Holyoke City (part 4 of 4)

What wreath of appreciation and effection more appropriate and enduring can we place at the tomb of our city's pioneers than the cheerful acknowledgement of today's superstructure as the successful issue of early foundation well laid? If he who by his labor makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before is a benefactor to his community, it is meet and just that we honor today those men and women of olden days who early learned to revere the dignity of labor, who accepted the Gospel of work as nature's law, who strove by might and main to improve their own condition that their children might live more abundantly. Here was the motive for sacrifice, here was the true dignity of labor. The soul was not starved. The hope of higher and nobler things of mind and heart sweetened the ignoble tasks and gave human life its true perspective.

When the whole body of men in a community work for their livelihood a new and better standard of living is developed in that community. Society is then measured by a different standard. Skill, industry, good management are sought and admired. Work quickens the flame of sympathy and prompts the worker "to condescend to men of low estate."

Hol Yoke

in the struggle were content to accept whatever measure of success Divine Providence meted our to their honest efforts. This is the true Gospel of work, of progress, and of civilization which stands as the cornerstone of home and country. They were taught, and they practiced, the necessity of some personal sacrifice, some enduring hardships in a world which Providence has decreed is at best a vale of tears, a land of exile where the ideal of perfect happiness is not fully attainable. Earthly happiness is attained only in proportion as the unfolding of one's own life, conformably to the true principles of truth and righteousness, tends to promote loyalties to home and country and to God. True happiness is not always in accord with wordly ideals and worldly success.

Rough hew them how we will." If we have had a peaceful community all these years it is due in great measure to the fact that our common citizenship has not been infected with the insidious germ of a false Utopia, of Bolshevistic destruction, and individualistic dreams flowering into fierce jealousies and antagonisms. On the contrary, the individual seeing at times apparent injustices in our industrial and governmental relations, seeing the apparent uneven distribution of the fruits of labor, fortified by Christian forbearance and charity, encouraged by the American ideal of freedom of opportunity and submerging their own individual comfort to the common good, this enobled and enobling citizenship labored and sacrificed, and were happy and content withal. Happy and content in their childlike confidence in Him who marks the individual sparrow's fall.

During this long period of our corporate existence as a city we have not felt to the same extent as other communities the chilling effects of a machine age which tends to reduce the worker to an automaton, an emotionless cog without spiritual aspiration, in the industrial wheel. Absentee-landlordism and foreign manipulated producers of material wealth have been replaced here in great measure by sympathetic, mutually interested, neighborly, yea. friendly asso- ciation between owner and employee. Workers all, where true manhood and womanhood is judged by character and worth we find here to an admirable degree the elements of true Democracy. Where youth has equality of opportunity in its laudable climb to business, professional and social distinction.

Nor has the "human scrap heap," now so much emphasized by radical thinkers, ever reached considerable proportions in our fair city. The finer instincts of a noble hearted Christian people inspired by the Divine Virtue of charity, cultivated in the natural yearning of the human heart for the higher forms of cultured refinements, and watered by the dews of friendly sympathy and neighborly love, have provided the necessary institutional development, care, and protection for the community. Our Churches, Schools, Hospitals, and Charitable Organizations, second to none in the loftiness of their aim, in the sincerity of their effort, and the success of their accomplishment, have laid strong and sure the foundations of fine and noble citizenship. They have taken broken and bruised human nature and nursed it back to health. They have strengthened the weak, comforted the sorrowful, succoured the needy, given new hope to the faltering and the unfortunate in life's ceaseless strife. And in accents of pity, of sympathy and love chanted the sweet requiem of peace over the ashes of the poor, the humble and the unknown.

In an age of loose thinking in which so many communities have lost their moorings and are adrift from the safe anchorage of the eternal principles written in the human heart by a creative hand, and confirmed by the dying God-man on Golgotha, this community has steadily refused to ignore the magnetic laws of revealed truth, to exchange the pole star for the shooting meteor, as its guide in the charted sea of life.

In an age where, the new developments of science applied to the daily habits of life have revolutionized the means of locomotion and communication, where the chastening influences of homely tasks have been replaced by the leisurely turning of an electric button, where every process of life tends to luxury, to flabbiness of muscle and mind, the common citizenship of our citv refuses to have its true ideals whollv obscured. It has not permitted what it sees, what it hears, what it knows, of the riotous luxury of the world round about it to harden its heart or to embitter its soul in envious contemplation of that, which after all is not productive of purity of mind, growth of soul or cleanliness of heart.

