USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holyoke > Holyoke daily transcript > Part 5
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THOMAS W. M.VSS
during the war. Circumstances prevented hing and severe service, but the regnsent did its duty wiler all conditions.
Oscar Ely was a most imique and lovable character in war and peace. A college graduate, of fine literary ability and culture, with a keen sense of humor and a disinclina- tion in activity, he made a corporal of mmusual calibre. 11 was a volunteer soldiers' war, and for a long insie the pri- vate thought he was just as good as his offirers (as muilcev] he was at home) and chafed at stern militarism Corporal Ely complained to his captain one day: "Captain, my men do not obey my commands promptly, and when 1 qmetly remonstrate with them they tell me to go to hi-1."
One day Corporal Ely with a detail of privates was onfereil to go from camp and cut some inrf. It was a swrhering day and the entire force laid down and rested ils a preliminary Suddenly a mounted officer on a richly vaparisoned steed dashed up. "What are you men sning here?" "We are orilered to cut sine turf," "Why don't Jon do it then?" "It's so hot we are resting awhile," nonchalantly replied Corporal Ely.
The officer vilated with wrath. "Do you know that I
im General Wewels ?" he angrily nneries. Oscar rose tu Ins feet. "General Wessels 1 ans pleased to meet you. 1 am Corporal Ely of Holyoke." General Wessels' count- enance brake np, he wheeled his horse, sank his spurs and w.5 nff like a bird.
During the war John C Whitin sold out the "Big Shop" (as the fladley l'hread Mill was then called) ansi iken was organized the failley Company Spool Cotton Mannfactory with Jones $ Davis agent, amt Wilham Gruver anperintendent, and a capital of $10,000. The mill hmlling, covered ahom jour neres and there were six links of voltages which still stand today, containing over eighty fenyments, ni which the American Thread Company recently soll sms =1818
The Hampden Mill, which Juhn E. Chase took charge of m INGO, employed some Got 10 700 hands in the mann- facture of cotton gond- and ginghams, and the Holyoke Paper Company (the second oldest in the town) had heen sncevs-fully launched, and Stephen Holman aml William Whiting were one-time important factors in its manage- ment, later on O. 11. Greenleaf taking command.
The Holyoke Machine Company was nrgan- ized in 1813 hy S. S Chase, Stephen Holman, N. H. Whitten, amil others and grew to be a vast mdlvist ry
About tard the Newum brothers, James H., John C., Damel H., and Moses, came to the city. argamzeil the Hampden Paper Company, and for forty years or more were strong factors in Hol- yoky's progress, In 1866 James H established the Frankhn Paper Company, later the Waure- gan, the Norman, built a large number of cot- lages, and was interested in the Holyoke Water Power Company.
John C. Newton, in company with D. H., built mills and shops, blocks and buildings galore. In 1862, the hrst year of Isis advent, he built the Elm street high school, and the wife mill, after- wards used as Whiting Paper Mill No. 1. In 1863 he built A. T. Stewart's New York woolen mill, and the Holyoke Machine Company's plant. In 1873, largely by tremenduns personal force, he with nthers raised capital for the establishment nf the Farr Alpaca Company here, built their original mill, also the Skinner silk mill, thi: fol. lowing venr He wis a Imman dynamo, and all the brothers did great work for Holyoke.
William Whiting, first connected with the Holyoke Paper Company, and later the Hamp- den, purchased in shout 1864 the wire mill built hy Mr. Newton and by ists had organized the Whiting Paper Company, and transformed the mill into Whiting No. 1.
The Germania Woolen Mills were organized 11 1865 aml the Bvebe-Webber Company Woolen Whill, and Valley Paper Company in 1864. In 1sti; Timothy Merrick came here from Mans- hrld, Conn,, where he and others were in the enttom thread spooling business, and organized the Holyoke Thread Company, soon afterward changed to the Merrick Thread Company for the uwwwfacture of spool cotton. Large mills were hunlt, covering three sides uf a square, and a splendid business built up.
