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Avery Field

Avery Field

85 Beech Street at the northeast corner of Avery Field is the former gatekeeper house from the Holyoke Canal System.

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Hampden Playground was the original name of Avery Field. It was the first municipal playground in Massachusetts. Nathan Avery the mayor of Holyoke spearheaded the project this get this playground put in place. In 1908 Massachusetts passed a playground act and in August 1909 land for three parks was bought – Hampden, Maple, and West. During 1910 the park was made. Four feet of topsoil was added to the grading process. Trees were planted around the perimeter. The playground was in the SW corner. A basketball court and a baseball field were added. The park opened for good on May 5 1910.

Between 1910 to 1912 a wading pool was added along the eastern edge of the park. However by 1922 it was gone.

In 1916 the wrought iron fence that is at the ends of the park was put in place and then in 1917 the brownstone entrance pillars were put in place at both ends of the playground. In 1925 a few quoit courts were added to the park.

By the 1920s it is called Hampden Street Park.

The Nathan P Avery Wildflower Club was organized in the spring of 1927. The Holyoke Museum was started in the spring of 1927 at the Holyoke Public Library. When the museum started one of its many clubs was The Wild Flower Club. This club morphed into the Avery Club mentioned above.

Then in 1933 it was the field was renamed once again this time Avery Field after the former mayor and playground advocate Nathan Avery. His FINDAGRAVE honors him. He died in 1947. A good story is found about the park in the Holyoke newspaper of December 1 1945

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1939 was the first year of publication of the Avery Rattler was written on a weekly basis by the children of Avery.

In 1954 Avery received a new softball field. 1960 was the Golden Anniversary of the field. At speeches William Howes the chair of the parks department in 1910 was honored. Also Joseph Lee the father of the American Playground Movement is honored.

In 1967, there were 2 slides, 1 merry go round, 20 swings, and a playset.

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Mitchell Field

Mitchell Field

In 1914 the Prospect Athletic Field was graded and started as a city field. That is the backstop and the ballfield were made in that year. In 1929 the field was doubled in size when the northern section was purchased. Now with that land purchase Prospect Street cut it in two. Prospect Field was renamed in 1933 for Edwin Mitchell. Edwin Mitchell was a Holyoker that died in service during World War I. He was a strong advocate of recreation around the city. FINDAGRAVE

In 1935 a cement wall was built alongside the eastern edge of the field between it and the western edge of Beech Street. In 1941 a football field was added to the park. In 1954 the parkland between Mitchell and the river is opened up. From 1958 to 1961 the field is closed due to work on the Muller Bridge. The portion of the park near Beech and Hampden Streets is lost but the portion near Lyman Street is gained. In the fall of 1962 the field is opened once again. In 1964 the centerfield fence is raised 8 feet.

2026 Tours and Presentations

2026 tours and presentations:

Burial Grounds of Ludlow throughout its History (Ludlow) – Tuesday March 31 2026 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM – a presentation at the Hubbard Library – learn about where people from Ludlow were buried – funded by the Ludlow Local Cultural Council – their LINK

Burial Grounds of Hadley throughout its History (Hadley) – Saturday April 18 2026 from 1 to 2 PM – presentation under the auspices of the Hadley Historical Society and held at the Hadley Public Library – learn about the old burial sites in other towns too that once belonged to Hadley – funded by the Hadley Local Cultural Council

Ludlow Center Cemetery (Ludlow) – Saturday April 25 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet within the cemetery – learn about the features of the cemetery – funded by the Ludlow Local Cultural Council

Reservoirs of Holyoke (Holyoke) – presentation at the Holyoke Public Library – Tuesday April 28 2026 from 6 to 7 PM – all types of reservoirs will be covered – The Holyoke Preservation Trust will promote and host this event and they will tell you about their many activities during this 250th year anniversary of the nation! – funded by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council

Art Works of Hariette Bowdoin (South Hadley) – Wednesday April 29 2026 from 6 to 7 PM – presentation at the South Hadley Public Library – Come to learn about a fine impressionist artist from our town! – funded by the South Hadley Local Cultural Council