In times of national stress the warm throbbing patriotic, intensely human, red fibred heart of Holyoke has not measured with calculated scrutiny nor unholy selfishness the blood of her young manhood poured upon the country's altar. From Fort Sumter to Appomattox, from Manila Bay to Santiago, from Chateau Thierry to Belleau Wood and the Argonne, when the country's sword was drawn in defense of the nation's honor her young manhood eagerly sought place and opportunity to uphold pure and unsullied the starry banner of their fathers. And, if need be, give their lives for the liberty and freedom which it symbolizes. If American patriotism in the late war is to be measured by the blood of her young men voluntarily offered, by the sacrifice of the dear ones at home, by the absence of all selfish, hateful, hell-inspired profiteering, by the motherly love of its womankind in caring for the sick and disabled, by the unquestioned acquiescence in the officially expressed decrees of their constituted rulers even where personal opinion must be suspended under our form of government, then should that chapter in the history of our fair city be written on tablets of adamant in letters of gold. It is written in the eternal records of the Book of Life where the Recording Angel places love of country next to Love of God.

Well then may we on this historic occasion recall to mind the fine qualities of our pioneers whose integrity of character, honesty of purpose, and breadth of vision, infused such a noble Christian spirit into our municipal foundations. Their clear thinking revealed to them that it is not legislative enactment, or municipal ordinance, but the sound moral instincts properly cultivated in the great thinking mass of the common people which determine the spirit and character of a community. The new arrival to this community early learned there was a work to do. It required strong arms and stout hearts to do it. He was of a superior calibre. He came to stay. "He came to find a home and helped to found a commonwealth." He looked for liberty and he found it in freedom under law. He found obedience to the higher law the truest ideal of liberty to which man may aspire. He contributed his full share to the upbuilding and the safeguarding of that freedom.

We love to recount during these days the outward manifestation of the true inward spirit of our fifty years of municipal life. We love to contemplate this clear thinking, liberty loving, God-fearing citizenship understanding the true worth of manhood and striving to secure it themselves and for their children. We love to note the proper place accorded to the dignity of labor, the Christian gospel of work and the sweet recompense in the brotherly love and Christian charity which makes us all children of the same Eternal Father. We note with pleasure that neither the evils of a machine age, the allurements of luxury, the teaching of false philosophy, nor the temptation to ill-treat the weak and unfortunate in the promotion of wealth and power, have ever seized upon this community to obscure its ideals of love of neighbor, of country, and of God. Such loyalties to higher fixed principles are today the sweetest of memories, the noblest of crowns for the past, and the finest of inspirations to us for the future, that we may meet our problems in the same spirit, with the same power, and hand on such a tradition pure and unsullied. "Therefore brethren stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have received," that the blessing of the fathers may descend upon the children from generation to generation.

As the beacon lights of yonder mountain - God's enduring diurnal - guide the wanderer in the peaceful valley below, so may God's eternal principles of Justice, Truth, Mercy, and Love illumine and guide our pathway to the higher and nobler things of life. Under their inspirational guidance may we live our lives more abundantly in peace and harmony with our brother, "four square to all the winds that blow;" in peace and harmony with our God; "through whose Providence many things are rectified."

May these blessings be an earnest of God's Fatherly care in the years before us, imbuing all our citizens with the loving admonition of the Psalmist of olden days: "By the blessing of the just the city shall be exalted."

It is highly fitting that a patriotic service should mark our city celebration. We should gratefully remember that it is more than a city - it is a part of America. The ground beneath us is American soil. Our liberties are bought by American blood. Our institutions are shaped by American tradition. Oul safety is secured by an American government. For our whole opportunity of life we are in debt to the American people who by untold sacrifice subdued the wilderness, formed the Nation and preserved it, gave us our ideals, and wrought the achievements which make this land the world's haven of hope.

"Let us here intelligently acknowledge our debt. We can never repay it. But we can humbly consecrate ourselves to such effort as will link the progress of this city with the central purpose for which Americans at their best have lived and died. Our fathers dedicated this continent to the idea that men of different creed and race and station should here find common ground where together they could fulfill their destiny and together promote the Nation's mission to the world. It was not their intent to make this a battle ground where each man should be free to seek his own, and fight for his own creed or his own class or his own race. That is not liberty. That is slavery to the outworn system from which our fathers sought escape, and which, in recent time brought Europe, and well nigh all the world to the very ' edge o ' doom. ' Prom its first conception this Nation set itself to find amid the difference of men, that common ground where all could join their hands and hearts to promote those ends which should be best for all. It was no pious dream. Under stress of war we have lately tasted what it means to find that common ground where we could live above the matters that divide us. Days there were, not long gone, when on the battle front a Jewish soldier knelt beside a Catholic comrade and helped to raise the crucifix to his dying lips. One hundred million of us paid our silent homage to the unknown soldier, buried in our Nation's capitol - a human symbol of great devotion in which all our differences found their place without obtrusion and without offense. Shall we in peace praise our heroes and lose the common ground they found V What they hallowed by their life and death, we must keep inviolate.

