USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holyoke > Complete program of Holyoke's seventy-fifth anniversary and home coming days > Part 10
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One of the first efforts at labor organization occurred in 1884, when a group of machine tend- ers and beater engineers created a society with the intention of obtaining shorter hours in the paper mills. The society was called Eagle Lodge. What it wanted most was respite on Saturday evening or early Monday morning from a 60-hour week. In this it failed, but out of failure came the organization of the Inter- national Brotherhood of Paper Makers, char- tered by the American Federation of Labor in 1893. Weavers in the textile mills, organized in 1885, but had no real controversy until 1899, when they won a ten per cent wage boost at the Farr Alpaca.
Holyoke unions in the early days were affiliat- ed with the American Federation of Labor. Some of the first leaders were: Joseph Milos, Michael McLean and Edward Dowd. After the turn of the century, however, three stalwarts
appeared who were destined to be leaders for many years : John Bleasius, Edward S. Alden and Urban Fleming. Alden inspired the old "Dynamiters' Club," which met Saturday nights in the rather cramped quarters on the top floor of his press building on Maple Street, next to the fire station. Tom Rohan, John Bres- nahan and Fred Brown were yoemen tried and true.
Frank O'Connor and Francis Curran were also of this group. Curran is now chairman of the Massachusetts Labor Relations Board.
Sizzling debates occurred there which gave life and zest to the labor movement of Holyoke of the time. Fleming was honest, and able, and unflinching. He believed with all his heart in the cause for which he fought.
In Dynamiters' Hall the Holyoke Labor Col- lege was organized after the First World War. Here came professors from the neighboring col- leges to talk on subjects interesting to labor ; economies, sociology, politics. Here was group organization which lent support to the Gas and Electric Department, the Westfield Railroad, created the Vocational School and prompted the founding of the Engineering Department at what was then Massachusetts State College.
Holyoke labor has never been radical. It is not radical today. Leadership in the American Federation of Labor and the newer Congress of Industrial Organization is loyal to the Amer- ican ideal. Through the instrumentality of col- lective bargaining it seeks to better the living
[Page sixty-eight]
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ANNIVERSARY
DANS
......
REALISTIC EDUCATION
standard of workers in Holyoke industry. A tribute to both labor and ownership in the Hol- yoke industrial community is that, that troubles have been few and far between.
EDUCATION
The cultural worth of a community is gauged not by the distinctive attaimments of a select few but by the appreciational abilities of the many. While the flowering of a civilization is usually marked by creative production, the en- joyment of the masses is in understanding.
A crowning achievement of the Holyoke com- munity in 75 years of cityhood has been the steady upward progress of its people along cultural lines. Most significant has been the ad- vancement in the education of youth. A rapid acceleration has been apparent in this respect in the past quarter century.
The Holyoke school system at the present time offers the most complete program of public edu- vaion to be found in New England. Begin- ning with the Nursery schools and the Kinder- garten for the very young and carrying through to a degree-granting Junior College for Hol- yoke young men and women who seek to further their higher education in the city, this program encompasses every need and every educative graduation needed by the peoples' children.
The school system is the work of a lifetime of the present Superintendent of Schools, William
R. Peck. It represents a complete moderniza- tion and fitting of the schools to the needs of the people, not alone in form and organization, but in spirit and enthusiasm as well. The able
WILLIAM R. PECK
and devoted members of the School Committee have been rewarded for their earnest study and long-time endeavor to give Holyoke the best.
William R. Peck came to the task of directing
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JOHN J. LYNCH
the Holyoke schools while he was still in his 20's, the youngest school superintendent in the State. Ile brought to the work the clear vision and undampened ardor of youth and a whole- hearted love for the city of his birth. He studied education as a science, an art, a profession ; asserting vigorous leadership. Immediately he showed power in administration, combining in rare degree capacity to envision the ideal and practical ability to enlist cooperation in carry- ing it out.
