USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 3 > Part 3
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City Solicitors .- Edward W. Chapin. 1874-75; H. K. Ilawes, 1876-78: H. L. Sherman, 1879: S. W. Dougherty, 1880 : William H. Brooks. 1881-83: Terrenee B. O'Donnell. 1884-90: Christopher T. Callahan, 1891; William Hamilton, 1892-94;
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THE CITY OF HOLYOKE
Christopher T. Callahan, 1895: Arthur B. Chapin, 1896; Wil- liam Hamilton, 1897; Christopher T. Callahan, 1898; Addison L. Greene, 1899; Nathan P. Avery, 1900-02.
City Physicians .- Dr. Charles O. Carpenter, 1874-76; Dr. G. W. Davis, 1877; Dr. A. F. Reed, 1878; Dr. J. J. O'Connor, 1879-84; Dr. D. F. Donoghue, 1885-91; Dr. Stephen A. Ma- honey, 1892-94 ; Dr. John F. Buckley, 1895-97 : Dr. John J. Mc- Cabe, 1898-99: Dr. George C. Robert, 1900-01: Dr. Joseph A. Marin, 1902.
Assessors of Taxes .- Amos Andrews, James E. Delaney, John E. Chase, 1874; Amos Andrews, James E. Delaney, Joseph Murray, 1875; Amos Andrews, J. F. Sullivan, Joseph Murray, 1876-79 ; Joseph Murray, J. F. Sullivan, J. H. Fraser. 1880-82; Joseph Murray, J. F. Sullivan, S. E. Gates, 1883-85; V. J. O'Donnell, J. F. Sullivan, S. E. Gates, 1886; Jeremiah F. Sullivan, Seymour E. Gates, Didace Sainte-Marie, 1887-88; James J. Dowd, S. E. Gates, Didace Sainte-Marie, 1889-91; Sey- mour E. Gates, James J. Dowd, John B. Laroche, 1892; S. E. Gates, James J. Dowd, Joseph St. Martin, 1893-94; James J. Dowd, Joseph St. Martin, Joseph J. Kelley, 1895-99 ; Dwight O. Judd, Joseph St. Martin, Joseph J. Kelley, 1900-02.
City Marshals .- (Called chief of police prior to 1894), Wil- liam G. Ham, 1874; Almado Davis, 1875; William G. Ham, 1876; D. E. Kingsbury, 1877; William G. Ham, 1878-81; Sumner T. Miller, 1882-83; James Dougherty, 1884-85 ; Marciene H. Whit- comb, 1886-90 ; Sumner T. Miller, 1891 ; Valentine J. O'Donnell, 1892; S. T. Miller, 1893; George H. Twaddle, 1894-95; S. T. Miller, 1896; M. H. Whitcomb, 1897 ; Edward J. Gorman, 1898 ; J. Sidney Wright, 1899-1902.
Board of Public Works .- Michael F. Walsh, chairman, Oren D. Allen, Gilbert Potvin, jr., 1897-1902.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Previous to the incorporation of the Hadley Falls company the inhabitants of Ireland parish had no approved appliance for extinguishing fires in the town; and, indeed, there appears to have been little need for a fire organization of any kind in this
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
quiet agricultural region. However, with the beginning of op- erations by the Hadley Falls company the managers purchased a hand engine of the Button type, which soon acquired the local designation of "piano machine." and which also was a famous fire fighting apparatus in the "New City," as Holyoke originally was ealled.
In December, 1850, the town first took aetion in relation to the establishment of a fire department within the limits of school district No. 1, and at a regular meeting the old "First Fire distriet" was organized : and it was continued until 1872. In 1855 the town voted to pay the expenses of the fire depart- ment and appropriated the sum of $336 for maintenance. Small as this amount was. it was sufficient for the time and provided all that was then required to keep the three companies-Hol- yoke Engine Co. No. 1, Mechanies Engine Co. No. 2, and Mt. Tom llose Co .- then comprising the department. In the latter part of 1857 and the early part of 1858 the board of engineers, in whom was vested the management of the department. approved the following named persons as firemen : Wallace Warner, Ru- fus Mosher. E. D. Shelley, Homer M. Crafts. Dominick Crosson, G. Marsh. S. C. Crouch. John R. Clifford, John R. Baker, J. C. Morrison. V. M. Dowd, Benjamin Roberts, E. W. Loomis, O. A. Henry. Isaac Cook. John Pronty, Mowry Pronty. II. K. Bean, John Doyle. A. O. Kenney. Robert Mitchell, B. F. MeKinster, Lester Newell. E. Whitaker, C. H. Roby. T. C. Page, John C. Smith, Thomas II. Kelt. J. A. Cleveland.
