The Mount Holyoke Fire Station was at 450 to 452 Main Street. From at least 1893 to 1916, they were called the Relief Engine House.
From 1893 to 1898, they had the Relief Steamer Company number 2 and the Mount Holyoke Hose Company number 6. From at least 1886 onward they had the Relief Engine Company number 2.
From 1899 to 1916, the station had Engine Company number 2 which was a Lafrance steam engine. They also had Hose number 6 which was a two horse hose. In 1911 they added a chemical wagon combination.
From 1918 to 1935, the station had
Hose Company number 2-A (a Knox combination hose and chemical auto)
Hose Company number 2-B (a two horse hose wagon)
Truck Company number 2 (an aerial 75-foot ladder with American LaFrance tractor)
American LaFrance steam fire engine
They also had a steamer and hose wagon during that period.
From at least 1949 to 1957, the South Holyoke Station had engine 2 and 6 and truck 2 (an aerial).
The Highland (or the Ward Seven) Fire Station is at 1034 Hampden Street. This is known as Holyoke Fire Station number 3. It existed from 1884 to 1969. They had a steamer, hose wagon, and chemical engine.
They had a company called the Steamer Company number 3 from at least 1886 on. They used a LaFrance Steam Engine.
They also had a Metropolitan steam fire engine using three horses.
The Hook and Ladder Company number 3 was also here. From 1887 to 1903 this hook and ladder truck reached to 40 feet. In 1905 they used a Leverich Hook and Ladder (45 feet).
They had two hose companies: Hose Company number 3-A using a Knox combination hose and chemical auto and then Hose Company number 3-B an auto hose truck.
In 1919, they had Pump 3 and Truck 3.
In 1938 a new drill tower was added to the station.
The Mount Tom Fire Station is a very old fire station. Its beginnings were such that they were one company called the Mount Tom Hose Company number 1.
From 1893 to 1935 at least, there was the Mount Tom Hose Company number 4 housed in the station. This was a two horse hose wagon and steam engine. This hose company was organized in March of 1850.
From at least 1918 to 1957, there was the Engine Company number 4. This was a two horse combination hose and chemical wagon. They also had a second size Metropolitan steam fire engine of two horses.
The Brightside and Ingleside of Holyoke walking tour booklet is available from me. They cost $5 for a black-and-white stapled copy. Each additional copy after that is $3 more when shipped together. For a color copy, the cost is $8 and each additional copy in color is $6.
Email me from my contact page for details. The booklets that you order will be mailed to you via USPS so I need a physical address. Other booklets are available at the BOOKLET page. You can follow this tour at LINK.
Booklets in the Spanish language are available for a self-guided tour of the Holyoke Canal System. They cost $7 for a black-and-white stapled copy. Each additional copy after that is $5 more when shipped together. For a color copy, the cost is $12 and each additional copy in color is $10.
Email me from my contact page for details. The booklets that you order will be mailed to you via USPS so I need a physical address. Other booklets are available at the BOOKLET page.
Reliance Station (edition 2) housed Reliance Engine Company 1 (from at least 1886 onward) and Hook and Ladder Company 1 and had from at least 1899 to 1914 the following:
Button steam engine
3 horse dispatch wagon
steamer and hose wagon
chemical engine 1
Hayes aerial ladder and truck (70 feet) (Hook and Ladder)
Central Fire Station (edition 1) from at least 1914 to 1935:
Despatch Company 1-A (an American LaFrance combination hose and chemical automobile)
Hose Company 1-B (an American LaFrance combination hose and chemical automobile)
Pumping (or Hose) Company 1-C (1000 gallon combination pump and hose Seagrave automobile)
Truck Company 1 (aerial 75 foot ladder with American LaFrance tractor)
Amoskeag steam fire engine 1st class
Amoskeag engine 3rd class
From at least 1949 to 1957, headquarters had engine 1 and 7 and truck 1 (an aerial ladder).
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map called the Fire Engine and the Hook & Ladder House [Reliance edition 1]
Sanborn 1889 map called the Steamer & Hose Cart and the Hook & Ladder Truck [Reliance edition 2]
Sanborn 1895 map called the Engine & Hose Cart and the Hook & Ladder Truck [Reliance edition 2]
The Bynan Conservation Area is a very large conservation area in the southwest corner of town. South Hadley purchased this land from Joseph Bynan in 1978. A conservation restriction has been placed on the land since then.
Stop 2 – Bynan Pond
Bynan Pond is the first pond that you find as you enter the Bynan Conservation Area from Lyman Terrace. It was very large in the past and still is the largest in South Hadley. You can see it to the south plus it wraps around the meets the trail again.
Stop 3 – Britton Ponds
The only natural lakes of South Hadley are all in this area. They are called the Britton Ponds. There once were six ponds in the Plains neighborhood but now there are only 4 left. Of the two that are gone – both were in Chicopee or in both towns. You will see all four during your hike around the conservation area. These ponds were named after Royal Britton – a farmer that worked the land just west of these ponds.
Stop 4 – Taylor Pond
Taylor Pond once was the largest pond in South Hadley. However, the South Hadley landfill was placed over most of it and only a remnant is left to see.
Stop 5 – farm roads
Here you can see many farm roads leading off toward the north. Most of the farms of South Hadley were in that direction.
Stop 6 – Pond number 3
On this pond you can see that the dirt roads always go completely around any given pond. This is because the ponds were harvested for ice during the winter season. Local farmers most have built these auxiliary roads to help them harvest the ice better.
Stop 7 – Bartlett Street
This street once was the north south route from Chicopee to South Hadley Center. This was one of the many routes of the Underground Railroad. Once Bartlett Street was a major entrance into the conservation area but now it is closed.
Stop 8 – Pond number 4
Pond number 4 is found on your route back to your starting point.
Stop 9 – Ponds in Chicopee
There are both farm roads and transportation roads leading to the south. These served ice harvesting to the two southern ponds and also served farmers.
Stop 10 – South Hadley Landfill
The South Hadley landfill is closed as of 2014. The read about modern details see HERE.
The Stony Brook cuts through the Mount Holyoke College campus and is dammed very often. It also runs into Granby a bit and there it is called Muddy Brook. There is also the Stony Brook Tributary along Kendrick Street. It once had a dam – the Kendrick Street Dam which held back the Kendrick Street Reservoir – but it is not there any more.