He met situations as they arose, always an- swering the need with the offering. Critical problems only presented opportunities for serv- ice. When it developed that crippled children could not come to school, he sent the school to them. Ont of this pioneer work in Holyoke came the State law compelling provision for home education of the physically handicapped. To give opportunity to new peoples from for- eign lands he created Americanization classes, teaching self-government and instilling love for the new country. Always he thought of the needs of the individual pupil. Mentally handi- capped boys and girls were given their oppor- tunity to succeed.
.
Education in llolyoke is conducted in refer- ence to the future of America. The raw
materials are the youth of the city. No material .s more precious. One of the most important goals is high-grade American citizenship. There manst be no discards.
Holyoke has pioneered in many lines. Long before the national Congress decided to sub sidize school lunches, canteens were set up in Ilolyoke schools for under-privileged children. At the William Whiting School soups were served to the children whose mothers were work - ing in the mills.
Some of the interesting phases of public edu- cation in Holyoke are the eye-saving classes, the lip-reading classes, and open-air classes for children threatened with tuberculosis. Public health activity is concerned not only with pre- venting the bad but also in promoting the good.
A great wealth of opportunity has come to the people of the community through the ex- pansion of practical arts education in the eve. ning. The best equipped trade school in the country is available for boys who wish education along mechanical lines. Special training in art, and music is provided. Nursery schools and kindergartens offer wholesome opportunity for children of pre-school age.
At the upper end of the educational ladder is Holyoke High School where for three full years the youth of Holyoke are privileged to be a part of the miracle of America, democratic education.
Dr. Howard Conant devoted his life to the development of this greatest of all democratic institutions.
To this school come boys and girls from homes at every economic level and social scale, each with a different personality, each with a differ- ent outlook on life, differing among themselves in race, creed, and color. Here they work and learn together, acquiring a community of culture and the emotional heritage of a common, Amer- ican creed. Here they learn that beauty and truth and loyalty are ageless.
Howard Conant presided over this institution for 33 years, thereby gaining a place for him- self among Holyoke's immortals. He conducted a good school, a kindly school in which human values were paramount, a school in which the lowliest pupil felt he had a part. He was never too busy to listen to the troubles of a bewildered pupil and to set him straight. He guided the destinies of the institution during its transition from the old classical academy pattern to the modern democratic school.
The teachers of the Holyoke school system are able and well trained, devoted in their work. Most of them are Holyoke born and bred. Their job is their career. Above all they are alert and
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community minded. They know their pupils and go to great lengths to help them. One of the finest of many fine things that Superintend- ent Peek has done for Holyoke has been to create a healthful educational climate wherein security for the teacher is established with inspiration to good work.
Superintendent Peck has been fortunate in having many able school men to work with, notable among them the outstanding civic lead- er, John JJ. Lynch.
GOOD GOVERNMENT
In government there is a definite trend toward striet accountability in the stewardship of the people's business. Holyoke is not one of those Amer'ean cities in which the taxpayer gets ten percent of performance value on his tax dollar. The activity of the Holyoke Taxpayers' Asso- ciation in connection with the administration of city government is an indication of this trend from one point of view, the re-election of Mayor Henry J. Toepfert year after year on the pledge of careful protection of the taxpayer's money is another.
Mayor Toepfert has worn well with the peo- ple of Holyoke. His is an all-time record of consecutive endorsement by his fellow citizens at the polls on election day. Able, genial, kindly, he translates love for his city into practical word and action.
The names of John F. Sheehan, Joseph J. Kelly, and Pierre Bonvouloir will live forever in Holyoke as symbols of public service con- scientiously performed.
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
The recreational facilities of the Holyoke community· have been developed in such a sat- isfactory manner as to be a source of glowing pride to every citizen. George Feldman, pres- ent chairman of the Parks and Recreation Com- mission, is doing his utmost to maintain the tradition of giving Holyoke the best of all the cities of the State in this line.