Frows this brief resume one can see that mice the advent of the Holyoke Water Power Company, with its ample capital, comprehensive liberal pislicy, and scientific administration Hol- yoky, backed by its natural advamages, had found itself. Able mens had thrown themselves into its slevelopment, and Iwul established a morale whose basic principles were hustle, hard work, and pure democracy.
Holyoke had inherited no wealth but what the Creator had given it. As a town (aside from its West Springfield memories) it had to history and no ancestry. It must work out its own destiny. Work and achievement must be the regine, and despite carly racial and rehgins prejudice the lemocravy of work and industry prevailed.
The war was endvd: a host nf workshops ansl workers haul come in, and the courage of llolynky's pusneers was high.
But as yet there was no suburban development, and the business section was largely contmeil to a small part of the present High street and a few stores near the corner of Dwight and Main streets, A. & S. B Allyn hail built a block at the corner of High and Dwight streets, where the Holyake Realty Trust building now stands, but they found it a little too far south, and sold it is 1869 so ns to erect a building farther north. From Lyman to John
DEAND UHRCYKEL
THE DEANE OF HOLYOKE STEAM AND POWER PUMPING MACHINERY
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION - FOR EVERY SERVICE THE MOST EXTENSIVE LINE OF POWER PUMPS IN THE WORLD
THE FACTORY
DEANE
THE PRODUCT
Ammonia Pumps Artesian Well Engines Artesian Well Power Heads Automatic Feed Pumps and Receivers Boilers and Pumps Combined Boiler Feed Pumps Condensers
Deep Well Pumps Ejector Condensers Electric Pumps Elevator Inmamış Exhausters
Fire Pitnais
lligh Thny Pumping Engines High Pressure Pumps House Tank Pumps Jet Condensers
Juice Pumpis
Low Pressure Steam Pumps Mine Pumps
Oil Pumps Power Pumps Sand Siffers
Sewage Inmps Sinff Pumps Tank Pumps Underwriter Fire Pumps
Vacuum Pumps
Water Works Pumps
DEAND
ESTABLISHED IN 1867
THE DEANE STEAM PUMP COMPANY HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS
DEAND
HOLYOKE BELTING COMPANY
MAKERS OF
LEATHER BELTS
THAT DO THE WORK
HOLYOKE OAK TANNED "IT DOES THE WORK"
SUBMARINE WATER, STEAM AND OIL PROOF
PEQUOT SOFT TANNED FOR HIGH SPEED MACHINERY
ROUND BELT, LACE LEATHER
HOLYOKE STAMPED ON A BELT MEANS THAT IT IS THE BEST THAT CAN BE MADE FROM LEATHER
Cable Address: "HOLYOKBELT" Western Union Code Long Distance Phone 441
66 to 68 WINTER STREET,
HOLYOKE BELTING CO LEATHER BELTING
1
THE OFFICES
ATLANTA, Equitable Bldg. BOSTON, 465 John Hancock Bldg. BUFFALO, 808 Ellicott Square CITICACO, 820 Old Colony Bldg. CINCINNATI, 211 West 4th St. CLEVELAND, S02 New England Bldg. DENVER, 1490 Eighteenth St. DETROIT, 610 Majestic Bidg. EL PASO, 500-2 San Francisco St. KANSAS CITY, 025 Scarritt Bldg. NEW ORLEANS, 5:13 Baronne St. NEW YORK, PHILADELPHIA, 115 Broadway 1516 North American Bidg. PITTSBURGH, 407 Oliver Bldg. ST. LOUIS, 605 Chemical Bldg. ST. PAULI 708.4 Commerce Bldg. SALT LAKE CITY, 115 West Seen So. St. SAN FRANCISCO, 148 First St. SCRANTON, 832 .. \ Connell Bldg. SEATTLE, 5:4 First .\c., S. LOS ANGELES, 9911 E. Second St. MENICO CITY, 14. O. Box 3260
HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS
SKETCH OF HOLYOKE
GEORGE H. ALLYN
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
streets on High was the best business center, and the Ex- change block, a little south of Lyman street on the west side, was regarded as the creme de la creme of business lo- cations, and when it burned to the ground Holyoke felt it as a crushing blow.
