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HOLYOKE
Past and Present Progress and Prosperity Historical and Industrial Notes
Famous as the Paper City
-SOUVENIR 1910-
W. M. ALCORN Business Manager
P. E. SHIRLEY Descriptive Writer
Holyoke,
CITY OF Massachusetts
SOUVENIR, 1910
ELMWOOD PARK, AMONG THE FLOWERS.
Holyoke, numbered among the leading and most prosperous manufacturing cities of New England, is situated on the Connecticut river in the western part of Massachusetts and is in close proximity to northern Connecticut. By state eensus of 1905 the population was 49,934, and it is estimated the census of 1910 will show 58,000 people. The city was incorporated April 7, 1873.
Holyoke owes its growth and prosperity to its excellent water power and advantageous geographi- eal position. It has elose railroad connections with Boston, Hartford, Albany and New York, and is for- tunate in having in its commercial eireles many busi- ness men of sagacity, energy and progressive ideas. The leading industries of the city are devoted to the manufacture of paper, blank books, cotton, thread, woolens, alpacas, blankets, wire cloth, machinery, steam pumps, bits, braces, hydrants, boilers, trolley tracks and various auxiliary produets.
The city has two of the finest main streets to be seen in any New England eity of similar population, substantial business blocks and spacious and finely appointed stores; also residences and apartment houses of modern construction. There is an excellent free public library and hospital, besides parochial
schools and charitable institutions of merit, and the publie school system takes rank with the best any- where.
About one-third of the population of Holyoke is made up of the Canadian French who have proven good law abiding and industrious citizens. In its en- tirety the community is intelligent, peaceful and am- bitious, and the future has much in store for the city's increased growth and prosperity.
The early history of Holyoke is much like that of various other pioneer New England settlements. The people eleared the land, engaged in agriculture and sought trade with other colonies.
History tells us that in October 1633 a number of Plymouth men, led by William Holmes, got to- gether material for a house, put it on a craft, sailed into the river, ignored the Dutchmen at Hartford and came to Windsor where they landed and ereeted the first house in the Connecticut Valley. In 1635 permis- sion was granted certain ones in Roxbury, Dorchester and Watertown, provided they went beyond the juris- diction of the colonial government. Those from Rox- bury came to Agawam. These were preceded by two men, John Woodcock and John Cable, who built a log house in Agawam. In the fall they returned to Rox-
HOLYOKE SOUVENIR
View of Connecticut River, Mt. Tom in Distance. HOLYOKE, Muss.
VIEW OF CONNECTICUT RIVER, MT. TOM IN DISTANCE.
bury. At this time the Agawams or Springfield In- dians claimed all the territory on both sides of the river between Enfield Falls below and the South Had- ley Falls above.
In 1636 this territory was purchased and it pro- vided that each person should have a home section on the Springfield side of the river, and another section as nearly opposite as possible. This territory ineluded Longmeadow, Springfield, Chicopee and Ludlow on one side and Agawam, West Springfield and Holyoke on the other side. For forty years no trouble oe- curred between the English settlers and the Indians, until the King Philip war of 1675, when the Indians were won over against the colonists. After the treaty of peace in 1678 the eolonist had a more prosperous ea- reer.
The pioneer settler of Holyoke was one Riley who
located in what is now the southern part of Holyoke. History does not give the year, but the section for years was known as "Ireland." Certainly one of the earliest settlers was Benjamin Ball who located in 1745 on what is now Northampton and Cherry streets. Four years afterwards came Captain John Miller who purchased a large part of what is now Holyoke. The house he built was on Northampton street, remained in the Miller family until 1857, and when demolished in 1884, was the oldest house in the eity. On the same street stood the famed old "Brown House," once oc- cupied by Enoch Ely of Revolutionary fame.
When first set off West Springfield embraced what is now West Springfield, Holyoke, Agawam and Feeding Hills. The colonists grew in their fields wheat, corn and rye which were taken to Boston and other markets. Rye was at this time worth $1.00 per
CITY HOSPITAL, HOLYOKE.
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Memory at Holyoke, Mass.
ARMORY AT HOLYOKE.
bushel and upwards, and was used for manufacturing whiskey.
The first church built in Holyoke was located on Northampton street and the first minister, Rev. Mr. Rand, a Baptist clergyman, preached for several years. Every fourth Sunday the Congregationalists had service. The church was partly built in 1792 and finished by the First Congregational Society in 1799. The first Baptist church was organized in 1803 and Mr. Rand assumed the pastoral office. In 1849 the second Congregational church was organized, and in 1883 the present edifice at the corner of Maple and Appleton streets was built.
