- Private GROUP TOUR (COSTS) is one hour long for this Veterans Park to High Street Neighborhood walking tour. Also a one hour indoor presentation can be given.
- A free public tour comes up every five years.
- A self-tour is available for anyone using the maps and text seen below. – LOCATION
stop 1 – Saint Jerome Church
Read about the full St Jerome Church campus tour at the link above.
stop 2 – Veteran’s Park and the Civil War Statue
Read about the full Veterans Park tour at the link above.
stop 3 – Fire Stations and Firefighting in Holyoke
The Holyoke fire department has been strong throughout its history. The central fire station seen at the park was put in place in 1914 due to the mechanization of fire equipment.
See the history of the stations in Holyoke.
stop 4 – History of Medical Care in Holyoke
Dr. James O’Connor was the premier doctor in Holyoke from the 1860s to the 1888. He helped Patrick Harkins start the Providence Hospital in the 1860s. He then built three buildings in a row at this southeast corner of Maple and Dwight Streets. His inscription on his gravestone is truly wonderful: “I would rather have my name engraved on the heart of some poor afflicted widow or some lonely orphan child than on the proudest monument that points to fame.”
Read about medical establishments in Holyoke at the LINK.
stop 5 – Park Theater
The Park Theater was in operation in Holyoke from 1910 to 1920. It was a nickelodeon theater. The floor plan on the Sanborn maps of that period match again a later map and thus the building has not been removed.
stop 6 – Holyoke City Hall
Read about the full High Street tour at the LINK.
stop 7 – Caledonia
The Caledonia Building house the social club room for the Caledonian Society. This building was built by Roswell Craft in 1874. To read more about its long history go to its LINK.
stop 8 – North High Street Historic District
For a full treatment of this historic district go to my North High Street link.
The Transcript Building and Block housed the offices for the Holyoke Transcript-Telegram for about a century.
The Taber Building is in the Romanesque Revival style.
stop 9 – Roswell Crafts home
The Roswell Crafts home was a gorgeous Victorian house made in 1872.
Roswell Crafts died in 1904 and is buried at Forestdale (FINDAGRAVE). In 1833 he moved to Ireland Parish with his brother Chester. They started the Crafts Tavern on Northampton Street. He ran an express company and then a lumber yard. He opened Exchange Hall in 1847 or 1848. He was mayor of Holyoke in three years – 1878 1883 and 1884.
stop 10 – Holyoke Post Office
See stop 7 at this LINK
stop 11 – Notre Dame School
See stop 8 at this LINK