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Elmwood Fire Station
The Elmwood Fire Station is also known as Holyoke Fire Station number 5. It is found at 490 South Street.
From at least 1893 to 1916, the station had Steamer Company number 5 an American Steam Fire Engine. They also had a Seagrave Hose and Chemical combination.
From at least 1918 to 1935, they had a 750-gallon triple combination pump – Pumping Company 5. Additionally, they had a Hook and Ladder Company number 5 which was a Seagrave combination chemical and two horse truck.
In 1919 it was called Engine 5 and Truck 5.
From at least 1949 to 1957, they had engine 5 there.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1895 map shows a Hook and Ladder Truck and a Hose Cart – all earlier maps show nothing
Firefighting in Holyoke
The history of fire fighting in Holyoke is vast. There are still many of the old stations around Holyoke along with the new. The first motor fire truck (steam-driven) was in 1901. The last horse driven fire truck was in 1922.
Engine 9 is a 1935 Mack with a 750 GPM pumper. By 1965 it is in reserve only.
The types of jobs found in the Holyoke Fire department are: foreman, first assistant, clerk, driver, engineer, stoker, and hose driver.
A fire college was started in Holyoke in 1946.
In 1888 the fire hydrants are separated by 500 feet but workers installed more so that there was now 250 feet between them.
Firemen deaths from work:
Capt James J Long of Pumping Co 3 dies Aug 29 1922 four days after fighting a fire at the Parsons Paper Mill. Smoke inhalation caused a heart attack.
Fireman John J O’Connell dies June 24 1933 while at a fire at 858 Hampden Street for a motor horse van. He died of an acute heart attack. (appointed Dec 28 1926)
Fireman James P Kiely dies Dec 23 1938 a day after fighting a fire at 84 Hampshire Street. He had become a fireman on Oct 25 of that same year. Died of monoxide.
James F Lacey (appt September 28 1923) and dies in the line of duty on May 6 1960.
Lieutenant Joseph F Riley dies May 2 1968 at a 96 High Street fire.
Tragic Fires:
Precious Blood Church fire of 1875
Walter Scott medal (started in 1922)
| year | name | date | locations | |
| 1922 | Walter Scott Watt | March 17, 1922 | 30 Lyman Street | |
| 1923 | George Hickson (police officer) | |||
| 1924 | Archibald Malcolm Daniel Cavanaugh | March 12 1923 | High and Essex | |
| 1929 | Roger Donoghue Louis Desilets | Second Level Canal | ||
| 1931 | Thomas McMahon | Jan 21 1931 | 113 Lyman Street | |
| 1932 | Daniel McLean | |||
| 1935 | Christopher Manning | May 1 1935 | High Street | |
| 1945 | Arthur H Lane | Oct 26 | 393-9 Main St | |
| 1946 | Wilfred Cote Thomas McGough | April 30 | 99 Essex | |
| 1947 | Raymond Collins (captain) | Nov 7 | 26-28 Ely Street | |
| 1956 | William Hart | April 9 | High and Cabot | |
| 1958 | William Fay | |||
| 1961 | Gerald O’Connor | |||
| 2017 | Philip Brian Kraus Anthony Deroy | Jan 1 | 106 North East St | |
(no awards 1923 – 1927 – 1928 – 1930 – 1933 – 1934 – 1936 to 1944 – 1951 from the Walter Scott Medal Board of Awards)
Only Boston, Detroit, New York City, Worcester, and Holyoke are the locations that have such an award. Argentine and Ireland also have the Scott medal.
29 Nov 1922 HTT
18 Nov 1933 HTT
Smith’s Ferry Cemetery Walking Tour booklet
The Smith’s Ferry Cemetery 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.
Follow the tour HERE
Emerald Fire Station
The Emerald Fire Station was at 62 Chestnut Street. This was Holyoke Fire Station number 7.
From at least 1893 to 1898 they housed the Emerald Hose Company number 7.
From 1899 to 1914 they housed Hose and Steamer number 6 (of two horses) which in 1911 technically changed to number 2.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map called a Hose House
Sanborn 1889 map called a Hose House
Sanborn 1895 map called Engine House number 3
Sanborn 1915 map it is gone
Mount Holyoke Fire Station
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).
Sanborn map analysis:
- aerial truck
- 2nd class LaFrance engine
- hose wagons with 2 35-gallon tanks
- 4 pony extinguishers
Highland Fire Station
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.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1895 map – the 1884 and 1889 maps show nothing
- first class Amoskeag steamer
- motor combination wagon and hose
- 40 gallon chemical tank
- reserve horse drawn hose wagon
- hook and ladder truck
Sanborn 1949 map shows a greatly expanded station
Mount Tom Fire 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.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map shows the Mt Tom Hose Co
Sanborn 1889 map shows a steamer and a hose wagon
Brightside and Ingleside of Holyoke walking tour booklet
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.
Holyoke Canal System tour booklet in Spanish (self-guided)
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.
LINK to the tour.