Out of strife and cruel delusion the whole world gropes today for common ground. All other means have failed, all other hopes proved vain. It is America's hour. And we are part of America as America is part of the world. Upon our streets there cross the crowded ways of men where loom those ominous distinctions of race and class and creed, which make up all the problems that perplex the world.

This brings world-duties to our doors. Can we among our conflicts, for others' sakes, find some common ground? This means no surrender of the cause each represents, no desertion of convictions bred into the bone. "Where the ranks of capital and labor clash, there are rights at stake on either side, to lose which would be a loss to all. It is American to fight for rights like these. It is more American to make that fight a struggle for some common ground where united effort for the public need shall make full room to exercise all rights that are worthy to survive. And for this must come the spirit which only religion can supply. We may worship God in different ways as Catholic, Protestant and Jew. It is American to preserve for each the freedom of his faith. But let us not forget that we who are called Christian look together to one God, whom we have learned to know through Jewish prophets, and that one first man of all the ages who was the Jewish carpenter of Nazareth. He is sovereign father of us all, and it is His will that we should find some common ground to use the power we get from Him to bring His Kingdom of good will among us.

Separately we may take our different ways to get to God, but together we must work and live for common ends. It is not needed that Protestants and Catholics should be drawn from one fold to the other, nor Jews be made Christian after our particular persuasions. The distinctions are too deep and time too short for this vain business. But we can help each other to be better Protestants, Catholics and Jews, for the best Catholics and Protestants and Jews have a way of finding common ground beyond their differing thoughts. Our great hope lies in them, the better, broader, spirits in each camp, who, in their finer loyalty to God find it easy to be brothers to all His human family.

We have set apart this lovely hillside and meadow as a playground for the people of our city. Here as days go by we shall learn to play and meet and sing together. May this ground, so dedicated, become for us a symbol of that common ground for which America and the whole world seek among the peoples. The day of its finding is drawing nearer with the years, as right is right and God is God, and we in Holyoke may help to hasten or delay it.

Fiftieth An Niversary

It seems to me that this meeting here this afternoon, with the other meetings of today, is truly symbolic of Holyoke. It is in keeping with the true spirit of Holyoke that her citizens should gather together on the Lord's Day to hold exercises of thanksgiving and to invoke the assistance of the Maker and Creator for the future. The fact that all creeds and beliefs have joined in making the day a memorable one, and a thoughtful one, is indicative of the tolerance which Holyoke enjoys.

The large number of churches in the city, together with the large congregations of each, is tangible evidence that the people of Holyoke are a religious people. Some cities are forever disturbed by religious differences and controversies. Our city has been and we hope it will continue to be remarkably free from such discord. The assaults of one religious sect against another contributes nothing but poison to our civic life. We should endeavor to cultivate even more a feeling of respectful tolerance among our citizens.

One of the principal reasons for the kindly attitude the people of Holyoke have toward spiritual things is that we are a city of families. We do not have any large floating population. Most of the people who live here are people who are making homes, intending to continue to stay here. The family is the foundation of all our society. Upon it the whole structure of the community rests. When the family unit is sound and healthy the whole municipality is bound to be so. The family unit is valuable because it means steadiness ; it brings responsibilities" to each member ; it develops a spirit of self-sacrifice and tends to eliminate selfishness.

One of the big problems for the Holyoke of the present and the future is to endeavor to preserve the integrity of the families which we have now and to grow and prosper so that new families and new blood shall come to us. It is not a good omen when the younger generations of the families of Holyoke leave the city for new branches of endeavor in other sections of the country. In such circumstances there is always the inference that Holyoke has not the attractiveness of other places. There is also the implication that the city does not offer the opportunities to the ambitious youth which other cities present. We must see to it that there is no emigration of our best young men and women. We want them here and we want to be big enough to keep them here.

