“All Home Made Candies.” That was enough to get my attention and prompt me to find more information about this candy-making business.
Nicholas Stevems emigrated at the age of 17 from the island of Skiathos, Greece, arriving in New York City in October 1886. His destination was Newport, Rhode Island, where he worked and then owned a confectionery store.
In March of 1892, he filed an application for United States Citizenship. He remained in Newport until about 1912, when he sold the confectionery shop and moved to Hartford, Connecticut, with his wife, Evelyn (Matarona) Stevens, also from Greece, and their children.
In Hartford, Mr. Stevens changed course, operating a seafood restaurant on Asylum Street. He continued there until 1920, when he relocated to Holyoke.
It was in Holyoke that he changed his business direction to become a candy maker. He established the Holyoke Candy Kitchen at 471 Dwight Street, opposite the terminus of Railroad Street (now Heritage Street). The concern initially centered its candy production on a variety of fudge products. It didn’t take long for the business to expand its offerings to include a wide selection of hard candies, chocolates, and nuts.
The Stevens family’s long-time home at 9 Orchard Street was purchased in 1922.
Helen Farr was renowned for her dipped chocolates. In 1941, she accepted a position with Louis Sherry, a well-known confectioner in New York City.
In 1943, Nicholas Stevens died, and the business continued under the direction of his wife, Evelyn Stevens. The store broadened its selection to include turkey-shaped chocolates for the Thanksgiving holiday, as well as Easter bunnies, eggs and baskets.
The business continued until 1952, when it closed after serving retail and wholesale customers for 32 years. The Holyoke Lock Company moved into the former candy shop location at that time.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Springfield, Massachusetts
Richards Atlas of Holyoke, Massachusetts, 1911