In 1861 the first hook and ladder company was organized, and during the next ten years the department was materially increased. both in membership and in improved apparatus. In 1870 the annual report of Chief Crafts showed three engine houses and six companies, the latter being as follows: Reliance No. 1) Steam Fire Engine Co., 25 members: Relief (No. 2) Steam Fire Engine Co .. 25 members; Emerald Engine Co., 60 members : Mt. Tom Hose Co., 30 members : Mt. Holyoke Hose Co., 25 members: Ilook and Ladder Co., 30 members. The company last mentioned soon afterward was given the name of Reseue II. & L. Co. No. 1.
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THE CITY OF HOLYOKE
Under section thirty of the original city charter the city council was authorized to establish a fire department and to make such regulations concerning its pay, conduct and govern- ment as from time to time should be deemed expedient; also, to establish fire limits in the city. At the same time the inhab- itants of any previously existing fire district were authorized to dissolve the district and dispose of any or all of its apparatus. With the adoption of this act the history of the present fire de- partment had its beginning. In 1874 there were six companies in the department, two steam engines, three hose companies and one hook and ladder truck.
The act of May 23, 1890, authorized the city council to es- tablish, regulate and govern the department through the agency of a board of fire commissioners, to comprise three members ap- pointed by the mayor. Thus was established the board by which the affairs of the fire department in a great measure was freed from the political influences which in the earlier years had seri- ously interfered with its efficiency. Under the recommendations of the commissioners the city has made liberal appropriations for the maintenance and extension of the department, and to-day the latter is regarded as one of the most thoroughly equipped and efficient bodies of its kind in the state.
The permanent force of the department consists of seventy- one men and eleven fully equipped companies. There are in use six steam fire engines, two chemical engines, six two-horse hose wagons, one combination chemical and hose wagon and three hook and ladder trucks. The annual expense of the department is about $70,000. The estimated value of the six engine houses in the city is more than $100,000.
The succession of chief engineers of the Holyoke fire de- partment is as follows:
Chief Engineers .- R. G. Marsh, 1851; Daniel Bowdoin. 1852-53; Thomas H. Kelt, 1854; William B. C. Pearsons, 1855- 1858; Jones S. Davis, 1859- 60; William B. C. Pearsons, 1861-62; William H. Dickinson, 1863-64; L. P. Bosworth, 1865-67; Ros- well P. Crafts, 1868-69; O. S. Tuttle, 1870; Roswell P. Crafts, 1871; Richard Pattce, 1872-73; Benjamin F. Mullin, 1874-75:
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
John D. Hardy. 1876-78: Benjamin F. Mullin, 1879 ; E. P. Ford, 1880; B. F. Bigelow, 1881-84; JJohn T. Lynch, 1885-1902.
Fire Commissioners.1-Richard Shea, Jeremiah J. Callanan, John Hildreth, Charles L. Newcomb, Val. Moqnin, Roger P. Don- oghue, John J. Sheridan, 1891-92; John J. Sullivan, vice Sheri- dan, 1893: Charles L. Newcomb, James J. Curran, Val. Moquin, appointed 1894: Charles L. Neweomb, Val. Moqnin, Dennis J. Landers, 1895-96: Charles L. Newcomb, Dennis J. Landers, 1897 ; Charles L. Newcomb, M. J. Laporte, 1898-99; Charles L. New- comb. Daniel Proulx, Frank L. Buck, 1900 : Charles L. Newcomb, Daniel Proulx, Dennis J. Landers, 1901-1902.