Most of the land for the parks and play- grounds of Holyoke were given to the city by the Holyoke Water Power Company with the proviso that they must be used for park pur- poses. Colonel Walter Scott, philanthropist, Father of Mrs. Russell W. Magna, gave the tract of land between Easthampton Road and Cherry Street to the city upon the occasion of Holyoke's 50th anniversary. Scott Tower is named in his memory.
There are other trends. Community enter-
COLONEL WALTER SCOTT
prises are doing better. The Community Chest drives are prospering year by year. Holyoke finds no shortage of able leaders to contribute of their time and substance in furthering com- munity projects that will make our city a better place in which to live. The recent hospital drive is symbolic.
So we come down to the present day in our brief chronicle of the great story of Holyoke. In perspective we may see the good and the bad, the profit and the loss, the mistakes and the all-wise decisions. Looking backward we re- view a long period of agricultural beginnings upon which was superimposed a fast-moving in- dustrial civilization. Climactic moments appear in the daring triumph of mid-century skill which encompassed the harnessing of the great river, in the overnight instrumentation of the industrial revolution, the building of a city. Crowning achievements have been the raising of living standards through the rapid production of industrial wealth, the successful upward struggle of peoples who pinned their faith on the ideal of America, the resolution of economic stresses and religious intolerance in the light of a kindlier day, the development of a culture that is truly Holyoke's own, the growth of a genuine love of community that comes from the sense of belonging to a eity that is worthy of the best.
[Page seventy-one]
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holyoke Transcript-Telegram
The Holyoke Transcript-Tele- gram is the oldest continuing indus- try in Holyoke. It has borne several titles as new owners would choose to use new names. But it has been con- tinuously published since September I, 1849, when William F. Morgan and James D. G. Henderson brought out the Hampden Freeman. The first editorial in the paper was titled "Our New City," and was written by William B. C. Pearsons who was to be the first mayor of the "New City" in 1873.
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The dam across the Connecticut River was reaching completion and its start for the creation of the "New City." It is highly American that MRS. WILLIAM G. DWIGHT the newspaper was there before the city. The main advertising in the first issue was of preventives and cures for cholera then prevalent in Ireland Depot or Ireland Parish of West Springfield.
A year later Ireland Parish was set off from its parent town. In spite of The Freeman's plea that the town be called Hampden, it was named Holyoke, in honor of Captain Elizur Holyoke and the noble mountain, for which Mary Lyon had already named the college she founded.
A. B. F. Hildreth bought The Freeman in 1853, and changed its name to The Holyoke Mirror. Myron C. Pratt was next editor. He got his issue ready for publication on July 13, 1861, closed the doors, enlisted and went out a member of the 10th Massachusetts Regiment. He died at Fair Oaks.
The next editors were Joseph G. and Edward P. Albee. In 1863, Burt & Lyman of Springfield, bought the paper and changed the name to the Holyoke Transcript. Mr. Burt went out in 1864 to become the Publisher of "Among the Clouds." In 1870, Edward L. Kirtland came in as partner and editorial writer. In 1873, Mr. Kritland was
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joined by William S. Loomis who became owner in 1875. He made The Transcript a semi-weekly paper.
In 1882, William G. Dwight, freshi from Ainlierst College, bought a half interest in The Transcript and the paper became a daily. In 1888, Mr. Loomis retired to devote his powers to the development of the Holyoke Street Railway. Mr. Dwight wrote some thing, or in some way, left his imprint on every issue of The Transcript until his death in 1930. By that time it had become the Holyoke Transcript- Telegram through purchase of the Holyoke Daily Telegram in 1927.
In March, 1891, Minnie A. Ryan joined the reportorial staff of The Transcript. She was married to William G. Dwight in 1896. Upon his death she became owner and publisher of the Holyoke Transcript-Telegram.
Forty years ago, upon his graduation from Princeton, Arthur Ryan joined The Transcript and has been its business manager for that period.
William Dwight, son of the long-time editors, a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism in 1926, came to The Transcript staff that same year and became Managing Editor in 1930.
The conduct of the newspaper that was born before the town, that preceded the city, had a name, has been the responsibility of the present Transcript family for sixty-six years. Its present Editor-in- Chief has been with the paper for fifty-seven years.
