The Curran Block is at 370 to 372 High Street. It was made in 1886. This was a pharmacy for many decades.
Fortier the Pharmacist was here in 1885 (see that wonderful ad just above). He had his own line of products – Fortier’s Tasteless Cod Liver Oil.
In 1940 it is called the Western Massachusetts Realty Building.
Sanborn map analysis:
The Wedge and Ward Block is named after two men – a Joseph Wedge and a Ward. It is at 174-186 High Street.
These two men were bakers within the building and also owned the block.
One store owner in 1885 was John Howe the baker.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1915 map shows that the Transcript newspaper was now in the building and in fact had grown to be three buildings wide and thus for the 1949 and 1956 Sanborn maps see the Transcript block
The Prew Building or the J R Smith is a grand Renaissance Revival building. It served as the produce store for J R Smith in its early days. Then John Prew owned it for a while.
The Craft’s Building is still here after these many years. It once held the Star Theater. Also there were many businesses on the ground floor. It is at 141-147 High Street.
The Exchange Block was one of the first buildings in industrial Holyoke. It was most likely made in 1847 or 1848. Roswell Crafts was there with his provision store. It was the building that was there prior to the Crafts. The Exchange burned in 1870 and was replaced.
On the top floor was Exchange Hall. This was a social function area that served many start up churches.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map shows that it is three floors and has a dress maker on many floors
Sanborn 1915 map shows the “Picture Show” note and they entered from 145 and 147.
The Transcript Building and Block at 172-174 High and 176 High Street housed the newspaper called the Holyoke Transcript and Telegraph. The Holyoke Transcript started in 1854 and became a daily in 1882.
The Dwight family is the main group that ran the Holyoke Transcript for years. See their FAMILY.
The Block started in 1869 in the Italianate style. Below is their 1869 ad.
The Holyoke Telegraph existed on its own from 1915 to 1925. It was located near the Depot Square area. The merger meant more work space was needed so the Transcript Building was made in 1925. This Building might almost be called an Art Deco building.
In 1915 another tenant was the City Directory Office of which I do much of my research.
Before the Transcript Building was made there was another building there that housed the Smith Fish Store. That block at 172 High is unknown at this time. Between that block and the Transcript there was the Bateson Building at 176 and 178 High.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1915 map shows the Wedge and Ward was now part of the Transcript.
Sanborn 1956 map shows that the addition was constructed in 1929 and that there is a radio studio inside the southernmost building
The Caledonia Building has a long history. It is at 185-193 High Street. Architectural Iron Works of New York made the facade. A 1865 book about the firm is at this LINK. A plaque at ground floor on both front corners of the building has their firms name Architectural Iron Works of New York.
The Caledonian Benefit Society purchased this building in 1909. Roswell Crafts had it built in 1874. The top floor is for social function, the ground floor is for retail business, and the middle two floors are for office space. It was built in the Second Empire style. The 4th floor has a skylight and has a staircase to the roof. In the 1900 city directory the hall is being called The Touraine.
Heidner Merchant was here in 1885 on one of the lower floors.
In 1915 Judd Insurance was here
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1884 map shows that 1st is stores, 2nd is offices, 3rd is dwellings, and 4th is hall
Sanborn 1895 map here it is still being called the Crafts Block
The Johnson and Johnson Blocks are at 195 High and at 197-201 High Street. Both were made in the Italianate style in 1880. This father and son team sold insurance products. Their agency started in 1866 and must have boomed with the economy since by 1880 they had the nicer structure built. The older and less ornate building might be from their origins. They were still there in 1915 as an insurance and a building.
On the 201 High ground floor there was the Holyoke Savings Bank. (from at least 1912 to 1915)
1871 ad for a tenant:
In 1900 Knights of Pythias Hall was here.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1889 map has the southern one being called Society Hall
Sanborn 1895 map has two banks there with the insurance – Savings Bank (on left) and National Bank (on right)
Sanborn 1915 map shows the two buildings are joined on all floors above the ground one
Sanborn 1949 map and it has stores
The Wright Building and Block is at three locations along this strip. That is, at 96-100 High, 102-104 High, 106-108 High, and 110-120 High Street. They form a continuous group of structures. Stephen Wright built all four in the 1869 to 1870 era in the Italianate style. When he died 28 June 1888 he was a rich man.
In 1882 to at least 1900 the southernmost block (118 to 120) was being called the Perry’s Building and the 106 to 108 portion was being called the Prew’s Building.
At 104 High was found the Rivest Boot store.
Sanborn map analysis
Sanborn 1889 map show that 8 buildings are in place the first three on the left are three floors and the 5 on the right are four floors
Sanborn 1915 map shows stores
Sanborn 1956 map shows furniture stores and restaurants
The Corser’s Block at 149-153 High Street is now gone. In fact both building at this location are now gone.
The William Miles Photography Studio was here in 1885.
1871
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1915 map shows that a photographer was still there
The Allyn Building is at 164-170 High Street and has served many purposes through the years. It started in 1871 in the Italianate style. It once housed the City Boot and Shoe Store.
In 1885 the M P Conway Piano Dealer was here too.
By 1915 this building and the one just north of it are being called the Roy’s Building and the Roy’s Block.
In 1940 the building is being called Bail’s Block.
By 1885 there are two more Allyn Blocks. There is one at 278 and 282 High Street and then there is one at 253 and 257 High.
Sanborn map analysis:
