Coghlan’s Holyoke Steam Boiler and Iron Works

Willard and Coghlan

Willard lumber, planing, and moulding mill. Coughlan in same building.

Coghlan’s Holyoke Steam Boiler and Iron Works was started by D F Coghlan. They made iron and steel steam boilers and also rotary bleachers and penstocks.

Thomas Sears was the superintendent. FINDAGRAVE

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 map

Sanborn 1889 map

Sanborn 1895 map

Sanborn 1915 map – not there

The Bud

The Bud was at 30 John Street. No, there was never a tunnel from Holyoke City Hall to the Bud. Perhaps city officials would love to have such a tunnel to got to their favorite pub but no evidence is there.

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 map shows that it is a bottler of alcohol and that is wooden and 2 floors

Sanborn 1889 map same

Sanborn 1895 map shows it as a candy factory and it is 3 floors and brick

Sanborn 1915 map it is now for wholesale alcohol

Sanborn 1949 map

Sanborn 1956 map shows that it is a restaurant

Besse System Building

The Besse System Building is an old structure even though the facade is new. It is at 292-300 High Street. The alley side of the building once had a stained glass window.

Lyman Besse started up a chain of stores across the northeastern USA. He lived in the McKnight neighborhood of Springfield. See his FINDAGRAVE page. See one of his ads.

In 1918 it is being called the Besse Mills Company.

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 map shows an empty lot

Sanborn 1889 map shows three 1 story buildings on that lot

Sanborn 1895 map shows one 1 story building only

Sanborn 1915 map shows a three floor building there

Sanborn 1949 map shows the same

Sanborn 1956 map shows the same

Baker Building

1883 ad

366-368 High Street is an 1880 building called the Baker Building. It was in the beginning the home of a stove and furnace firm.

By 1920 it is being called the Glesmann’s Block.

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 map there is a one floor block for a fruit dealer

Sanborn 1889 map

Sanborn 1915 map shows a 4 floor building with a well hole between the third and fourth floor

Sanborn 1949 map shows the same

Sanborn 1956 map shows the same

161-167 High Street

The 161-167 High location has always been with wooden structures only. This is the only location on northern High Street as such. The original wooden structure is still there but now with a stone and brick facade. The three part interior is now one part.

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 map

Sanborn 1889 map

Sanborn 1895 map

Sanborn 1915 map it is three separate buildings and no internal doors to join them and all in wood

Sanborn 1949 map it is three separate building with some joint doors inside and all of wood and is one floor

Sanborn 1956 map now it is one building in wood of one floor