During all these years, preceding the Revolution, the Conneetieut had borne a considerable traffice be- tween Hartford and South Hadley Falls. In 1792 twenty representative men procured from the Great and General Court an act of incorporation "for the purpose of rendering the Connecticut river passable for boats and other things from the mouth of the Chicopee river northward through the Common- wealth"-the corporation being entitled "the Pro- prietors of the Locks and Canals of the Connectieut River." Great improvements were made by these and others, but it was not until 1849 that the present great dam was built. While population and busi- ness had to some extent increased still it was not un- til after the Connecticut river railroad opened in De- cember, 1845, that capitalists visited the falls and de- cided on the purchase of all the territory upon both sides of the river, necessary to the proper development of a great manufacturing city. They first purchased thirty-seven aeres of land, now Prospect Park, the franchises of the old Hadley Falls Com- pany, and those of the "Proprietors of the Locks and Canals on Connecticut river." The agent, in the end, had bought 1,100 acres for $119,000, all he desired, except one tract of land owned by Samuel Ely where the church of the Rosary now stands. The titles were all acquired and completed in 1847. These eapital- ists, after an extensive survey, believed this vast power capable of building a city of two hundred thousand
souls. The location for the new dam was decided on August 17, 1847, and it was completed November 19, 1848. The first dam proved a failure, although the cost had been $75,000 and in the spring of 1849, un- der the supervision of Philander Anderson, a new dam was eommenced, which, at a cost of $150,000, was finished and proved a success in October, 1849.
The first town meeting in Holyoke was held Mareh 15, 1850. The town was named after Elizur Holyoke. In 1850 the Holyoke House was opened.
City Hall, Holyoke, Mass.
CITY HALL, HOLYOKE.
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GERMANIA PARK.
In 1851 the Hadley Falls Company had two fac- tories running, in 1853 the Parsons Paper Mills were built and in 1854 the Lyman Mills.
During the war of the Rebellion, the people were intensely enthusiastic for the career of the North and preservation of the Union, and many of the town's young men went to the front. The memory of those who fell in battle, or died from diseases contracted while in service, is preserved by a handsome soldiers' monument.
Holyoke is growing in all ways, in population, bus- iness activity and as a city of homes. In each of these lines the growth is steady and healthy. Every day it is advancing in popularity and progress. Holyoke is a neat, clean city and it can be truthfully said that there is not a city its peer as a place of residence and as a commercial and industrial center. Nature has done not a little towards beautifying Holyoke with Mount Tom and its environments on one side and the Westfield country with Hampden Ponds on the other.
Holyoke is finely laid off with streets running par- allel to the canals and the others at right angles.
POLICE.
The police department is carefully managed and adequate to the needs of the city. From the marshal, Thomas J. Lynch, to the humblest patrolman, the mem- bers of the force are vigilant, painstaking and a credit to Holyoke. Day and night members of the depart- ment are on watch and every section of the city is reg- ularly patrolled, in order to give the most thorough guard that can be devised for the protection of human life and property. No pains are spared to enforce all statutes and ordinances, and as a result Holyoke today maintains the enviable record that it long ago established of being one of the most law abiding cities of the commonwealth. The police force is composed of a marshal, assistant marshal, captain, four ser- geants, matron and patrolman. Coincident to the de- partment is the police court in which criminal busi- ness is transacted every day except Sunday, with civil business on Saturday.
CHURCHES.
Holyoke is a strong religious center and its peo- ple take much pride in their splendid church edifices. In the Highlands and Elmwood sections the at- become the leading residential parts of our city. The streets are well laid off and are lined with the most magnificent shade trees. The religious history does not differ materially from mosphere is invigorating and it is no wonder they have ' that characteristic of most New England communities, and is touched on in an earlier part of this sketch. In brief it can truthfully be stated that in Holyoke re- ligion has ever kept steady pace with the steady The area of Holyoke is nearly twenty-three square miles, the parks alone comprising over one hundred acres. The trolley and railroad facilities are up-to- date so that it is a very easy matter for one to reach any of the surrounding cities and towns. The rides by electrie cars to Mt. Tom, Springfield, Westfield, Northampton and Amherst are particularly delightful and during the summer season are largely patron- ized, progress of the city. There are many houses of wor- ship and several of them are of the finest of con- struction. The societies are influential, while the clergy are men of high standing, ability and learn- ing, as well as public spirited. The Protestant denom- inations are represented by three Baptist churches, three Congregational, two Methodist, one Episcopal, one Presbyterian, one Unitarian, one German Evan- gelican Lutheran and one German Reformed church.
