.) "They fled by the ponds to the southwest and, cireling Westfield. pushed on toward the ford of the Honsatonie River."
From that day the "Norwottneks" or Nono- tueks were seen no more as permanent dwellers in the valley where their forbears had lived for centuries. The Agawams lingered on but with the defeat of Philip became subservient. The day of peril from the savage was over.
IRELAND PARISH
The members of the colony wanted land. They had come across the ocean to find it. Now they demanded that the common holdings be divided. As early as 1653, the proprietors made an allot- ment of these lands, some on the west side of
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ANNIVERSARY
INGLESIDE
the river. From time to time thereafter other divisions were made. House lots were granted also on the west side of the river, several in the northern part wherein Holyoke is situated. As early as 1684, one John Riley purchased sixteen acres of land just north of what is now the southern Holyoke boundary line. The lot was defined on the south by a brook, ever since ealled Riley's Brook.
Finally in 1707, a full partition of west side land was made when all available unsold lands were divided into ten-aere plots and apportioned by lot to the male inhabitants over twenty-one years of age. There were seventy-three such persons. Prominent among the family names mentioned in this apportionment were those of the Baggs, the Barkers, the Days, the Millers, the Bodurthas, the Balls, the Tailers and the Elys.
In 1862, Hampshire County was organized, embracing the present counties of Berkshire. Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire. One of the first achievements of this new county organ- ization was the improvement of the ox-cart trail that led from Northampton down to the settle- ments on the river below.
JOHN RILEY
Two generations passed sinee the King Philip War and now the people were becoming less fearful of Indian dangers. Occasionally a settler more courageous than the others would
establish his home in one of the more remote spots. About 1730, Riley was living on the land which he had purchased in 1684.
A John Riley and his wife, Graee O'Dea, came to this country from Ireland about the vear 1634. They settled at Hartford, Connec- ticut, where their first two children were born, John in 1648 and Joseph in 1649, after which they moved to West Springfield, where Jon- athon was born in 1651, and other children later. With Riley came a nephew John, who married Mrs. Riley's younger sister, Margaret O'Dea. They had two daughters, Margaret and Mary.
It was probably the son born in 1646, after whom the Riley Brook area was named. He would have been thirty-eight years old at the time of the purchase of the sixteen acres of land. His daughter married an Ely.
As early as the beginning of the century a family by the name of Gleason had taken 1 grant of land located on what became Tannery Brook in the valley a little to the west of what is now Homestead Avenue. These people were in an exposed position. Finding themselves scouted by Indians they were foreed to hide in a eave on the hillside. A little girl of the family took sick and died. She was buried at night, in a meadow in front of the Thomas Humestou honse.
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