In lexchange Hall had been held the concerts, lectures, society, religious, and public mectings for a score of years. The writer as a small boy in about 1868 recalls the veloci- pede craze. The velocipale was a caricature of the later high-wheel bicycle without the chain. A high speed could be attained on a smooth level surface, but it was practically impossible to ride up hill. Exchange Hall was headqnar- ters for the craze at its height, and staid citizens would pay fifty cents for the privilege of whirling around the hall, and taking a flying dive when they tried to make a sharp turn. Thomas W. Mann and John J. Prew thought they saw "millions in it." and invested in several velocipedes for a tour through Connectient. The mechanical construction of the machines was faulty and they would break right at the "neckyoke."
Mr. Prew said it was worth a dollar to see the gaze with which the country blacksmiths, to whom they took the machines, regarded them, Finally Mr. Prew traded his share in the venture for a pair of boots and returned home.
His brother, Joseph N. Prew, entered the photographic business in 1801, at the age of eighteen years and continued till 1877. First located in the Hutchins' hlock, corner of High and Hampden streets, he later removed to the Fuller block, and still later moved across the street again. The sign, "Prew's Picture Rooms," extended clear across the street.
Joe is also reported to have secured many volunteers for the war, some of whom sent home cordial assurances that they'd kill him when they returned He still survives, however, and Holyoke would miss his cheery countenance and the sound of his booming voice.
In 1864 the Colby block, next to where the Holyoke National bank now stands, had been built and was after- wards sold to W. C. Carter, who kept stores there. Later, by inheritance, it came to W. C. Heywood, and is now owned by Louis Strauss.
The block now occupied by the Atherton store seems to have been built by J. C. Parsons in the 80's, and later was owned by "Jim" Meacham, the jeweler, with whom T. J. Morrow learned his trade. Later B. F. Lincoln bought it, and his son still retains it.
R. G. Marsh had also built the property now known as the Park Pharmacy, and George M. Wolcott bought in t862 the lot on the corner of High and Dwight streets, on which he Built in 1879, and which is now the McAnslan & Wakelin corner. The Orrell block, at the corner of High and Hampden streets, was also built in the carly Go's, and Main street, below Dwight began to build up in this decade.
A young man from Vermont, named Charles Corser, came to the town, and shortly after opened a shoe store nearly opposite. It is related that when he struck the town he was unable to pay his boarding master for several weeks, and one morning the latter remonstrated with him : "Sce here, Corser, if you think I can board people for six or seven weeks without a cent of money, you're mistaken." "Why don't you sell out to someone that can, then?" re- plied the imperturbable Corser. Mr. Corser was the first natural advertising genius among the merchants.
Other merchants of this era were Allen Higginbottom, O. S. Tuttle, A. L. Shumway, Gustavus Snow, W. L. Mar- tin, who owned the block standing at the corner of High and Hampden streets; E. F. Jefts, John R. Baker, R. P. Crafts, L. A. Taher, E W. Loomis, father of W. S. Loomis ; Tuttle & Moore, Rufus Mosher, I. E. Morrill, and Ezra H. Flagg, druggists-though in the later GO's Mr. Flagg hecame a member of the firm of Wiggin & Flagg. lumber dealers.
The purple loved largely in the Lyman, Hadley. Hamp- den, Holyoke Paper Company, Germania, and New York Mill tenement blocks, with a large number of "shanties" bordering the river bank from Prospect street clear to Tigertown, or South Holyoke
The Franklin, Massason, and Bemas (afterwards I'nion) paper mills had been built, and a number of mill tenement blocks to accommodate the help.
The residence section had moved from Maple street as far west as Chestnut street, where George Brown, T. C. Page, and S. S. Chase had buih, in 1862-63. There was also the Madison Chapin residence on Chestnut street, afterwards bought by C. W. Ranlet, and the L. P. Bos- worth residence; also the house occupied by R. P. Crafts before he built the fine mansion, now occupied by S. A. Mahoncy. Race street had also came in as a residence sec- tion, the Buttericks, Newtons, Chases, Flaggs, and others residing there. Jones S. Davis, agent of the Lyman Mills, had built his fine Maple street place, at the corner of Dwight street. On Dwight street was the Asa Willard house. Mr. Willard ran an extensive lumber business, on Front strect, at the first level canal, and was a strong character. It is said that when dying he gave clear and explicit directions for the carrying on of his business, directing that G. J. Prew should be retained in the office, Levi Meacham in the shop, and other faithful men in various places, but speaking of one expert mechanic, who had been with him for years, he said: "Fire -- - so and so at once. I could handle him, but no one else can."