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Post Office, Holyoke, Masa.
POST OFFICE, HOLYOKE.
The Catholies have ten churches, with six convents, House of Providence Hospital and seven parochial schools. The Hebrews have their synagogue.
SCHOOLS.
In all necessary lines of education, Holyoke is second to none in the country for its public sehool system is of the very best. First it has a most effi- cient board of education which is composed of citizens of high character and alert to the welfare of all the pupils. The board consists of a chairman, secretary, a representative of each ward and two members at large. From this membership there are a distriet and a standing committee, which carefully attends to the many details incident to the management of the schools. There are four supervisors and three truant offieers besides the superintendent. The William Whiting school now being constructed will be a nota- ble addition and one that will rank with the best any- where.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Holyoke Fire Department is well organized and earefully governed, and its members have often shown their ability and loyalty to duty in actual serv- ice. The record shows that it is strong in every way, even more so than many departments in larger eities, and this is owing in no small measure to Chief John T. Lynch's entiring efforts and good government over his men.
FRATERNAL.
Prominent fraternal organizations are unusually strong and of large and growing membership. Taken alphabetically they are as follows: Alsace-Lorraine Union of America; A. O. H., Divisions No. 1, 9, 10 and 11; A. O. H. Ladies' Auxiliary Divisions 2 and 6; A. O. U. W. Paper City Lodge and Mt. Holyoke Lodge; Arbeiter-Liedertafel ; Bartenders' Union ; B. P. O. E. Holyoke Lodge; Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, No. 557; Builders' Exchange; Central Labor Union ;
..
MT. TOM HOUSE.
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Circle Rochambeau; Dames of Malta; Daughters of Scotia; Daughters of St. George; Degree of Pocahontas; Des Deutschen Order Harugari Harmonie Lodge and Carola Frauen Lodge; Firemen's Aid Association; Firemen's Relief Fund Association; F. of A. has Courts, City of Hol- yoke, North Star, Paper City, Mount Royal, Beacon Light Circle and Jeanne D'Arc Circle; Catholie Order of Foresters, Shields Court, Mt. Tom Court and Isa- bella Court; Fraternal Order of Eagles; Grand Army of the Republic has Kilpatrick Post and Kilpatrick Women's Relief Corps; German Savings Society ; Gymnastic Club of Holyoke (Turn Verein) ; Harmo- nious Aid Society ; Holyoke Association for Preven- tion and Relief of Tuberculosis; Holyoke Typograph- ical Union; I. O. R. M. Wampanoag Tribe and Uneas Tribe ; I. O. O. F., Holyoke Lodge, Tuscarora Encamp- ment, Canton Holyoke, Glenwood Lodge, D. of R .; I. O. O. F. Manchester Unity, Loyal Mount Holyoke Lodge and Pride of the Valley Lodge; K. of C .; K. of
M .; Krauken Verein Germonia; Ladies' Catholic Be- nevolent Society; L'Union Nationale Francaise of Holyoke; K. of P., Humbold Lodge, Connecticut Val- ley Lodge, Hampden Lodge and Pythian Sisters; Master Builders' Association ; Master Painters' Asso- ciation ; Master Plumbers' Association; Masonie, Mt. Tom Lodge, Mt. Holyoke Chapter, Holyoke Council and Robert Morris Chapter; N. E. O. P .; O. D. H. S., Order Brith Abraham; Heptasophs, Holyoke Con- clave and Sorel Conelave; Order Scottish Clans, Clan McLaren; Royal Arcanum; Artisans; Sons of St. George; Turn Verein Vorwaerts; Union Fraternal League; Union St. Jean-Baptiste ; Golden Star; U. O. Pilgrim Fathers; Veteran Firemen; Women's Aux- iliary Y. M. C. A .; Y. W. C. A .; Temperance Societies, Good Templars, St. Jerome Total Ab- stinence Mutual Benefit and Literary Society and W. C. T. U. and Sons of Veterans represented by General MeClellan Camp and Auxiliary No. 20.
ELMWOOD PARK, MAPLE STREET ENTRANCE.
HOLYOKE CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ASSO- CIATION.
