USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holyoke > Holyoke daily transcript > Part 7
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Il. C. Merwin had n crockery store on Dwight street, in the rear of High street, and Miller & Ordway, and, a little later, C. H. Woodsnm, were the clothing denlers, with C. A. Corser, Boyce & Warner (succeeded by P. J. Gilligan), amul Inter ou D. E. Sullivan, and E. F. Osborn were the shoe men Judson Strong, who niterwards he- came wealthy in Springfield real estate, also kept a shoe store for a time, heng aneceedal by ( S (not T. S.) Chilils
Dipping into mmmetal politics for a moment, the writer recalls the first city election mn the fall of 1873. The reemminations of the present day are weak and feeble com- pareil with what passed between the advocates of W. B. C. Pearsons and R. P. Crafts. When Pearsons was elected by a majority of uxty-two the 'Transcript came ont with a cut of the most exultant, arrogant, loud-throated rooster that it was ever onr fortme to gaze upon.
lle was re-electedl, and then R. P. Crafts was given a turn. to be succeviled by William Whiting, in 1878.
SPRINGFIELD PROVISION CO.
THE HOME OF THE
BRIGHTWOOD HAMS, BACON AND SAUSAGE PRODUCTS
ALSO THE
CELEBRATED
KIELBASA
ALL ARE MANUFACTURED BY
SPRINGFIELD PROVISION COMPANY
BRIGHTWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS
SKETCH OF HOLYOKE
BY
GEORGE H. ALLYN
RAFT
DRY fu
EXCHANGE HALL (BURNED IN THE 70's).
C. W. Ranlet was, for many years, the watchdog of the treasury, a position for which nature admirably fitted him. He was a thorough economist, a caustic talker and even more canstic writer. Some of his annual reports used to arouse the rage of the municipal finance and city prop- erty committees.
The unfortunate tax collector in those days used to have to account for every dollar of taxes assessed and not rebated, whether he collected them or not, and such was their drend of Mr. Ranlet's bitter tongue (and they had to deposit in his bank) that some of them would discount a personal note and turn in the balance of taxes due the city, collecting them afterwards as they could, but silencing Mr. Ranlet's malevolent remarks.
In 1877 William Whiting built the Windsor Hotel and block and the Opera House. This last was opened in April, 1878, and the writer attended the second performance. given by the Leland Opera House Company.
The play was "London Assurance," and the future fa- mous actress, Ada Rehan, was an understudy with the part of Grace Harkaway, Mrs. J. W. Albaugh (May Mitchell) starring as Lady Gay Spanker.
For many years Holyoke saw the best actors in the country, Barrett, Davenport, T. W. Keene, Frank Mayo, F. S. Chanfran, Barney McCauley, Genevieve Ward, Mary Anderson, Ristori, Jannscheck, Kate Claxton, John A. Stevens, John E. Owens, William Warren, and a host of others appearing.
The Holyoke Choral Union used to render cantatas, and in "Belshazzar," Dr. Gardner Cox made a superb mon- arch, and Mrs. A. L. Shumway a stately and majestic queen.
Lyceum debates were held in the vestry of the Second Congregational Church, the vestry entranee being on High street, and the reader may well believe that W. S. Looms, J. L. R. Trask, H. A. Chase, David Stratton, and others used to make the fur Ay.
With the development of the "Manchester Ground" section a 'bus line was run by James F. Allen and S. J. Hobbs for many years, but the service was necessarily rather unsatisfactory. A nephew of H. A. Pratt was the first driver and Richard Bissonette and George Blanchard each officiated for many years.
In 1878 John Cleary bought the High street lot (where J. G. Barnes had for years had a paint shop) preparatory to erecting a block, Mr. Barnes had owneil the lot since 1855. In 1870 R. P. Crafts had built the three-story block on High, north of Lyman street, and a little later John De- laney built the large block just north. The Allyn brown- stone front blocks, on the east side, were built in 1871, and the present Caledonian building by R. P. Crafts in 1874. Dr. John J. O'Connor built the then considered palatial block at the corner of Dwight and Maple streets, in 1873.
