Canal Days

Old South Hadley Cemetery

Old South Hadley Cemetery

Headstone of Eliza R. Smith and C. Morgan Smith at the former cemetery.

House of Robert Johnson would start up the fire insurance company R B Johnson and Son. He would build a house for himself that was first at 208 Northampton Street and then after 1909 numbered to be 1425. He also ran the Holyoke Savings Bank. Both businesses were located at the Johnson Block at 201 High Street. See more IMAGES.

Charles W Johnson the son of Robert Johnson would take over the insurance company and the bank from his father. He was assistant treasurer and secretary during his father’s life. Charles had built a house for his new family on the land that his father gave him. That house like his father’s house is still there. They are so very close that one may call them twin houses. That house is at 1439 Northampton Street.

Robert Johnson was best friends and colleague to George Prentiss. The Prentiss mills made all kinds of wire. The iron wire was made via the Siemens-Martin and the Bessemer and Cast. The mill was at 29 Dwight Street in Holyoke. The Holyoke Savings Bank was run by both. George Prentiss would live next door to Robert Johnson and would have twin houses. The Prentiss was at first assigned the number address of 196 Northampton Street and then post-1909 the address of 1399 Northampton Street. Only the carriage house still exist. His sons were Marden and William.

On March 30 1954 the house was changed into Barthello’s Rest Home. Cecile and Marc Barthello ran the old people house from then until the early 1970s. They would live in the carriage house and have the people live in the house. Even after they retired they would maintain that aspect.