An interesting article taken from the Daily Tran- script is well worthy of space and as it covers the ground thoroughly, we print it in full :
The Holyoke Civic Improvement Association has had a short, but so far, a glorious career. In the last two years it has done more to awaken here in Hol- yoke a desire to make Holyoke better and bigger than any organization in the city. That is an odions com- parison, but one warranted by the facts. The func- tion of the association has been to lead and direct a civic feeling that was merely waiting for a leader and director. Under its lead, things that were tolerated before its inception are no longer considered at all. It has advertised Holyoke in the right way, pointing out its virtues and working hard for the elimination of its faults. Its work has been along varied lines here, working on the artistic sense that exists in all people but is often allowed to remain dormant all their
lives, there using the sledge-hammer method of ex- posing the weak spots in the civic armor. It was a capital idea of its direetors to enlist under its banners so many of the children of the city for the seed of right doing, planted in their minds, will bear fruit a hundred fold in after years. If one is able to get a child interested in telling the difference between one flower and another, it is giving to him a gift that not all the wealth of Croesus can buy when he is past the age of childhood development. Thus with their gar- den contest, the eleaning days, their model Fourth of Julys, the association lays well the foundation for the onward and upward civie movement. We may never be a metropolis, but as long as the cardinal virtues are taught by the Civie Improvement Association are taken to heart by the people, so long will Holyoke be a clean city and cleanliness is next to Godliness in cit- ies as in individuals. So more power to them and may their number grow and their determination never falter.
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INDUSTRIAL AND MERCANTILE.
SNAPSHOT OF EMPLOYES OF ELY LUMBER COMPANY.
ELY LUMBER COMPANY.
Numbered among the leading similar concerns of Massachusetts, and having a reputation for reliability second to none, is the Ely Lumber Company, lo- cated at the corner of Cabot and Canal streets. The present firm is successor to Watson Ely & Son, a lumber concern founded thirty years ago, and, in its day, a peer among others in Massachu- setts. Monuments to their structural ability may be seen in the Holyoke City Hall, Holyoke Opera House, Windsor Hotel and several of the great paper mills of the city. Two years after the death of Mr. Ely, in 1896, the present company was formed and incorporated in January, 1898, with a capital of $40,- 000. It is officered by Franklin W. Ely, president; George S. Lewis, treasurer, and L. A. Williston, secretary and man-
ager. The plant occupies the buildings and ground formerly owned by the Deane Stcam Pump Company, together with land purchased from the Holyoke Water Power Company, and also proper- ty purchased from F. M. Duke, adjoin- ing the lumber and planing mills, thus giving them about 80,000 square feet of land, with a railroad frontage for the whole length on one side, and one of the principal commercial streets of the city on the other side.
The Ely Lumber Company handles all kinds of lumber that grows, from south- ern pine to Canadian spruce, or cedar from Lebanon. The planing and mold- ing mills are modern, adequate and thor- oughly efficient, all the latest machinery being installed. Among the products might be mentioned moldings of all kinds, stuff chests, water tanks, dye
tubs, window and door frames, sashes, etc., making a specialty of all interior finish, cabinet and mill work. The busi- ness has been growing year by year, now extending to all surrounding cities and towns and through the Connecticut Val- ley. All their lumber is purchased in carload lots, direct from the source of production, thus insuring quick delivery and the lowest of prices. A force of one hundred men is necessary to carry on the business. The officers of the company are all Holyoke men, permeat- ed with the spirit of loyalty to their na- tive city ; are sanguine as to the city's future growth and progress, and are pro- gressive and patriotic in keeping the Pa- per City to the fore as the coming great- est manufacturing city on the Connecti- cut River.
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E. F. DREICORN.
Holyoke's widely and favorably known painter and decorator, E. F. Dreicorn, located at 328 Main street, has been es- tablished in business twenty-two years, ten years in this store alone and has shown steady advancement since 1888. Both exterior and interior painting, fine decorating, kalsomining are executed in the most modern and satisfactory man- ner, also high class paper hanging with charges always reasonable. Work is
done in Holyoke and all surrounding towns, and in the past many of the finest residences in this section have been painted and decorated by him. From six to fifteen skilled workmen are employed. In stock is carried large and select lines of mixed paints, oils, varnishes and wall papers of standard manufacture, and Mr. Dreicorn is agent for F. W. Devoe & Co.'s lead and zinc paints. He sells both wholesale and retail. Mr. Drei- corn was born in Saxony, Germany, crossing over to the United States when quite young. For a time he worked in Enfield, coming from there here. He has been very successful, is enthusiastic in the future of our city and is alder- man at large, his term expiring this fall. Mr. Dreicorn resides in Elmwood and is a member of the Humboldt Lodge K. of P.
