In past editions, I have provided the accounts of three businesses that operated on the north side of Dwight Street between High and Maple Streets. These included the Park Theater, Mohican Market, and Ryback's Market. Today's visit back in time will eventually lead to this same location, so here is the story of Barger's Furniture Company.
Born in Russia in 1873, Max Barger arrived in New York City on August 1, 1891. The family moved to Holyoke the following year and lived in apartments on Main, High, Chestnut, and Elm Streets for the next 25 years before purchasing a home on Washington Avenue.
Together with his brother, Abraham Barger, Max worked as a dry goods street peddler in the early 1890s, a common occupation at the time. Max Barger became a naturalized citizen of the United States on October 15, 1902.
Max Barger continued selling dry goods until 1911, when he moved into his own store at 411-413 Main Street near the corner of Spring Street. His ads often described the location as opposite the Greek Church or the Skinner Coffee House to give customers a better idea of where the store was. Mr. Barger operated under a rental or lease arrangement with the building's owners.
Ads also touted warehouse prices because Main Street had lower overhead than competitors in the High Street area. The store featured furniture and accessories for every room, as well as appliances, on its three floors.
In 1927, the business was incorporated with Max Barger as President and Treasurer, his wife, Rose (Kahn) Barger, as principal shareholder, and their son, Samuel A. Barger, as Clerk. Samuel A. Barger was also the General Manager and buyer. Samuel Barger was born in 1901, educated in Holyoke, and a graduate of Holyoke High School. He was a violinist in an orchestra, and later joined the family business in the early 1920s.
In 1928, a new building was under construction to replace the former 3.5-story structure that housed the former Park Theater. The address was 567-571 Dwight Street. The property owner was Bernett Feinstein of the American Braiding Company, whose business operated at Race and Cabot Streets (Cubit Building).
The Barger Furniture Company was cramped for space at its longtime Main Street location. Company officials entered into a 5-year lease arrangement with Mr. Feinstein. The furniture company leased most of the building, including the basement and the first and second floors. The appliance showroom was in the basement; parlor room furniture and accessories were on the first floor; and bedroom and dining room items were displayed on the second floor.
The business continued on and later struggled financially, as many did in the early 1930s, during the Great Depression. The business held its going-out-of-business sale in April 1933.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Springfield, Massachusetts