Human nature was much the same in the late 50's and early 60's as now, for it is related that D. E. Kingsbury, manager for R. P. Crafts, sent W W Sanborn. A green employe just from Vermont, over to J. E. Morrill's to get ten cents worth of "white lamp black." From Mr. Mor- rill's he was forwarded to E. H. Flagg's drug store, and from there 10 Emerson's grocery store, etc., finally return- ing and announcing that he "couldn't get a durned bit on't in town."
On another occasion when a soda fountain had been set up in Ludington's drug store, some of the jokers, egged on by "Ros" Crafts, got Harve Jones to place luis month to the faucet and then turned on the full force. Harve thought # shrapnel bomb bad exploded in his brain. And a professional man yet living in the city relates that when attending school at the little brick school opposite where M. S. Spies now lives, which was surrounded by a board fence, he and some of the boys procured an enormous horse pistol, charged it nearly to the muzzle with powder, and shoving it through a crack in the fence, discharged it just as Alf Street's ox team came past in the lot at the rear. It took Alf nearly an hour to catch and subdne the terrified beasts, and that evening the young fiends fired the minia- ture cannon below Lydia Farnum's window, frightening the good lady and her sister nearly into spasms, and wound up by going to George C. Ewing's place, who then lived in a little house near where J. H. Fowles now resides.
W. B. WHITING
CITY ICE COMPANY PLANT (Leased of Holyoke Ice Company)
CITY ICE COMPANY
RELIABLE RETAIL DEALERS IN ICE
W. T. WILSON
Telephone Connection 65 PROSPECT STREET
THE PERFECT SAFETY PAPER COMPANY
MANUFACTURERS OF
PADLOCK SAFETY PAPER PHELPS PROTECTIVE PAPER PERFECT SAFETY PAPER
Safety Dapers
PERFECT SAFETY TICKET : : : : PAPER : : : : COUPON PAPER, ETC., ETC.
PADLOCK SAFETY PAPER
Is chu nie illy prepared m the pulp and also chemme ils treated on the surface, This is 7 the combination of safeguards against iluck rising
PADLOCK SAFETY PAPER
I m. th m Huboke, and is being need for check- and drafts by thon banks and other corporations who want the best protectum against fraudulent alterations
-WE ALSO MANUFACTURE ALL THE PAPER USED FOR- UNITED STATES POSTAL MONEY ORDERS and AM. EXPRESS CO. MONEY ORDERS
SKETCH OF HOLYOKE
BY GEORGE H. ALLYN
D. O. Jewo
Mr Ewing and his family were engaged in prayer, Mr. Ewing kneeling before a chair, aml when the is- creants inserted the pistol through an open wimlow, and the roar of it almost took the roof off, Mr. E. went head- foremost right over the chair.
Forestdale cemetery, comprising twenty-four and one- half acres of land, was dedicated in 1862. Before this the only cenieterv, aside from the old one at Baptist Village. was one on Northampton street, about two hundred and fifty feet north of Hampden street, which had been used by the more northerly of the Northampton street vicinity fam- ilies, probably as far back #s 1835, About 1885 the use of this cemetery was discontinued, and the remains removed to Forestdale.
Holyoke liad no inherited ancestral wealth, hint rarely could there be found a stronger group of virile citizens than flourished in the late 60's and early 70's. Their cour- agr and foresight were mifailing and unerring. C. O. Cxr- penter had returned from naval service and began medical practice, and soon Drs Blodgett, Humeston, and Tuttle came on.
But of the "law wolves" (to use Alfred Henry Low." expression), we lind only Messrs. Pearsons, Under wood, E. W. Chapin, and Judge Buckland, until well into the 70's. Of course George Stearns and Charley Knapp of Chicopee were sometimes consulted.