How to accomplish such things rests largely witn us. To achieve such results we must also have trust in the Creator. A continuance of tolerance, a clinging to the spiritual things in life, and the living of clean lives will all assist us in our endeavors. All these things contribute more deeply to the welfare of the city than surface agitations. We should dedicate ourselves here today to keeping ourselves mentally, morally and physically fit to continue in our work. Let the man who is the head of the family be honored more. Those whose great accomplishment in life is, or has been the bringing up of a good family should have the satisfaction of knowing that his effort is a distinct good for the city and the nation. Full many a hero and heroine have gone unsung because their whohlife's work has been wrapped up in the rearing of a sound American family. It is such people who are the fibre of Holyoke. We must recognize their strength and the city must do all in its power to make things in general more attractive to our home builders; to lighten their burdens; to keep them in our midst. Their individual praises cannot be sung but as a group are entitled to our thanks and our respect. Let it never be said that Holyoke has failed to recognize them in the full measure which they deserve.

Hol Yoke

In the parade, more than in any other feature of the celebration, the whole of Holyoke had an opportunity to participate. It was in this event that the social, fraternal, industrial, merchantile, educational and racial groups were ennabled to present those features of their organizations, which as component units of the whole community went to make the community a progressive and forward-looking American municipality.

Because of its great representativeness, one hundred and fifty-five organizations with six thousand people in line, the parade was the climax of the celebration spirit. It was a proud Holyoke that looked on along the line of march and saw the significance of its own many institutions presented with artistry, with historical fact, with a careful advertising rather than a boasting of the features which gave them life and permanence in the city. It was an admiring fifty thousand visitors of neighboring cities

Every float was a beautiful creation, so much so that the Board of Judges faced a hard task in selecting prize winners. Ordinarily a parade of such magnitude would be expected to drag in places, to cause holdups which would admit of more study of the features in passing the reviewing stand but in this instance as in all others, the celebration plans showed a smoothness of operation that was truly remarkable. The great line of floats and marching organizations passed the reviewing stand with a military precision, not a single halt being required in the tempo of the parade.

Two grand prizes were awarded by the committee for the finest features of the parade, both for floats. On the social and fraternal side the prize went to the Holyoke Lodge of Elks for its float depicting an Italian garden with a beautiful fountain in the center

On the business side the grand prize went to Thomas S. Childs Company, Inc., for its extremely handsome float, depicting that famous character of the Mother Goose Nursery rhymes, "The old woman who lived in a shoe and had so many children, etc." A monster white shoe filled a greater part of the float, and playing around it was a group of beautiful children.

To the Polish section made up of members of the Polish Falcons, and the Polish Alliance went the prize for numbers in the social and fraternal groups and to the Cercle Rochambeau and other French organizations went the prize for the most attractive appearance. In this same group the first prize for floats was awarded to the Elks also, and the second to the Daughters of St. George with a float representing the "Landing of the Pilgrims." The third prize in this group went to the Holyoke Women's Club, for its beautifully decorated automobile, with purple the predominating color, and the fourth prize to the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters for a handsome float with three figures typifying the ideals of that organization. Honorable mention awards were made to the Springdale Turnverein, the Greeks, Knights of Columbus, the Scottish organizations and the Kiwanis Club.

In the first section devoted to patriotic organizations the first prize went to the American Legion for a float representing Flanders fields, with its "crosses row on row," a reminder of the dark days of the World War. Second prize was awarded to Eunice Day Chapter, D. A. R., for a float depicting a colonial tea, with members clad in charming gowns of the period.

The municipal section first award went to the Department of Public Works, which displayed many of the pieces of equipment used by that department in its municipal work, while the second prize went to the Gas and Electric Department in consideration ot its fine float. A special merit prize was awarded to the Water Department for its splendid turnout.

To the Precious Blood School went the second prize in this division, its float being a huge basket of flowers, a group of extremely pretty youngsters being the flowers. Third prize went to the Public School float, depicting "Wisdom," and honorable mention was made of the Public School float on Americanization.

In the fourth division, the industrial section, first prize was awarded to the Farr Alpaca Company for its floats, showing the development of this company and its products in various stages from the sheep to the finished cloth.

Second prize was awarded to the Germania Mills, its float having an actual loom in operation, while White and Wyckoff's float showing a huge box of stationery won third prize, and honorable mention was made of the National Blank Book Company's float.

In the mercantile division, Thomas S. Childs Shoe Company won first prize, McAuslan & Wakelin, with a float of a huge Horn of Plenty won second prize, and third prize went to Hanna Dowling, Inc. A. Steiger & Co.'s float won honorable mention.