CITY WATER WORKS
As a part of its gigantie scheme of development and public improvement during the three years immediately preceding the year 1850, the Hadley Falls company constructed a reservoir on the elevated land about seventy-five rods from the river and from that point laid main and distributing pipes through the business and residence portions of the "New City," which the company, through its enterprise. had brought into active existence. Water was pumped from the river into the reservoir and was carried thenee throughout the little village by gravity pressure.
This was the only system of water supply for Holyoke from October 18, 1849, when the reservoir was first filled, until 1872, when the growth of the town necessitated the establishment of a larger and better plant. On March 7. 1872, the legislature passed " An aet to supply the town of Holyoke with pure water," which aet was accepted by the inhabitants March 21, 1872. The act authorized the town to establish its own water works and to regulate its use for fire, steam, domestic and other purposes, with authority to take and hold the entire waters of Ashley's and Wright's ponds. For the purpose of construeting the works the town was anthorized to issue bonds to the amount of $250,000.
The aet also created the board of water commissioners, to comprise the town treasurer, ex-officio, and six persons to be
1At first seven commissioners were appointed, but as the board was found to be unwieldy the number was redneed to three.
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THE CITY OF HOLYOKE
elected by the inhabitants. This act, however, was amended by the city charter, and it was then provided that the board should comprise three persons to be elected by the city couneil. In con- formity with the provisions of this act the board of water com- missioners has been continued to the present time.
In 1884 a supplemental act authorized the commissioners to increase the water supply by taking the waters of Whiting Street brook : and in 1896 the legislature authorized the board to utilize for the same purpose the waters of Tueker and Manhan brooks in the town of Southampton.
The work of construction on the original plant was begun in 1872 and was finished in 1873, but the work of extension of the system has been carried forward year after year to the pres- ent time. One of the annual reports of the board of commis- sioners, in referring to the supply system, says: "Source of supply-two contiguous natural lakes, three and one-half miles from the city, two mountain streams and storage reservoir, and the southwest branch of Manhan river: intake reservoir at Southampton."
The net cost of the water supply system to date aggregates nearly $1,250,000. The city's bonded indebtedness on account of the works is $300,000. The works produce an annual income of about $85,000, and the surplus over the expense of mainte- nance is chiefly used for extension purposes. The total length of distribution pipes is over eighty-one miles : number of public hydrants in use, 524; estimated average daily consumption of water, 4,750,000 gallons.
The personnel of the board of water commissioners from 1872 is as follows :
Water Commissioners .- William B. C. Pearsons, March 21, 1872-February 2, 1874 ; John Delaney, March 21, 1872-February 2, 1874: John E. Chase, March 21. 1872-resigned March, 1873; Dennis Higgins, March 21, 1872-February 2, 1874 ; Joel Russell. March 21, 1872-February 2. 1874 ; Joseph P. Buckland, March 21, 1872-February 2, 1874; L. P. Bosworth, March 18, 1873-Feb- ruary 2, 1874; C. W. Ranlet. ex-officio, town treasurer. (The foregoing were elected by the town). JJoseph P. Buckland, Den-
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
nis Higgins, February 2. 1874-January 2, 1876; James G. Smith, February 2. 1874-died July 10, 1878; J. A. Sullivan, February 25, 1876-January 6, 1891; James F. Allyn. February 5, 1877- January 4, 1886; C. H. Heywood. July 16. 1878-January 11, 1880: Timothy Merrick, January 11, 1881-January 4, 1887 : Mau- riee Lynch. Jannary 4, 1886-January 5, 1892: James E. De- laney. Jannary 4. 1887-January 7, 1887 : Moses Newton, Jannary 18, 1887-January 2, 1893; James J. Curran, January 6, 1891- February 4, 1896: Martin P. Conway. January 5. 1892-January 3, 1898: Charles D. Colson, January 2, 1893-February 1, 1900; John J. Sullivan, January 27. 1896-now in office: Thomas F. Greaney, January 3. 1898-1901 : Joseph A. Skinner. February 1, 1900-now in office: Maurice Lynch, 1901; Arthur M. French, January. 1901-now in office. Water commissioners, 1902. John J. Sullivan, chairman ; Joseph A. Skinner, treasurer : Arthur M. Freneh. secretary.