The splendid Farr and Skinner manufactories located here in 1874, and William Skinner's house was taken from Skinnerville and rebuilt in its present location. William A. Chase had succeeded to the management of the Holyoke Water Power Company, and boomed the city with all his ability,
The Holyoke National bank had been organized in 1872, and prospered from the start. Of the origmal diree- tors only George W Prentiss and J. G. Mackintosh remain.
In 1881 Leander Davis and J. S. Carr built on Dwight street, nearly opposite the City hall, and Potvin & Kinney built in 1882-83. Dickieson & Dempster had a dry goods store in the Windsor building, and E A. Fen- no & Co. a hig grocery. H. C. Smith had succeeded C B, Harris in the clothing business, and also located in the Windsor building.
C. B. Harris was a strong character in the early 70's, most snecessfully conducting the store where James F. Jess now is.
He was an infinite wag, and at one time gave an organ grinder a dollar to play before the new Hadley Falls bank, built in about 1874, and thought for some years to he "the last word" in an ele- gant banking house.
President Ranlet came out in high dudgeon, and, after n bitter alterention, drove him away.
He and several kindred spirits one day stole the entire stock of butter belonging to David Jndel, an honest farmer, who left his lerim under the Holyoke House shed, and then informed him that such a party was guilty, and that they proposed to give him an in- formal trial in the hotel. C. B. Harris presided as judge, and his rulings were most judicial, till ju- terrupted by some of the gang bombarding lum with the stolen balls of butter, when he declared the trial adjourned and paid Mr: Judd twice the value of his pro- duce.
We carelessly omitted men- tion of Sam King, the only
Retive, surviving merchant of those engaged in business on High street in the late 60's. Not one of the others but has passed from the street. Sam would doubtless indignantly deny our rash statement that David Adler antedated him, and, m fact, we can't tell which was the pioneer. The first directory, published in 1869, gives both, and though "Sam" clamis lie came in 1867, the honors are enasy.
Sam was always thrifty and gained fame in the late so's by stopping a run on the Holyoke Savings bank, offer- ing to buy all books at a slight discount. No simne human being could conceive of "Sant's" taking any chance, and the run stopped in short order.
There were two branches of Fenian societies here in 1869, and before the Fenian raid up into Canada 'tis said a meeting was held at the Holyoke House to outline the cam- prign and divide the spoils. It was planned to wrest old Ireland from the hated Briton's grasp and divide it up among the faithful. The father of V. J. O'Donnell and "Old Man Wright," father of J. H. Wright (familiarly known in Holyoke's earlier years as "Cap" Wright), are said to have apportioned the province, but the deal had a b'd hitch and never maturetl. General Sweeney, a Civil war veteran, was to command the forces, and quite a fund was raised; but no fallen Fenian warriors sleep in St. Jerome's cemetery, which was laid out about this time.
"Cap" Wright served several terms in the Legislature and owned the block at the corner of High and Lyman streets, recently known as Dufresne's.
C. A. Corser was defeated at one time for a re-election to the state Senate because of a speech on woman suffrage, in which he made some strictures in foreign immigration which were distorted. He was succeeded by "Deck" Hitch- cock, who will be recalled by many of the old-timers. "Deck" was a big-hearted fellow and a great horse-lover. He had a specially fine pair of blacks, which he wagered he could drive down the precipitous, steep bank south of the Sacred Heart Church, and would probably have done so had not his opponent backed down.
C. E. Ball was one of the most prominent druggists of the 70's, and continued in business until he sold out to Hall & Lyon, in 1908.
Joel Russell established the J. Russell Company hard- ware store back in the early 60's, making, perhaps, the old- est store conducted by the same family in the city, as it aniedated the Sears' store nearly ten years, and even takes precedence of Sam King. James Fitzgerald established the Fitzgerald Newsrooms in the early 70's, being first located
STEPHEN HOLMAN, HOLYOKE'S OLDEST LIVING MANUFACTI'RER.