The District Nurse Association won first prize in the welfare work section, the United Hebrew Association won second prize and the Boys' Club of Holyoke, third, while the House of Providence Hospital and the Associated Charities won honorable mention.

The Polish section, as noted, won first prize in the social and fraternal group for numbers, the French Societies for best appearance, with Cercle Rochambeau, with Rochambeau mounted on a fiery charger at the head of the column.

In the last division, devoted to special features, the Casper Ranger Construction Company won first prize with a float showing a beautiful sun room built against a house and the second prize went to the

The committee also awarded a silver loving cup to George Taylor Pearsons in recognition of his coming to Holyoke to represent his father, the first mayor of the city.

In the reviewing stand were seated the judges. Col. Walter Scott, New York City ; Annetta L. Clark, Northampton ; Florence B. Adams, Northampton ; Mayor Joseph M. Grise, Chieopee; Major Albert G. Beckman, Northampton; Clark F. Wilkinson, South Hadley; Fred M. Smith. South Hadley

Falls; Mrs. J. W. Heffernon, Northampton; Mrs. G. II. Ladd of Northampton and invited guests ; E. C. Purrington, vice-chairman of anniversary committee ; Mayor and Mrs. Edwin F. Leonard and Miss Pauline Leonard of Springfield; Mayor and Mrs. Harry E. Bicknell of Northampton ; Mrs. Henry E. McElwain of Holyoke ; former-Mayor Arthur B. Chapin, now of Boston ; Mrs. Grace T. Pearsons of New York ; Mrs. Edward D. Lamb of Holyoke; Katherine A. Mahoney of Holyoke ; Mrs. Alexander Macdonald ; Mrs. George II. Clark; Maj. and Mrs. W. J. Crosier

Military Division Second Battalion, Massachusetts National Guard, Major E. J. Slate commanding, with staff. Headquarters Co., Holyoke, E. Co., F. Co., of Holyoke ; H. Co., of Westfield.

Liberty Drum Corps of Westfield. Float, machine, old employes of thread mill. Girls marching (30) white dresses and red hats. Float, American Thread Company, employes in Colonial costume, 30 girls.

Holyoke Producers' Dairy Company, float. Armour Company, float shaped like a ham. T. S. Childs, Inc., with boots mounted on truck. Hannah R. Dowling, Inc., float with living models.

Boy Scouts led by colors, 54 in line. Day Nursery float. Holyoke Boys' Club, 10 marching. Boys' Club orchestra on float. Boys' Club Printing Department. Skinner Coffee House.

St. Michael's Society. St. Stanislaus Society. Polish Women's Alliance, seven trucks. One truck, with girls in native costume. Two machines with officers. Polish National Alliance, No. 525, 120 in line, 25 in autos.

Holyoke Council, Knights of Columbus, Edward A. Driscoll, grand knight, Greek Community Organization led by Nicholas Nichols, little boy in Greek native costume.

The Labor Day sporting program was elaborate and was equally successful and well attended as other events of the Semi-Centennial, the track events and city championship baseball game drawing thousands. The feature of the day was the game between the Kosciuszko Club, winners of the City League pennant and the Germania Mills, winners of the Industrial League pennant, which was played for the city title and won by the Kosciuszko Club by a score of 11 to 4. The box score of the game follows :

Germania

Runs, Scanlon, Roberts, Mackley 2. Fitzgerald 2, Clark 2, Lizak 2, Skypeck, Finn. Flynn, Underdorfel, Wuench ; two-base hits, Clark, Mackley, Sattler, Finn, Beaulieu ; errors, Clark Skypeck, Beaulieu 2, Patnaude, Underdorfel, Whalen, Sattler ; home run, Flynn ; stolen bases, Lizak 2, Clarke, Roberts. Mackley, Skypeck, Underdorfel, Wuench, Halibauer, double play. Flynn to Beaulieu; first base on balls, off Nitovik 6, off Plynn 5 ; hit by pitcher, by Nitovik (Stick) ; struck out, by Nitovik 11, by Flynn 7. Umpires, Hanifin and Kenney. Time, 2.08.

Thousands more were present at the Hampden Street playgrounds and the Prospect Street playgrounds where sporting events were also run off. One of the unusual features of the afternoon was the ease and rapidity with which all of the events were run off and the committee had the different events all well in hand. Starting at 1.30 o'clock, the program included track and field athletic contests at Springdale Park for young men and women, while the boys and girls of the city had their own field and track events at the Hampden Street playgrounds. While these events were being carried out band concerts were given in front of the City Hall, at Springdale Park and on the Hampden Street playgrounds.