Churches of Longmeadow (Longmeadow) – Saturday May 2 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet near 763 Longmeadow Street – charming walk along the street to see the nice churches – funded by the Longmeadow Local Cultural Council

Saturday May 9 2026 – reserved

Historical Features along the Manhan Rail Trail (Easthampton) – Saturday May 16 2026 from 10 AM to noontime – this is a bicycle tour – park at the Millside parking lot off of Ferry Street and meet alongside the Manhan Rail Trail – many stops so be prepared to ride 8 miles – funded by the Easthampton Local Cultural Council

Park Street Cemetery (West Springfield) – Saturday May 23 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet just outside the cemetery – all the gravestones in the front half of the cemetery have been shifted around – funded by the West Springfield Local Cultural Council

Goshen Center Cemetery (Goshen) – Saturday May 30 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet within the cemetery – old pioneer burial ground with many nice gravestones – funded by the Goshen Local Cultural Council

Churches on Main Street in Agawam (Agawam) – Saturday June 6 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – meet on Main Street near the Congregational Church – three nice churches – funded by the Agawam Local Cultural Council

White and Wyckoff Mill part 3 of the series A Mill in Holyoke through Time (Holyoke) – Thursday June 11 2026 from 4 to 5 PM – presentation about a mill that made postcards and greeting cards – funded by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council

Pelham Hill Cemetery (Pelham) – Saturday June 13 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet just outside the cemetery – What an unusual cemetery? – funded by the Pelham Local Cultural Council

Oak Knoll Cemetery (Palmer) – Saturday June 20 2026 time TBA – park and meet within the cemetery – find the original gravestones here plus the garden style section – funded by the Palmer Local Cultural Council

South Hadley Canal (South Hadley) and Holyoke Canal Tour (Holyoke) – Saturday June 27 2026 from 10 AM to noontime – park and meet in the town parking lot across from the St Patricks Church in South Hadley and be prepared to walk 2 miles – 12th annual tour for both of these historic canals – funded by the South Hadley Local Cultural Council and also funded by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council

Main Street Walking Tour (Easthampton) – Saturday July 11 2026 from 10 to 11:30 AM – meet at the Easthampton Green and park nearby – nice collection of historical buildings – funded by the Easthampton Local Cultural Council

Burial Grounds of West Springfield throughout its History (West Springfield) – Wednesday July 22 2026 from 6 to 7 PM as a presentation at the West Springfield Public Library – learn also about the burial sites that were in the city but no longer are – funded by the West Springfield Local Cultural Council

Protestant Churches of Chicopee (Chicopee) – Tuesday evening in July of 2026 – presentation at the Chicopee Public Library – Catholic churches were covered last year – funded by the Chicopee Local Cultural Council

Churches of Hatfield (Hatfield) – Saturday August 22 2026 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM – park and meet near 41 Main Street to visit 4 churches – pleasant walk along the sidewalk to view many churches – funded by the Hatfield Local Cultural Council

Morgan Street a walking tour (Holyoke) – Saturday August 29 2026 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM – park and meet near 148 Morgan Street – learn about the twin houses – funded by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council

Chicopee Canal (Chicopee) – Saturday September 5 2026 from 10 AM to noontime – park and meet at the Chicopee Public Library – 5th annual walking tour – funded by the Chicopee Local Cultural Council

Churches on Bridge Street in Agawam (Agawam) – Saturday September 12 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – meet near 50 Maple Street of Agawam at the corner of Bridge Street – learn about the church architecture and history of three churches – funded by the Agawam Local Cultural Council

Palmer Center Cemetery (Palmer) – Saturday September 19 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet just outside the cemetery – at least 12 grave plot are in their original orientation – funded by the Palmer Local Cultural Council

Wildwood Cemetery (Amherst) (both a graveyard and tree tour at the same time) – Saturday September 26 2026 from 10:30 AM to noontime – park and meet within the cemetery – rain date is Sunday September 27 from 1:00 to 2:30 PM – two tour guides will be there Robert Comeau and Tom Kass