MAY 1.1810
JUNE 1906
JULY 1896
· HOLYOKE·
0
· SPRINGFIELD ·
THE STEIGER SYSTEM
EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO Albert Steiger opened a store in Port Chester, N. Y., the first of the "Steiger System." The business done in this store that first year was $32,000. Since then the A. Steiger & Company of Holyoke; the Steiger, Dudgeon Company of New Bedford; the Albert Steiger Company of Springfield; the W. D. Kinsman store of Springfield and the J. V. Spare Company of New Bedford have been successfully added, result- ing in the "Steiger System."
Under the direction of Mr. Albert Steiger- who is the head and principal owner-the business now done by these stores amounts to several million dollars annually. In his policy he has always insisted upon giv- ing, for every dollar expended in his stores-100 cents in merchandise of the highest quality-fair and cour- teous treatment to all. Then, too, the very exceptional buying advantage at the disposal of the "Steiger System" enables his stores to give values equal to any of the largest distributors of merchandise in this country.
SEPT. 1903
MARCH 1912
PORT CHESTER .
CLOARS & SUITS.
A.STEIGER & CO.
NEW BEDFORD
NEW BEDFORD
MAY 1894
MAY I. 1894
· SPRINGFIELD ·
BY -
SKETCH OF HOLYOKE GEORGE H. ALLYN
on Hampden street, and later in Orrell's block. James Fitzgerald was even more free from inde- cision of opinion than Daniel F .. and no one ever had much diffi- culty in finding where they stood on matters by inquiry, though they were never "butters-in."
Many people still remember Jeff Manning, a gigantic Ward Four character of the 1870 to 1880 decade. Jeff was mild as milk when sober but the red eye trans- formed him into # bull moose, requiring on an average abont three stalwart policemen to snb- dne him. Last heard of, he was in the navy.
Maurice D. Fenton was gen- erally regardeil as ahont the most fearless pulice officer the city had. md Ins tragic death in 1993 cins- ed deep regret.
The ilecade of 1870 to 1880 changed the medical and legal list radically. Very early in the 70's T. B. O'Donnell was admitted to the bar and came to Holyoke from Northampton, being the present dean of the profession in ctive practice, Judge Chapin having withdrawn from the heat of the combat. From the very first Mr. O'Donnell ranked high in legal attainments, and his integrity in his profession was like that of Watson Ely's in his calling, all- solnte and unassailahle. Just about the same time I. L. Sherman, Esq,, came here, and he and Mr. O'Donnell later fonned a partnership, continning till the early 80's.
Judge Sherman, as the boys loved to call him, was a mique character, a man of sincerity, truth and utter fear- lessness. An ardent republienn, he was selected as one of tlie disputants in a Lyceum dehate as to whether Hayes or Tilden was lawfully elected in 1876. He was assigned to the Tilden sule, and, after examining the evidence so as to put up a good argument, he hecame convinced that the democratic candidate had the right of the matter, and after that nothing conld shake him in his position. William H. Brooks, H. K. Hawes, James J. Reardon, A. A. Tyler, O. E Genest, R. G. Kilduff, Jonathan Allen, F. A. Beals, and William Slattery all cine in between 1872 and 1889.
In the late 60's Dr. J. J. O'Connor and Dr. George H. Smith began their long and honarahle praetiee. In the late GO's also (about 1869) came Drs. Blodgett, Draper, Tuttle, and J. U. Woods, and in 1871 Dr G. W. Davis. Dr. D. H. Donoghue was of a younger school, starting in about the end of the decade. R. O. Dwight and Dr. Cox were prom- inent in law and medicine, but were Sonth Hladley Falls citizens. Dr. M. M. Mitivier settled here in the early 70's. and practiced extensively till 1892. Drs. Taylor and Murlless had cume in as dentists in the late 60's, and D. G. llarkins in the early 70's. Some of the characters of thi- decade were Deacon A. I. Childs the coal dealer; J. W. Davis (commonly known as "Jake" Davis), ice dealer, and E. D. Shet- ley, blacksmitlı.