Superintendents .- Moses Stevens, 1874-1881; John D. Hardy, 1881-now in office.
Registrars. - E. M. Bolton, 1874-76; E. P. Clark, 1876-93; J. C. Sullivan. 1893-1900: Albert E. Piekap. 1900-now in office.
THE PARK DEPARTMENT
The founders of Holyoke, nearly all of whom were of New England birth. proved true to the early custom of their region when they laid out and established a comfortable park traet near the central part of their town more than half a century ago.
That which now is known as Hampden park is the result of this early thoughtfulness on the part of our immediate ancestors, although many of those who were instru- mental in building up the town were chiefly interested in the advantages hoped to be derived from the operations of the water power company. At a later date the Holyoke Water Power company generously donated a traet of land for use as a publie park, and at intervals in subsequent years still other park traets have been acquired by the city by purchase and also through the gift of publie spirited citizens. In this manner Holyoke has become possessed of six park traets, none of them
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THE CITY OF HOLYOKE
of large area, but in the aggregate amounting to 23.71 acres of land. To these lands there should be added the famous Moun- tain park. 900 acres in extent, the property of the Mt. Tom railroad company, which is for the free use and benefit of the public. It is maintained at the expense of the company, and while not within the jurisdiction of the city it nevertheless is one of the most beautful and popular resorts in all New England.
The public parks of the city are known, respectively, as Hampden, Elmwood, Cononehet (given by the Holyoke Water
"The Stretch "
Springdale Driving Park, South Holyoke, a popular race track in Hampden County
Power company1), Germania, Hamilton and Prospeet parks, and are under the immediate control of the board of park com- missioners. The annual appropriation for maintenance is about $5,500. In 1882 the legislature passed an act authorizing towns and cities to lay out public parks within their limits, yet Holyoke appears not to have availed itself of the provisions of the act
1As a matter of fact the city Is indebted to the company for HIampden, Ger- mania, Elmwood and Prospect parks, as well as for Cononchet.
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until about two years afterward. Previons to that time the con- trol of the parks was vested in the city council and one of the committees of that body. and during that period the public pleasure grounds received little more than indifferent attention ; but under the board of park commissioners proper attention has been given to this element of municipal life, although the appro- priations generally have been small in amount.
The appended list shows the personnel of the first board of park commissioners, with the names of subsequent appointees as vacancies occurred :
Park Commissioners. William Grover. John O'Donnell. James Ramage. Robert B. Johnson, Maurice Lynch, 1884; John .. Prew. 1885: John J. Nugent. 1886: George Spamer, Wilbert T. Dean. 1888: George H. Smith, Charles R. Houbler. William S. Loomis, 1889: Thomas F. Greaney, 1890; Thomas J. Gibson. James Barnes, 1892: Timothy Merrick, 1893: Mederie J. La- porte. 1894 : Daniel Il. Newton. 1895: Antoine Mareotte. Charles 6. Mackintosh, 1900: James F. Burns, 1901 : Antoine Mareotte. James F. Burns, John McNairn, Charles E. Mackintosh. Max Otto Driekorn (full board ), 1902.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
From such meagre records as have been preserved it is diffi- enlt. to determine just when the mother town of Springfield first made provision for the support of a school in that part of its do- main which afterward acquired the name of Ireland parish, but which now comprises the city of Holyoke. It is known, however, that for more than a quarter of a century previous to the ineor- poration of West Springfield a school was maintained in the lo- vality indicated, and that the settlers themselves seenred the loea- tion and cansed the vreetion of the first school house.
When West Springfield was set off as a separate town ( 1774) the authorities gave more earnest attention to the edu- cational welfare of the youth and soon divided the territory into distriets, providing one school in the so-called Ireland parish, the latter then comprising district No. 15. The earliest school record dates from 1802, and for several years furnishes only
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High School, Holyoke
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
meagre information regarding the number and location of the schools of that period or of the persons who were identified with their management. This, however, is unimportant in our pres- ent chapter, for the history of education in Holyoke really be- gius with the creation of the town, in 1850. Indeed, for several years previous to incorporation there had been independent ac- tion on the part of the inhabitants for the benefit of the schools in the parish, and as early as 1808 an excellent school, the Rand seminary, was established for the purpose of affording the youth of the parish better educational advantages than the common schools could provide.