Radioactivity (South Hadley) – Wednesday September 30 2026 from 6 to 7 PM – presentation at the South Hadley Public Library with a Book Group of the “Radium Girls“ (South Hadley) – book group at the South Hadley Public Library and presentation beforehand – funded by the South Hadley Local Cultural Council

Walking Tour of Five Cemeteries on or near Turners Falls Road (Montague) – Saturday October 3 2026 from 10 AM to noontime – park near the front of the Saint Mary’s Cemetery and meet near its entrance – 3 Catholic and 2 Protestant cemeteries to visit – funded by the Montague Local Cultural Council

Four Corners Cemetery (Palmer) – Saturday October 10 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet within the cemetery – first in a series on the cemeteries of Palmer – funded by the Palmer Local Cultural Council

History of the Mount Tom Station Area – from Underwood Avenue to East Street to the Mount Tom North Trail (Easthampton) – Saturday October 17 2026 from 10 AM to noontime – park and meet at Underwood Avenue – be prepared to walk and hike about 3 miles with some climbing – funded by the Easthampton Local Cultural Council

Sikes Cemetery (Ludlow) – Saturday October 24 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet just outside the cemetery which is across from 244 Munsing Street – quaint burial site with more to it than meets the eye – funded by the Ludlow Local Cultural Council

Hill Cemetery (Hatfield) – Saturday October 31 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet near the cemetery’s front – ancient graveyard with some pleasant surprises – Even though this cemetery event is on Halloween it will NOT be a costume event such as the type that groups put on.  Those are character costume event that explain the lives of people that are buried in the cemetery.  This specific event will be about properties and features of the cemetery only.  – funded by the Hatfield Local Cultural Council

The Johnson Houses part 5 of the series A House in Holyoke through Time (Holyoke) – Thursday November 3 2026 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM – presentation at the Holyoke Public Library – learn about this gem and its many residents – funded by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council

South Hadley in World War 1 (South Hadley) – Wednesday November 4 2026 from 6 to 7 PM – presentation at the South Hadley Public Library – learn about the men who gave their lives for their country – funded by the South Hadley Local Cultural Council

Valley Cemetery (Pelham) – Saturday November 7 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet within the cemetery – meet the mason’s gravestone and much more – funded by the Pelham Local Cultural Council

Lincoln Street and Kennedy Park (Holyoke) – Saturday November 14 2026 from 1 to 2 PM – park and meet near the junction of Waldo and Lincoln Streets – many Victorian houses to take in along the streets – funded by the Holyoke Local Cultural Council

Saint Stanilaus Churchyard (Chicopee) – park and meet near the front of the church on Front Street – what a churchyard to wander around in – funded by the Chicopee Local Cultural Council

Chicopee Street Burial Ground (Chicopee) – park and meet just outside the cemetery – last of a series of Chicopee cemetery tours – funded by the Chicopee Local Cultural Council

WEEKDAY EVENING PRESENTATIONS

Burial Grounds of Palmer throughout its History (Palmer) – presentation at the Palmer Library – learn about where people from Palmer were buried – funded by the Palmer Local Cultural Council

Reservoirs of Southampton (Southampton) – presentation at the Edwards Public Library – all types of reservoirs will be covered – funded by the Southampton Local Cultural Council

Who Were the Militiamen of Ireland Parish (Holyoke Massachusetts in the American Revolutionary War) – will be about the many American Revolutionary War Veterans from Holyoke – held at the Holyoke Media and they will post to their web site – funded via the Holyoke Preservation Trust

Protestant Cemeteries of Springfield (Springfield) – presentation at one of the Springfield branch libraries – part 2 of 3 of the series Burial Grounds of Springfield throughout its History – Catholic cemeteries were covered last year – funded by the Springfield Local Cultural Council

The Architecture of John Donohue (Springfield) – presentation at one of the Springfield branch libraries – official architect of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield – funded by the Springfield Local Cultural Council

The Bill Parks of Springfield (Springfield) – presentation at one of the Springfield branch libraries – Nathan Bill donated five parks to his city – funded by the Springfield Local Cultural Council

Earlier this year:

Burial Grounds of Longmeadow throughout its History