They were typical New Eng- landers
Dencon Childs was usually short of money, and was apt to be collecting to "pay a note" One day he shunned a man who was well able to pay. but nearly a dead beat m practice "I have got to jay a note," saidl the good deacon. "They're bad things. Deacon; yon shouldn't give them," said the debtor, and passeil on.
W. H. 11 Ward was a pioneer baker at the corner af High and Jolm streets, first #t Weilge & Ward, aml F. J. Peuineroy suc- ceeded his father-in-law, E. W. Loomis in the book and variety linsiness. D. B. Wing held forth in the stave business, and Chase Brathers were druggists at the northeast corner of Dwight and Race streets. F. P. Goodall, J. O. Wild, and J. J. Nugent were also prominent druggists. C. L. Du-
141
SOLILIERS' MONUMENT, ILAMPDEN PARK
clos also had a drug store, and was a member of the Ilolyake Rifle Club, the only surviving memher of which, so far as we know, is D. H. Smith, dentist. Moore & Glover ( Philander Moore. senior member) be- gan the decade in the grocery business, and J. H. Fitzsin- mons was a groceryman at the end of it. George M. Wol- cott contested the shoe supremacy with C. A. Corser, being snecceded by E. F. Osborn.
The Mechanics Savings bank had been organized in 1872, and af the original officers only Jimmies H. Newton, B. C. Brainard, Stephen Hohnan, and E. W. Chapin sur- vive. J. G. Mackintosh & Co. were "on deck" in 1876, and the City National Bank in 1879.
It is difficult to enumerate the varions industries that had come in, but the Wauregan Paper Company and Massachusetts Screw Company, and Newton and Ramage Paper Company were all initiated hy the Newton brothers. The Beebe & Holbrook and George R. Dickinson paper mills were important additions.
Speaking of the late Judge Sherman's absolute sin- cerity it is recalled that at the death of a local member of the bar another attorney called at a brother lawyer's office and found Squire Sherman there. The first attorney broached the idea of a bar meeting in commemoration of the deceased, and noting that the response was not par- ticularly enthusiastic, remarked: "Blank had some gooil qualities." The second attorney looked at Sherman, who was meditatively gazing at the ceiling. "Well, what do you say, Sherman?" "I vow," said Sherman, "I was trying to remember what they were."
T.
SECUND LEVEL CANAL, FROM DWIGHT STREET.
Judge Persons was a man of remarkable brain power and abil- tty &mt of a sluggish disposition, which heki him back from his real place in the world. lle was inclined to he easy in every sense of the word, though he could be stern if necessary. AAt one time the caretaker of his property re- ported that a certam woman must be evicted, for she wouldn't pay a cent "Does she pay amybody?" inquired the jndgy "Nu; she lon't pay a soul" "Well, then, let livr stay ; she might as well bear me as anyone else."
lohoke's carly fame as a haschall town deserves notice. In the carly 70's the Sharps and Shamrocks felded ahont as keenly is the best professionals of today, -ind all Holyoke turned ont at their cantests, When the Sharps were defeated by the Sure Pops . of Ware, in 1875. i was regarded 4. worse than a national calamity It is a remarkable fact that the first occasion of death decimating the ranks of the old Sharps came last year in the death of Thomas 11 hecie, the shortstop. T. MI. Cleary and Dan O'Neil, catchers; "Ownie" Clark, pitcher; James O. Leary, "Mossy" Lynch, "Pomp" Moore, Hartnett, Brennan, and McCarthy "still live."
Many of the Shamrocks have passed on, Unt Chief Jolm T. Lyneb and big "Wait" Sullivan still survive in our midst.
In the latter part of 1878 and in 1879, Holyoke had. we believe, as gocul a baseball nine as there was in the country. Smiling Mickey Welch, Roger Connor, and Pat Gillespie, afterwards famous with the New York Giants ; James Roseman, later star Helder of the New York Metro- politans ; Powell, afterwards with the Detroits, and last but not least, R. C. Winchester, made a hard-hitting comluna- tion that was unsurpassed. Jerry Dorgan, the entcher, could throw down to second without straightening up, or moving in his tracks, and the ball raised no more than ;1 rifle bullet. In a game with the champion Bostons in 1878, Jerry threw out four men in quick succession, Winchester tonching them standing up before they got near enough to slide, and not a base was stolen on him during the game. Holyoke stole many bases ou Snyder, the great Boston catcher.
