Early Holyoke Previous to the year 1850 what is now known as Holyoke was a part of the Town of West Springfield and known as Ireland Parish or Depot and for a long time consisted only of the "street" or what is now Northampton Street extending for about two miles from the old Northampton line to Baptist Village now Elmwood. About a mile to the, eastward toward the rising of the sun, a new settlement had sprung up, down where the waters of the, "long river" were tumbling over the rocks and rushing unhindered to the great sea, things had happened; men with vision had come to the scene, men with plans to harness the great water power; a great dam had been built and swept away, another larger and different from anything in the world had taken its place, a system of canals intended to supply unlimited power had been designed and plans of a City which it was hoped would be the greatest manufacturing city in New England were drawn. It might be of interest to note the conditions that prevailed and sketch the scene at the time of the institution of our Lodge. On March 14, 1850 the old Third Parish of West Springfield, otherwise known as Ireland Parish passed out of existence and the Town of Holyoke came into being with the granting of its Charter by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts. Also on the same day our Lodge was born with the granting of a Warrant by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts. The population was but 3245 souls but it comprised a busy and hardworking group of people. The dam had been completed, a cotton mill erected and a large machine shop built. In addition a number of buildings housing stores and tenements had been put up on High Street between Fountain and Dwight Streets and side streets in that area. Prominent among them was the building at High and Dwight Streets on the present site of the Holyoke National Bank which housed the provision market of Samuel B. and Anderson Allyn. Next to it stood the A. S. Peck block in which Holyoke Lodge of Odd Fellows was located. Adjacent to this stood Warren Chapin's block and hall in which many social, religious and political events were held. The next building was known as the Colby Block, later called the Carter Block and next to it stood the Exchange Building, in which hall many public affairs took place. These four latter buildings all had connections in one way or another with Masonic affairs. At the corner of High and Fountain Streets stood the Cataract House and on Maple Street near Hampden the Samosett House was nearing completion. It was in this hostelry which is still standing, that the Constitution and Consecration supper was held. The Holyoke House, later known as the Hotel Hamilton was under construction. it was completed that Fall at a cost of $100,000, a large outlay for the size of the town, and was considered one of the finest in New England. On the outskirts of the town was the old Abner Miller Tavern, built in 1785 and later known as Craft's Tavern as it is today. It had served 'the old farming community of Ireland Parish for many years but was' some distance from the bustling new town. The Connecticut River Railroad extending from Springfield to the North served the new town and the Hampden Freeman, which was issued weekly, supplied the news to the growing village. Across the' river was a settlement known as Locks Village (the present South Hadley Falls) which was reached by a swing ferry below the present County bridge. While there were four church societies at the time only, two occupied their own structures, the First Congregational and the First Baptist; the other two; the Second Congregational and the Second Baptist, met in rented quarters. The former erected its own church edifice two years later on the present site of the Marble Block at High and Dwight Streets. Wages in those days ranged from 85 cents to $1.00 a day for a twelve hour day and six day week. The pick and the shovel, the horse and the dump cart were the chief equipment of the day and the canals were being dug and streets laid out and levelled by that means. Oil lamps and candles were the only means of lighting as a gas works was some years away. Thus it may be said that the Town and City as well as the Lodge have shared the growing pains, vicissitudes and prosperity together. | Previous Page | Contents | Next Page | | Mt. Tom 100th Anniversary | | Mount Tom Lodge Home | | HolyokeMass.com Blog | HolyokeMass History | Hampden County | | Western Mass History & Genealogy | © Laurel O'Donnell 1997 - 2012, all rights reserved This is an adaptation of the original publication This document may be downloaded for personal non-commercial use only and cannot be reproduced or distributed without permission.