The Stratton Block is at 137-139 High Street. It was built in 1865 for Stratton. It once was a painted brick facade but the paint is gone. The Good Templars Wyoming Lodge number 120 met here.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1889 map shows a stove stop (1st), tailor (2nd), and apartments (3rd)
The Dougherty’s Block at 177-179 High Street was made in 1885. James Dougherty had his construction office on the ground floor. The rest of the space was leased office space and apartments. See that nice advertisement from Louis Hopp clothier.
Fire Engine and Hose and Ladder House was here early on.
Sanborn map analysis:
The Colby Carter Building at 203-209 High Street is from 1850. Colby sold spaces here for other business occupants. Later it became Carter Block. The Masonic Temple of Holyoke would start in this building.
In 1869 the Johnson Insurance Company was here but soon would move to the north by one building block.
Also in 1869 the Tuttle and Moore Grocers were here.
Likewise again in 1869 Holyoke Savings Bank was here.
In 1940 it is being called Lyman’s Block.
Sanborn map analysis
Sanborn 1884 map shows an undertaker is here along with a grocer
Sanborn 1889 map shows the Masonic Hall on the 3rd floor
Sanborn 1895 map shows the Masonic Hall on the 3rd floor
Sanborn 1949 map hall on 3rd floor and sign painter on 2nd floor
Sanborn 1956 map still a hall on 3rd floor and sign painter on 2nd floor
The Saint Jerome’s Temperance Society Building at 236 1/2 Maple Street and at 230 Maple Street was made in 1888. They stayed here for many decades and then sold to Sears and it was a department store. Later McAuslan expanded into this space.
The Saint Jerome Total Abstinence Mutual Benevolent and Literary Society was housed here and the men formed into many groups – sports books music and more.
Sanborn map analysis:
The Clough’s Building at 245 to 247 High Street in 1885. James Clough was one of the better architects in Holyoke. His major tenant was the Russell Osborne Hardware Company. They were dealers in hardware and farm tools. They were there from at least 1885 to 1915.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1956 map lists it as 5 floors
The Woolworth’s Building at 253-257 High Street was built in 1912 in the Beaux Arts style. In 1915 it is called the Tighe’s Block and housed professionals. There also was a billiards hall. In 1885 directory it is called the Allyn’s Block.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map it is a four story block
Sanborn 1895 map it is four stories still with a dining room on the ground floor and offices above
Sanborn 1915 map it is still four
Sanborn 1949 map finally it is three floors
Sanborn 1956 map it is three floors and with a masonry facade
John Tilley owned the structure in the 1880s and sold furniture in it on all floors. It was a brick facade building in that era. In 1907 Steiger has a lease on the building.
Then Thomas Childs remade the structure into the Childs Building having a facade added in 1912. This building at 273-281 High Street is in the Beaux Arts style. Childs would use the first floor only and Steigers would use floors 2 to 4.
As a budding businessman Childs bought the Corser Shoe store and grew from there. From 1903 to 1912 Childs is at the Marble Block. Before that he is at the corner of Dwight and Maple (1890 to 1903).
View of the INSIDE during a sale.
He also operated a business college on the upper floors. Childs Shoes closes in 1981.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map it is a one floor wooden building for a barber
Sanborn 1895 map it is now 4 floors
The Taber Block at 281-283 High Street was made for Frank Taber son of Luther Taber. Both were jewelers and goldsmiths. This building was built in 1884 in a style to his father’s store farther north on High Street.
1892 ad
By 1900 it was an outlet for Farr Alpaca goods.
By 1915 (to at least 1922) it is being called the Morrow’s Block and they were jewelers also.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map there is a small one floor building
Sanborn 1889 map there is a 4 floor building
The Bishop Block is a 1890 building. From its earliest days its was owned by a couple of dressmakers. They it had two consecutive owners that were dealers in produce and gents clothes.
The Conway Block is at 301 to 305 High Street having been built and designed from 1884 to 1889. Martin Conway a dealer in pianos was here. The building is very large as the footprint far onto the side street.
By 1900 and up to at least 1915 this was the Murlless Block and housed two dentist and a dental supply company. Woolworth was also here at that point. Daniel Murlless appears even in the 1869 directory.
From at least 1912 to 1922, there was a Woolworth’s here.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map shows the righthand part is done
Sanborn 1889 map shows the southernmost of the two parts is being built