The seminary was established through the efforts of Rev. Thomas Rand, one of the founders and the first pastor of the Baptist society in the parish ; and while Elder Rand's eo-work- ers in the seminary enterprise were chiefly of his own religious followers, the institution itself was not intended to be a denomi- national school. but rather for the welfare of all the townsfolk who could avail themselves of its benefits. Deacon Perez Hitch- coek, Caleb Humeston, Austin Goodyear, Noah Wolcott and David Bassett are remembered as Elder Rand's principal sup- porters in establishing the seminary, yet others of the townsmen gave substantial aid to the institution during its early history. The founder was its head and its guiding spirit for twenty-four years, and upon his removal from the locality, the building was taken down and re-erected at a more eentral point in the par- ish, and no longer was a distinctive institution of the Baptist colony. In its new location the building was occupied in part as a distriet school and in part as a seminary.
Following Elder Rand. William Gamwell taught in the seminary, and in allusion to him it took the name of "Gamwell's school." In later years the teachers were frequently changed, for with the increasing efficieney of the public school system the old tuition institution lost its prestige in the town: and with the establishment of the first high school in Holyoke, in 1852. the career of the seminary was ended. However, during the pe- riod of its history under Elder Rand, and his sneeessor, Mr. Gamwell, the seminary was a flourishing institution of learning
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THE CITY OF HOLYOKE
in the region, and many of the foremost men of the town of half a century ago acquired their early business training within its comfortable walls.
In 1850 the town of West Springfield comprised twenty- four school districts, and when in that year Holyoke was set off eight of these districts were within the new jurisdiction, and also two-fifths of the total school population. In that year the school census showed Holyoke to contain 537 children between the ages of five and fifteen years, and for the instruction of such of them as then attended school the town voted an appropria- tion of $1,800. The first annual report of the school committee showed a division of the town into nine districts and the mainte- nance of thirteen schools, viz .: Dist. 1, five schools, 339 chil- dren of school age: No. 2. one school, 66 children; No. 3, two schools, 43 children ; No. 4, one school, 16 children ; No. 5, one school, 25 children; No. 6, one school, 16 children ; No. 7, one school, 20 children ; No. S. having no school, 12 children ; No. 9, one school, and children enumerated with district No. 2.
The first twenty years after the incorporation of the town constituted the formative period of the present admirable school system of the city; and indeed the work of formation was con- tinned under the charter until after the completion of the new high school building. In the summer of 1852 a high school was established in district No. 1. and Stephen Holman was appointed its first principal. In 1855 this district contained eight schools, three primary and three introductory (which now would be termed intermediate schools), one grammar school and one high school. A new high school building was erected in 1862 and cost $8,500. In 1863 the first graduating exercises were held, and on that occasion six young ladies were awarded diplomas. This pioneer class comprised Alice Emerson, Sara C. Grover, H. Emogene Heywood, Agnes M. Kelt. Emma J. Loomis and Alice A. Wild.
In 1864 the schools were first given names suited to the localities in which they were respectively sitnated. Thus, in that year we note the names of the Sargent street school, the Ewingville school, the North school (Ireland), the Middle school
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Baptist villages. the South school( near Alexander Day's), the West street school, and the Rock Valley school. A few of these names have been retained, but with the rapid increase of the city's population and the consequent growth and out-spreading of all interests new names have been chosen for school designa- tions.
From 1860 to 1863 the work of supervising the schools de- volved upon the school committee, comprised of three promi- Hent citizens who were willing to devote their time and energies to the work of building up the educational system of the town : and frequently for several years a majority of the board was
South Chestnut Street School
comprised of clergymen, who were supposed to understand the needs of the schools far better than the average citizen. In 1×63 the first superintendent of schools was chosen in compliance with a state law, and from that time to the date of the eity charter. a period of eleven years, there were eight incumbents of the superintendeney. The succession is as follows :
Superintendods, Joseph P. Buckland. 1863-64: Rev. Simeon Miller, 1865: Oscar Ely. 1866: Dr. L. F. Humeston (for a few months 1. 1867 : George C. Ewing. 1867-68: S. 11. Walker, 1×69-70: Rev. L. A. Fish. 1871: George R. Chase. 1872: Lonis 11. Marvel, 1873.