C. W. Ranlet had become president of the Hailley Falls National bank, and R. B. Johnson of the Holyoke Savings bank. C. Fayette Sinith had entered the employ of the Hadley Falls bank, and of the bank cuiployes of tlust era only H. P. Terry, with his record of forty years' faith- ful service, and Mr Smith, who is still in harness, remain to recall it, And in fact of the citizens proument in those days only James H. Newtna, Daniel O'Connell, Dwight 11. Ives, J. F. and J. . \. Sullivan, and possibly a few others survive.
J. L. R. Trask lind saccecilrd "Priest" Walker, anul the Rev. Mr. Eastuum in the Secondl Congregational charch ministry, and for over fifteen years was its eloquent, mili tant and heloved pastor. Rarely has a clergyman wiehled so powerful au iuffneuce. He struck straight from the shoulder, and a sermon he preached about 1850. inspired by a murder in a disorderly house, will never be forgotten by ally who heard it. Wahal he was delightfully human, free from all nasal cant, or melancholy dissertations.
He ilearly loved a good horse, and when riding np from Springfield one sweltering day with Deacon Anderson Allyn he realized that the denwon was no race-track driver. The deacon took off his hat, wipeil his streaming face, mid rullarked : "It's terribly hot, Mr. Trask." "Yes," burst out the irate minister, "it's hot most ;where standing still .**
In 1865 a corporation comprising Messrs. Stewart, Chase, and Stephen Hofman, of Holyoke, and Deacon Alonzo Bardwell of South Hadley Falls, were given a charter as the llolyoke and South Hadley Falls Bridge Company with a capital of $100,000.
R. O. Dwight. Esq, assert- that the two Water Power
Company members of the board were obsessed with the ulen that Holyoke should be shut in in the style of the ancient Chinese wall, and delayed the building of the bridge minil. m t868, Dexenn Bardwell died, "a bitterly disap- pointeil man." Meanwhile (writes Mr. Dwight) travel froms the eastern towns to the hustling factory town had far outgrown ferry accommodations. Sometimes, espe- cially in the winter, there would be fifty, sixty, even eighty, two-horse teanis patiently waiting a chance to cross to Holyoke, with an equal number waiting to regain the Santh Hadley side.
When the charter had but six months to run, Mr Lyman, who, in 1864, had bought out H. L. Burt, aul be- time sole editor of the Transcript, R. B. Johnson, of the llalyoke Savings bank, and A. L. Shumway, then the Jend- ing dry goods merchant of the town, accompanied by R. O Dwight, visited the officals of the Carew, Hampshire, and Glasgow Manufacturing Companies, and, as a result of their support, surveys and plans Inr a bridge were made by Stockwell Bettes, a civil engineer of Springfield.
The necessary agitation followed, and in 1870 a peti- tion went to the Legislature, signed by 1,500 citizens of Holyoke, South Hadley, Granby, Belchertown, aml the other eastern towns.
Deacon Eilwin Chase, who had serveil # term in the Senate, took charge of the bill, and Messrs. Shumway and Dwight also dil some lobbying. When the committee from the Legislature came to inspect the site x roaring food hal swept away the ferryboat, and all the visitors enuld da was to waive their hands at the crowd assembled on the South Hadley side, The committee promptly recommended the bill. and it was passed in 1871, the commissioners of Hampden and Hampshire counties being empowered to build it,
At noe time the idea was projected of starting it at the Carew mill, and running it across to High street, but Ilte popular sentiment determined its present location. The bridge was 1,600 feet long and twenty-seven feet wide, and cust $t63,000. It wasn't opened for travel till 1872.
The original bridge was shaky, and no texan was al- lowed to go faster than a walk. This didn't nhtain, how- ever when the Granby and South Hadley milkmca crossed ahoat 3 o'clock in the morning, and about once a year offi- cers would be stationed there at 2 o'clock in the morning. and the police court at 9 a. ni, would resemble a dairy con- vention.