The first of the family made this dedication for his and Holyoke's newspaper, which those who have come after him keep nailed to their masthead "A newspaper can be consecrated to a purpose. The Transcript's steady purpose has been to make Holyoke an increasing- ly better city in which to live."
[Page seventy-three]
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Thomas A. Barrett
Romeo Beaudry
John Bell
William H. Burns
Frederick Childs
Pres. Ernest Brunault
Er
Stephen Chmura
Patrick A. Coughlin
Paul Brougham
James T. Doherty
Mrs. Inez Goss
BOARD OF ALDERMEN-Continued
Joseph Griffin
Atty. Frank J. Mckay, Jr.
Henry H. Noel
Atty. Samuel Resnic
Theodore Sattler
John F. Sullivan
Lewis J. Tetlow
Mederic Lapointe
Esther Sears Lynch
David A. Whalen
SEVENTY - FIFTH
ANNIVERSARY
CITY OFFICERS
JOSEPH JUBINVILLE. Jr. City Clerk
STEWART R. ALLYN Chairman, Pubilc Works
JOSEPH E. LUCEY Treasurer
JOHN J. MOYNIHAN Welfare Agent
[Page seventy-six]
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ANNIVERSARY
CITY OFFICERS Continued
RALPH J. THOMPSON Auditor
HARRIET E. KROEPEL Chairman, Registrars of Voters
HENRY M. LA FONTAINE Chairman, Board of Assessors
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ANNIVERSARY
FIRE DEPARTMENT
JOHN H. ROHAN Chief
OTTO M. DREIKORN Commissioner
$63
GEORGE D. STALKER Commissioner
JEREMIAH T. DOWNING Commissioner
FORMER CHIEFS OF THE PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT
John T Lynch, 1885 to 1915 Patrick J. Hurley, 1915 to 1941
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ANNIVERSARY
POLICE DEPARTMENT
DAVID F. ALLYN Chief of Police
DAVID H. BARNETT Deputy Chief
RAYMOND S. LOUDON Captain of Police
FRANCIS J. BAKER Captain of Detectives
POLICE HEADS 1873-1948
William G. Ham, 1873-1883; Sumner T. Miller, 1883-91,93,96; James Dougherty, 1884-85 E. J. Gorman, 1898; J. S. Wright, 1899-1906; Thomas J. Lynch, 1907-13, 16, 17; Patrick Herbert, 1913; John R. Harrington, 1914-1915; Stephen Murphy, 1918; Edward J. GOI- man, 1919; William D. Nolen, 1920-1925; William H. McGarry, 1926; James F. Bartley, 1927-1930; George F. Fitzgerald, 1928-1929; John J. O'Connor, 1931-1932; Edmund Slate, 1936-1939; David F. Allyn, 1932-36, 40-48.
[Page seventy-nine ]
|l'age eighty]
HOLYOKE SCHOOL COMMITTEE - 1948
Seated, left to right: Mrs. Marie W. Hazen, George F. Murray, Chairman, William R. Peck, Superintendent of Schools. Walter J. Griffin. Standing : William A. Dupre, Cornelius J. Moriarty, John J. Stiles, Richard Viau, Patrick J. Garvey and Cornelius Corcoran.
SEVENTY - FIFTH
ANNIVERSARY
ANNIVERSARY
SEVENTY - FIFTH
The Holyoke Public Schools
ANNOUNCE 75 Years of Outstanding Progress NURSERY SCHOOL THROUGH JUNIOR COLLEGE The Most Complete Program of Public Education in New England!
