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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 (all events are free and open to all):

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 bicycle ride 8 miles – funded by the Easthampton Local Cultural Council – Sign up at Eventbrite

Monday May 18 2026 – private tour

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in early May.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in mid-May.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in mid-May.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in mid-May.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in mid-May.

Thursday June 18 2026 – reserved

Oak Knoll Cemetery (Palmer) – Saturday June 20 2026 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM – park and meet within the cemetery – find the original gravestones here plus walk through the garden style section – funded by the Palmer Local Cultural Council – Sign up will be available through the Palmer Public Library.

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 Saint Patrick’s Church in South Hadley and be prepared to walk 2 miles – 12th annual tour for both of these historic canals – Sign up at Eventbrite in early June. – GOFUNDME for this event. Event is Free and Open to all.

Garden Tour of the Holyoke Preservation Trust – Saturday June 27 2026

Joint Book Group of the Holyoke Preservation Trust and the Holyoke Senior Center – Wednesday July 8 2026 at 11 AM with lunch afterward – held at the Holyoke Senior Center – book is Bunker Hill – A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick

Main Street Walking Tour (Easthampton) – Saturday July 11 2026 from 10 to 11:30 AM – meet on the lawn of the Easthampton Public Library and park nearby – nice collection of historical buildings – funded by the Easthampton Local Cultural Council – Sign up at Eventbrite in mid-June.

Protestant Churches of Chicopee (Chicopee) – Tuesday July 14 2026 from 6 to 7 PM as a presentation at the Chicopee Public Library – Catholic churches were covered last year – funded by the Chicopee 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

Saint Stanilaus Churchyard (Chicopee) – Saturday August 15 2026 from 10 to 11 AM – park and meet on the sidewalk in the front of the church on Front Street – what a churchyard to wander around in – funded by the Chicopee Local Cultural Council – Sign up at Eventbrite in late July.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in early August.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in early August.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in mid-August.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in late August.

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 – Sign up will be available through the Palmer Public Library.

Burial Grounds of Amherst throughout its History – Friday September 25 2026 from noon to 1 PM at the Bangs Center in Amherst – hosted by the Amherst Historical Society

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in early September.

Radioactivity (South Hadley) – Wednesday September 30 2026 from 6 to 7 PM – presentation in the Trustees Room 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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in mid-September.

Holyoke Preservation Trust art show – October and November of 2026 – patriotic theme

Burial Grounds of Palmer throughout its History (Palmer) – Tuesday October 6 2026 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM – presentation at the Palmer Public Library – learn about where people from Palmer were buried – funded by the Palmer Local Cultural Council – Sign up will be available through the Palmer Public Library.

Four Corners Cemetery (Palmer) – Saturday October 10 2026 from 11 AM to noontime – park and meet within the cemetery – part of a series on the cemeteries of Palmer – funded by the Palmer Local Cultural Council -Sign up will be available through the Palmer Public Library.

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 on the odd side of Underwood Avenue by driving to its end and turning around – meet in front of 15 East Street – be prepared to walk and hike about 3 miles with some climbing – funded by the Easthampton Local Cultural Council – Sign up at Eventbrite in late September.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in early October.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in early October.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in early October.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in mid-October.

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 – Sign up at Eventbrite in late October.

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

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

Burial Grounds of Ludlow throughout its History (Ludlow)

Burial Grounds of Hadley throughout its History (Hadley)

Ludlow Center Cemetery (Ludlow)

Reservoirs of Holyoke (Holyoke)

Art Works of Hariette Bowdoin (South Hadley)

Churches of Longmeadow (Longmeadow)