A hurling contest which was scheduled for Springdale Park had to be called off by order of the police because of the large crowds that had assembled for the championship baseball game. The final event on the afternoon's sports program was a Gaelic football game at Falco Field.

Running high jump for men - Won by John T. Moriarty, 5 feet 8 inches ; Fred W. Childs, second, 5 feet 2 inches; Eli Price, third, 5 feet 1 inch.

Other features of the celebration, more thoughtful in form but equally well attended and impressive were the Saturday evening Mass Meeting in the City Hall Auditorium, which was given over to historical resume. Rev. Edwin Bradford Robinson, pastor of Grace Church, was the speaker. He gave a symposium of a half a century of progress. On Sunday afternoon, a Memorial Service to Holyoke's heroic dead was held at the Pageant Field.

At the Memorial Service, several impressive and inspired addresses were heard with reverent attention by the thousands who attended. Among the speakers were Maj. -General Clarence R. Edwards, retired, commander of the Yankee Division in the World War ; Rev. John F. Griffin, pastor of the Holy Rosary church; Rev. Robert Russell Wicks, pastor of the Second Congregational church and Mayor James M. Curley of Boston. The 104th Regiment band gave a concert early in the afternoon.

The celebration was concluded on Labor Day night with a grand display of fireworks at the Prospect Street playgrounds. Aerial bombs of great beauty lighted the sky for miles around and a large number of ground pieces of artistic design gave a splendor of color to this spectacular finish of a great event. A bombardment that resembled a battle of great artillery pieces closed the evening with a thunderous "finis" to a celebration which for four days had been acquainting Holyoke with herself and as each new feature was felt, a new scope and vision for the future was created so that the Semi-Centennial is certain not to mark the end of Her great achievements but only a beginning of nobler and still greater attainments among the municipalities of the Commonwealth.

THE Newton Paper Company is another of the many examples of industrial success which are to be found in the industrial history of Holyoke. Starting with one machine and an output of three to four tons of paper daily, this plant now ships extensively throughout the west and to Australia and Canada. Its products include the "Elephant Brand," extra water-proof sheathing paper; "Medal Brand," corrugated carpet lining; noiseless deadening felt for floors and high grade heavy wrapping papers. .

The Newton Paper Company originated the red rosin-sized sheathing paper, now an international commodity and its "Medal Brand" corrugated carpet lining was awarded the medal of honor at the Paris exposition in 1878.

The Newton Paper Company was originally established by James Ramage and Moses Newton in 1874. It was then know under the firm name of Newton and Ramage. In 1876 it was incorporated as the Newton Paper Company, with a capital stock of $24,000, which was increased to $72,000 in 1883. The incorporators were Moses Newton, J ames Ramage, James H. Newton and George A. Clark.

Newton Paper Company Real Estate

One of the best known figures among the Canadian French people of Holyoke is A. M. Potvin. Mr. Potvin is an early settler in the city and in the course of.'thirty years as a merchant on Main Street where he conducted a clothing business, he rose to prominence and distinction. In November, 1922, he retired from this business and opened a real estate office. Mr. Potvin has been an alderman, a member of the Board of Public Works and was one of the organizers of the St. Jean Baptist Society. He is married, has two daughters, and resides on Locust Street.

Company

W. T. Grant Company congratulates Holyoke on its 50th Anniversary and wishes to voice its appreciation of the good-will manifested towards our organization in this City.

Established 1907

We take this opportunity of expressing our thanks to the public of Holyoke and vicinity for their support and patronage during the past thirty-two years.

M. Hirsch & Son Jeweler

Mr. Hand learned the business from the late James W. Meacham, entering his employ in the spring of 1869, where he served an apprenticeship of about three years. He then entered the store of the late Albert G. Taylor, of Springfield, having entire charge of the watch repairing department, until the spring of 1878, when he opened a repair shop, with a small stock of goods, occupying one window of the corner store in the old Holyoke House, and within a few years occupied the whole store, now used by the Mechanics Bank.

After remaining twenty-three years in this location, he removed to High Street, where he remained seven years. The rents became prohibitive and he was forced to remove to his present location, where in spite of cramped quarters and a side street location, he has built ".ip a successfull business and enjoys an enviable reputation for handling reliable and up to oate goods in his line.