OUR BEGININGS
1873
HEALTH
Primary
KNOWLEDGE
Intermediate
Grammar, High
And Evening School Curricula
CHARACTER
OUR GROWTH 1948
SKILL
Nursery Schools
Kindergartens
CITIZENSHIP
Six Year Elementary and CULTURE
Three Year Junior High Schools
A Comprehensive High School Program A well-equipped Trade School
Evening Schools for Citizenship and Practical Arts
Special Training in Art, Music, Health, and Visual Education
School Lunch Service and Child Care Centers
Special Teachers for the Mentally and Physically Handicapped
A Degree Granting Junior College
OUR AIM - PHYSICAL - MENTAL - MORAL - AND SOCIAL - GROWTH
A DIGNIFIED PLAN OF TEACHER SELECTION
A TEACHERS' SALARY SCHEDULE BASED ON PREPARATION and EXPERIENCE
THE HOLYOKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ".The Educational Pride of Massachusetts" [Page eighty-one ]
SEVENTY - FIFTH
ANNIVERSARY
Holyoke Water Works 1872 - 1948
WATER COMMISSIONERS
William B. C. Pearsons
1872 - 1874
Joseph A. Skinner
1900 - 1903
John Delaney
1872 - 1874
Maurice Lyuch
1901 - 1902
John E. Chase
1872 - 1873
Arthur M. Freneh
1902 - 1907
Dennis Higgins
1872 - 1876
Hugh MeLean
1903 - 1909
Joel Russell . 1872 - 1874
Michael J. Doyle
1905 - 1911
J. P. Buckland
1872 - 1877
Thomas J. Carmody
1907 - 1916
L. P. Bosworth
1873 - 1874
Jesse Sheldon
1909 - 1918
James G. Smith
1874 - 1878
Thomas J. Lynch
1911 - 1914
Jeremiah A. Sullivan
1876 - 1891
Hugh MeLean
1914 - 1944
.James F. Allyn
1877 - 1886
Joseph F. Ranger
1916 - 191)
C. H. Heywood
1878 - 1880
James H. Dillon
1918 - 1930
Timothy Merrick
1881 - 1887
Thomas J. Carmody
1919 - 1937
Maurice Lynch
1886 - 1892
Joseph L. O'Brien
1930 - 1939
Moses Newton
1887 - 1893
James P. Joyce
1937 - 1946
James J. Curran
1891 - 1895
Peter S. Sinelair
1939 - 1945
Martin P. Conway
1892 - 1898
Patrick B. Bresnahan
1944
Charles D. Colson
1893 - 1900
James E. Kenney
1945 - 1948
John J. Sullivan
1896 - 1905
Frank O'Connell
1946
Thomas F. Greaney
1898 - 1901
James E. Barry
1948
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ANNIVERSARY
SEVENTY - FIFTH
Half a Century of Municipal Service
The Gas and Electric Plants of the City of Holyoke are owned and operated by the Gas and Electric Department, a division of the city government and are, therefore, the property of the people of the City.
The Plants were acquired from the private power company on December 15, 1902, after several years of intensive litigation and controversy and since that time have been operated solely for the benefit of the people of the City. The Department has saved its consumers many millions of dollars in gas and electric rates, as for many years the city's rates were among the very lowest in the whole country.
The Department has been built up from assets of $832,000.00 to assets mor . than $5,600,000.00 without a SINGLE PENNY OF COST to the taxpayers of the City and has paid for itself ENTIRELY OUT OF EARNINGS.
The sueeess of the Department and the fact that the City is now the sole owner of a valuable public utility, that has for its purpose supplying low rates and good ser- vice to its consumers, is due mostly to the fine and loyal support given the Depart- ment by the people of the City.
The success of the City Plant is a fine tribute to the vision and courage of the city fathers who fought tirelessly for years against powerful interests to free the city plants from out-of-state control.
As long as the people of Holyoke continue their wholehearted and loyat support to their municipat plants, so with the Department be able to continue its record of low rates and good service to its consumers.
Sas V Electric
DEPARTMENT 70 SUFFOLK STREET PHONE -9841
[Page eighty-three]
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ANNIVERSARY
Slogan Contest
HONOR HOLYOKE - HER HEROES HER HERITAGE - HER HISTORY
ROBERT E. LEARY
Mr. Robert E. Leary is the author of this slogan, and the winner of first prize.