Springfield howled then, as now about unfairness, for in a 1 to 0 game, wan by Holyoke in 1879, the Republican report said: "It is claimed that Welch's delivery was wholly illegal and mfair."
W S. Loomns became associated with E. L. Kirtland ( who had light an interest in the Transcript in 1871), luiying ont C H. Lyman's interest in 1873, and obtaining control in 1875. Mr. Loomis was a suappy and foreefnl editor; the paper was always wurth reading, and when, after selling an interest to W. G. Dwight, in the carly So's, he retired in 1887, Holyoke suf- fered a distinct loss. For a time during the io's the Independent Journal was published by Fordyce R. Nortan, and the llolyoke News under W. 11. Phillips had a brief r1111 in 1875-ht the Transcript was the vade mecum of Holyoke
Many were the controversie. thrasheil out m it, the writer re- meinhering ofte in particular. : bitter disagreement between the borril of water commissioners and The Farr Alpaca Company in the Inte 70's over the extra use of water. W. S. Looms and C. W Ranlet also had a serap over a printing bill that would almost have drawn tears of joy from a mud turtle.
It was in the late 70's that John J. Prew returned to Holyoke jenniless, and was corilially re- ceived by Joseph N. John J., al- ways indomitable of spirit, found
INTERIOR VIEW WHITE PAPER BOX COMPANY
DR. F. J. CLOUTIER, President
JOHN J. WHITE, Treasurer and General Manager
WHITE PAPER BOX CO.
ESTABLISHED 1883 BY JOHN J. WHITE
PLAIN AND FANCY BOXES FOR EVERY PURPOSE
BOXES FOR THE CLOTHING TRADE
BOXES FOR DRY GOODS TRADE
BOXES FOR THE MILLINERY TRADE
BOXES FOR THE PAPER TRADE
FOLDING LUNCH BOXES
BOXES OF SPECIAL DESIGN AT SHORT NOTICE
BUY HOLYOKE MADE PAPER BOXES AND HELP THE GROWTH OF YOUR OWN CITY
SKETCH OF HOLYOKE
GEORGE H. ALLYN
C
a lot on the west side of Elm street, and arranged to build a block thercon in company with Clovis Ham- 1. Hastenmg home, overjoyed to tell Joe that he was going to do the job, he nearly collapsed at Joe's reply :
"Holy Stars, John, where are you going to get the nails?"
But John did "get the nails," built and sold the block, and continued to a high pitch of prosperity.
A strong element of German citizenship also came in during this decade and proved its sterling worth. The Germans located for the most part at South Holyoke, many of them working in the Germania Mills.
In 1880 Holyoke's population had increased to 21,915, and was booming as rapidly as at any period in its carecr. The Nonotuck, Syms & Dudley, Chemical, and Winona Paper Companies were all organized in 1880, and practi- cally the Deane Steam Pump also. The Hampden Glazed and Holyoke Envelope came in in 1881 and numerous other industries crowded in.
A peculiar situation in business property obtained from 1882 to 1884, Dwight street, from High to Front, being a better business location than High street. Business had as yet refused vigorously to cross Dwight street south. The George M. Wolcott block, built in 1879 on the corner of Dwight and High streets, had for its first tenant S. Apple- baum, clothier, who went broke. "People will not cross Dwight street," was the uni- versal cry, and the Dwight street business section with the big Dickieson dry goods store, the Boston dry goods store, the H. C. Smith Clothing Company (later Nourse & McCammon), J. G. Mackintosh & Co.'s bank. the Holyoke Furniture Com- pany, J. S. Carr & Co., S. H. Barre and D. H. Porterfield, jewelers, with the Windsor Hotel and Opera House, for a time had both the older part of High street, north of Dwight, and the few blocks south "skin- ned a mile."