JUDSON & WILLIAMS.
Among the varied industries of im- portance in Holyoke which have stead- ily gained in volume of transactions and unsurpassed anywhere in its special lines of production is the Judson & Williams Co., manufactures of screen plates with up-to-date plant at 115 Park street. The business was founded over twenty years ago and since the death of Mr. Judson, a decade ago, the mantle of responsibility and proprietor- ship has rested on Frank Williams. In
service is all necessary and improved machinery, devices and facilities for rapid and perfect production. The products, the finest of matched screens and pulp screens, have a widespread rep- utation in the trade for their serviceable qualities and unsurpassed points of su- periority. They are sold to mills in all sections of the country, and in Holyoke alone three-fourths of the mills use them. Mr. Williams is often quoted as a sample of what a young man can do with indomitable zeal and energy. He was born in New York City and com- ing to Holyoke twenty years ago began to learn this business. Always prudent and careful, looking ahead into the fu- ture, he has step by step mounted the rounds of the ladder, success, and to- day is spoken of as what a self-made man can do who pays strict attention to his business, and uses every man on the square. Mr. Williams resides in Elmwood and is a member of the I. O.O. F.
HOLYOKE SUPPLY COMPANY.
Among the many important industries of Holyoke and standing in a class by itself is the Holyoke Supply Company, manufacturers of the Flynn Combina- tion Steam Fire Engine Heater, and dealers in plumbing and mill supplies, with adequate and modern plant at 63 Race street. This business was establish- ed in September, 1907, and has constant- ly increased in volume of business tran- sacted. The plant is equipped with all modern facilities for perfect production and all operations are marked by enter- prise and progressive methods. As steam engineers and contractors they are plac- ed among the leaders in Western Massa- chusetts, and in June got the contract for heating and ventilating the Wil- liam Whiting, twelve room school house, now being erected on North Chestnut street. This company has also recently completed the piping at the new central power station of the American Writing Paper Company, this being one of the finest and largest plants in this part of the country.
This company is headquarters for all steam, gas, plumbing and all mill sup- plies, while in stock are carried pipe fit- tings, valves, steam specialties, radiators, boilers, pipe covering, packing, etc. A specialty is made of putting in artesian wells for mills and residences. The Hol- yoke Supply Company was incorporated August 7, 1907, and is capitalized at $6,000. The business is carried on by D. F. Moriarty and L. D. Wright, the former being Holyoke born, while Mr. Wright comes from Springfield. Among the many new enterprises that have sprung up in Holyoke during the last
few years none have been more success- ful or have filled a longer felt want than the Holyoke Supply Company.
WILLIAM A. MATTHES.
The widely known, heavily stocked and largely patronized house furnish- ing goods and five cents stores of Wil- liam A. Matthes, 433-435 Main street and 341 Park street have been estab- lished for twenty-nine years, twelve years at this location. Large and complete lines of furniture are car- ried, embracing all that is reliable and desirable for the kitchen, dining room, sleeping chamber or parlor. Couches, beds, superior mattresses are shown in particularly durable and atractive lines.
The Hub range in many patterns is sold and the stock is so large and varied that space forbids a list of goods and prices, but we can quote the general opinion of experienced Holyoke buyers that money can be saved by patronizing this old re- liable firm. Goods are sold for cash and on the installment plan. Four clerks are employed and one team kept in de- livery service. Mr. Matthes was born in Germany and came direct to Hol- yoke in 1881. He has prospered in bus- iness, owns the block at 433-435 Main and a fine residence at 341 Park street. Mr. Matthes is a member of the order Harugari, Harmonie Lodge, German Savings Society, of which he is treas- urer, Gymnastic Club of Holyoke and Sons of Herman.
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N C.CLARK
MAHE
HOLYOKE BUSINESS INSTITUTE.
The fact that the number of pupils registered at the Holyoke Business In- stitute increases gradually each year speaks louder than words as to the high appreciation in which the school is held and its pronounced success commercially. This practical and highly endorsed school of business has been established since 1883, but was reorganized in 1900 un- der the efficient guiding hands of And- rew Tjarnell and Alfred F. Foote, thus gaining a prestige and reputation that places it in the front ranks of similar institutions throughout New England.
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