Second prize went to Mrs. Dorothy B. Holt. Her slogan being, "Make Holyoke's Diamond Jubilee Sparkle."
Third prize awarded to William P. Martyn, with the slogan, "Help Holyoke Harvest Its Glory."
There were 5000 entries, 3000 being from school children. Of this number, 15 received honorable mention. Their names are :
Joan Marie Bayon
Alfred Marcotte
Philip George Blanchard
Maureen C. Morgan
Janet G. Smith
Marjorie Horgan
Robert Crabtree
Catherine L. Tierney
Jayne Mclaughlin
Mrs. Ethel M. Wildman
Marianne Czaporokski
Mrs. Gustave Geryle
Jerry Foley
Rosemary Kadil
Ned Kenney
The judges were :
Robert Marshall
Dr. Marcella A. Kelly
Mrs. Esther L. Sacks
Mrs. Harvey J. L. Hewitt
William Gaffney
[Page eighty-four]
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First Prize Essay
HONOR HOLYOKE; HER HEROES; HER HERITAGE; HER HISTORY
Help Holyoke rejoice, for this is her Seventy-fifth Birthday! This is the day for the clasping of hands and the singing of her praises. Let us reminisce on this historic date and dwell on things accomplished. This is a day to do honor to all who have made this day possible.
This is the day to honor her heroes, those daring pioneers who with muskets at hand built the first homes and tilled the soil. Honor the memory of those heroic fam- ilies who braved the silence and the loneliness for a spot to call their own. Pay homage to the far-sighted heroes who started the wheels of industry turning. Recall the indus- trious men who in blood, sweat and tears built these structures of industry and power. We should honor those city fathers whose great perspective foresaw our city of today. Let us pay reverence to our heroes of the great wars; their sacrifices will live forever.
Our heritage is a challenge to us. It is a challenge to carry forward all the hopes and ideals our fathers foresaw; a challenge to keep unblemished our natural inheritances, our glorious mountains, our picturesque river, to keep them ever beautiful. It is indeed a challenge to keep our city a prosperous one, a city that will continue to grow, a city with a name in the world; a challenge to keep alive her culture, to keep her high educa- tional opportunities, and her churches always structures of beauty and inspiration. It is truly a challenge to keep Holyoke a healthy city with breathing space for all, good liv- ing conditions, good working conditions, good hospitals, and excellent playgrounds; a challenge to keep her a city in which men can differ politically and religiously and still live peacefully. Ours is a bountiful heritage, one that it is a privilege to live up to, and a heritage so high and so noble that our children's children, even as we, will be proud to accept it.
Holyoke before the year of 1850, was known as the Third Parish of West Spring- field and the Smiths Ferry region of Holyoke was then part of Northampton. John Riley, who purchased sixteen (16) acres of land in 1664, was Holyoke's first known set- tler. His plot of land was situated just over what is now the West Springfield line, the land now known as Brightside. In 1850, Holyoke had the small population of 3,245. When she was incorporated a city in 1873, Holyoke had 16,260 people, an increase of more than 13,000 within 23 years and she has grown steadily until today her population is about 55,000 inhabitants. The Indians little dreamed of the tremendous dam that would one day supplant the natural falls where they fished. Captain Holyoke could not have foreseen, when he named our mountains, the great strides that would be made here. John Riley, our first settler, did not realize, as he worked his farm, the growth from "Ireland Parish" to industrial Holyoke. The history of Holyoke is a story of wonderful progress and prosperity.
Holyoke is my true home, the place where I meet my friends and enjoy their friendship. Holyoke's green fields are reminders of the pioneer spirit that inspired our history. Nature's sentinels, Mt. Tom and Mt. Holyoke, hold command of the valley welcoming back the wanderers to the homeplace where the loved ones are, where struc- tures of industry and power stand as testimonials to their builders, and where monu- ments of culture proclaim the glorious heritage of the past. Holyoke, on this your Dia- mond Jubilee, we honor you for your renowned accomplishments and we rejoice in your manifold blessings. May God continue to shower his graces upon you!
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