But the southerly growth was inevitable. W. H. May- berry built the present Horri- gan block. J. F. Allyn the block now occupied by Green's drug store, W. L. L'Esperance the block now occupied by Rus- sell Bros .. J. G. Bishop the block now being remodelled by E. O'Connor, J. A. Clough the block occupied by the G. E. Russell Company, Cordes & Thieme the block at the corner of High and Suffolk streets, now owned by Charles Cun- ningham, and when John Tilley built the McAuslan & Wakelin block (as we now call it), and then the present Thomas S. Childs' block in 1887, and removed his successful furniture business up from Main street, south High street's future was but i question of time. Never was a business street built p more rapidly, and the rise in values was phenomenal. Men were made wealthy by a single purchase on High street. Patrick Curran bought the two corners of High and Apple- ton streets, and made a fortune by it.
In 1879-80, the Water Power Company, thoroughly progressive under W. A. Chase, built a row of brick cot- tages on Walnut strect, south of Appleton, and sold them on easy terms Mark Wood, employed at the Farr Alpaca, bought one and found a customer for another. This in- duced him to open an office evenings for the sale of real estate, and about 1884 he gave up the mill and devoted his entire time to the new business. The company also built cottages on Cabot and later on Beech, and farther south on Walnut street, which Mr. Wond also sold. Though others dabbled in realty sales, Mr. Wood was the real pioneer, successful real estate man, and for seven or eight years monopolized the commission business in his line.
The Highlands were building up with tremendous growth.
E. J. Pomeroy had built the fine place on Northampton street, Intely purchased by C. Fayette Smith, prior to 1880, calling it "Westover."
George Nightingale was the first to build on Lincoln street, near Northampton, in 1880, and R. F. Kelton, who had become the leading marketman, followed suit in 1881. W. S. Loomis located on the old Tuttle place abont the same time, and George W. Prentiss and R. B. Johnson built in 1884.
The Connecticut River Company's passenger depot lo- cation was changed from the foot of Dwight street to the present site in 1883, while R. P. Crafts was mayor. We think this was the year that Porter Underwood was nomi- nated by the republicans in caucus with 178 votes, with James E. Delaney the democratic candidate. Mr. Crafts was nominated by a citizens' committee, and defeated Mr. Delaney, while Underwood received just 176 votes, causing the Transcript to remark that a detective should be secured to find out where the votes went that he was shy of on the caucus figure. The location of the depot is said to have been changed largely because of enmity to "Tim" Merrick.
In 1885 the big Whiting Street building and the Marble Block were built and the Marble Hall Hotel opened by Mrs. J. H. Smith. This was later kept by Rodney Brown, "Ke" Webster, Frank Washburn, and James Kelley.
The Windsor had H. C. Ferguson, B. L. Potter, and George H. Bowker as landlords.
HOLYOKE ARMORY
In 1885 W. A. Chase built the ten-footers below the City hall, and High street, south of Dwight, steadily built up.
In 1887 (we think) the city employed Daniel O'Con- well to make the fill across Maple street, which had so long barred the town from what is .. ow Elmwood. The Hol- yoke Street Railway had been established in 1884, and in 1884-85 the suburb of Oakdale plotted on the side hill be- low the old Allyn slaughter house. W. S. Loomis suld ont his interest in the Transcript and bought (together with Joseph E. Chase) the Horace Brown property in Elmwood, cut it up into lots, sold them by a drawing, became inter- ested in the Holyoke Street Railway, and extended it to Elmwood and Oakdale, and later under his management, the Springdale extension was made.
lliram Smith was the first superintendent, and the present superintendent, Thomas Smith, drove a car, mak- ing him twenty-seven years in the service.
In 1887 occurred the momentous defalcation of George M Bartholomew, president of the Holyoke Water Power Company, and the displacing of W. A. Chase as agent by E. S. Waters-a sorry day for Holyoke.
Mr. Waters was a man of the highest character, but he was not attuned to the democratic progressive Holyoke spirit
Holyoke was going at top speed, and its momentum carried it on for a few years at the same apparent pace, but the slackening under a rigid and harsh Water Power Company policy was inevitable.
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