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THE CITY OF HOLYOKE
The succession of principals of the high school from 1852 to 1874 is as follows: Stephen Holman, succeeded by Mr. Brown, 1852: J. I. Ira Adams, 1853-56; Rev. Emory Wright, succeeded by Joseph P. Bnekland, 1857; Nathan R. Morse, suc- ceeded by Joseph P. Buckland. 1858; Joseph P. Buekland, 1859- 62: Thomas B. Stockwell, 1863; F. D. Douglass, 1863-64: Wil- liam R. Baldwin, 1865-67; Edward P. Jackson, 1868-69; George W. Edwards, 1870-73.
The town school committee from 1850 to 1874 was com- prised as follows: Dr. E. M. Snow, Rev. Asahel Chapin. Rev. Simeon Miller, 1850: Rev. Asahel Chapin, Dr. A. B. Clark, 1851 : Rev. Asahel Chapin, Rev. Mark Carpenter, Rev. Simeon Miller, 1852: Rev. Simeon Miller, Rev. Mark Carpenter, William B. C. Pearsons. 1853: Mark Carpenter, James W. Ford. Gustavus Snow, 1854: Rev. James French, Rev. Simeon Miller, James K. Mills, 1855 : Simeon Miller, Rev. J. B. R. Walker, Stephen Hol- man. 1856; Simeon Miller, G. W. Gorham, Stephen Holman, 1857: William B. C. Pearsons (3 years), Simeon Miller (2 years), Charles H. Spring ( 1 year), 18581 : Lester Newell, 1859 ; Simeon Miller. 1860; J. Lasell. 1861: Dr. E. G. Pierce, 1862: Simeon Miller, Stephen Holman (for 3 years), Joseph P. Bnek- land, John E. Chase ( for 2 years), Edwin H. Ball ( for 1 year), 1863: Rev. A. M. Averill, Oscar Ely, 1864; Henry A. Chase, Frank D. Douglass, 1865: John E. Chase, Rev. L. R. Eastman, Simeon Miller. 1866: L. F. S. Hmmmeston, James H. Newton, 1867: William Whiting. George C. Ewing, Robert B. Johnson, 1868: Simeon Miller, J. S. Webber, 1869: George H. Thayer, Charles H. Lyman (3 years), J. L. A. Fish (2 years), T. B. Flanders (1 year), 1870; Edward W. Chapin. R. S. Howard, 1871: Ezra Flagg, Charles W. Ranlet. 1872: Dr. N. B. Chase, Adam Leining. 1873.
Under the charter the educational interests of the city re- ceived greater care than was possible under the town system of government with its numerous embarrassments, and from that time the work of permanent building up and progress dates its
1At this meeting the members were first chosen tor terms longer than one Jenr.
For later years the succession shows who was elected at each town meeting.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
history. The good accomplished by the school committee of earlier years served as the foundation of still further improve- ment by the new board of education, while the superintendents were enabled to devote themselves entirely to the work of the schools. The constant growth of the city. at times increasing in population almost one hundred per cent. in a single decade. necessitated frequent enlargement of existing buildings and the ereetion of others to meet the requirements of the people, and all of the consequent expenditure of moneys was generously sanctioned by the taxpayers upon the presentations of the school committee. A detailed statement of the construction of new school houses from time to time is not essential to our narrative, vet at no time in the history of the city has there been shown a tendeney to subordinate educational interests to other depart- ments of municipal life. True, there have been times in which certain desired improvements have been delayed. but the work of education has progressed steadily, keeping even step with the march of advancement in other directions. In the aceom- plishment of this great work the school committees have labored earnestly and unselfishly, and the people have patiently borne the burden of expense : and as the result of this combined effort Holyoke at the beginning of the twentieth century can boast as many and as good schools as any similar eity in New England.
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