About 1889, the necessity of a new bridge became man- ifest, hut some South Hadleyites objected hiv reason of their town's proportion of the costs. One citizen is said (+1 have gone to Boston to see a former official of the com- pany which built the first bridge to get data on its strength and solidity. "Tis said the official threw up his hands in inerriment. "Why," sind he, "there wasn't an honest thing ahout that bridge except Delaney's piers." In truth, back in the late GO's, Joha Delaney was already gauung a rept- tation for sound work which gave him most of the Water Power Company's masonry construction, and eventually made him wealthy.
The democracy of work was beginning to be felt, and already the Irish citizens were hwegianing to feel their status as Holyokers. One of the best town meeting speak- ers among thett was John C. Doran, now watcharan at the Whiting Street reservoir. John rimuld talk Unently and] forcefully on any subject, aml was ready to. It is related that ju 1850 he happened to be in Easthampton aml in- ticed a meeting going on, which proved to be the annual town meeting. John went in and quickly picked up the thread of the discourse, which related to the building of either a brulee or schoollionse in some remote part of the town. Mr. Duran arose and un five minutes had the tide turning in favor of the building project. Que of the collservatives m opposition approached him, and asked in why part of the town he lived, and how long he had re- sided there lohn informed him he lived up lawand the brick yards, hut had only moved there a few months back. innl while miorination was bring songht he silently melted nivay. and hit the road to Holyoke.
The strong men pi the lite hill's, with prescient vision, iliscerned the ured of greater railroad facilities, and thoughi Il to finance the builling of the Holyoke & Westlichl rail- rund Another compelling motive was that the Comerti- (11 River Railromut Company, having a monopoly of the freight traffic, had become arbitrary. and Holyoke, dell- cratic froot inception, chafed under arrogance.
J. C Parsons, Timothy Merrick, George W. Prentiss. and a host of others pushed the maller, and the town wals inthorized to issue bonds for some $200,000, acquiring 2,265 shares of stock out of the entire issue of 2,600. The road
was completed in 1871, and leased to the New Haven & Northampton Company. An excursion train to Northamp- tou ran on the opening day, and most of the prominent Holyakers went down on it. When one considers the mag. nitude of the unclertaking, and the persevering nerve and spirit which carried it through, they have bern pardoned for temporary exhilaration.
In any event it is said that the only two sober men of the crowd were Deacon Anderson Allyn and Jeremiah F. Sullivan, who (unfortunately or fortunately) had just joined the newly organized St. Jerome's Temperance So- ciety, and was, therefore, stopped from the flowing bowl.
The passenger business of the road was only nominal for years. hut the freightt traffic was sharp from the start, and its growth almost marvelous. It is Interesting to know that the Water Power Company, with characteristic thrail, wanted $2,500,000 for the land taken by the railroad-but didn't get it.
A small wooden school, a little south ni where Fergie- son's laundry stands (near the junction of School and Hanmilen streets), was the first mme atteniled by the writer in 1867. But the sique year the present Ewingville school was completed, with Miss Sarah Chapin as the first teacher. She soon after married a Mr. Todd, but later returned to lencching, anıl continued at the work until 1900.
About 1868 the present Appleton street school was huilt by Asa Willard. It is said that Mr. Willard's bid on tlus was very low, and hte desired to give up the contract. He was truly held, however, and grimly said he'd go through with it according to the plans and specifications. 11e did so, and built it without a chimney, which the archi- lect had forgotten to include. Mr. Willard knew this, but felt that he could be as stiff as anyone. "Tis said that one can notice the manner in which the beams had to be cat into and resupported in the school today.
George R. Chase was the first principal, a good educa- tur, and though of small stature, a keen and remorseless disciplinarian. The writer attended the school in 1870, at the age of eight years, and Mr. Chase looked pretty trim to him. One Wednesday afternoon the usual weekly speak- ing and composition efforts were held in the hall upstairs. Whiting Bradley Street, favorite nephew of Whiting Street. a tall, gangling, red-headed fellow of sixteen, was in the principal's grade. A good-hearted fellow, but chuck full of inischief, he had a pal named Homer Herrick, who was a fiend incarnate for dare-devilism. Herrick had dug np somewhere a touching ball;al, the theme hinging upon the remonstrance of a fellow with an erring, dissipated brother, and the refrain ran something like this :
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