Every so often, a business name emerges that operated during my lifetime, and I would like to learn more about it. This installment is the story of Cheney & Hunt opticians, which spanned 50 years of the mid-20th century.
Joseph Emil Cheney was born in Gentilly, Quebec, Canada, on March 25, 1890. He relocated to New Hampshire in 1910, then to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was employed by Harvel & Lewis Company and completed his optical training.
Frederick W. Hunt was born in Holyoke on June 3, 1891, the son of Thomas and Sarah Anne Hunt. He was raised and educated in Holyoke. He began in the optical business in 1910, working for Thomas J. Morrow, jeweler and optician at 275 Maple Street. From 1917 to 1919, he was employed by Hamilton & Jerome Optical Company in Springfield.
In 1919, a partnership to open and run an optician shop was formed with Joseph E. Cheney and Frederick W. Hunt. Mr. Cheney was the senior partner, and Mr. Hunt was the junior partner. The business's first location was at 275 Maple Street, where it operated as J. E. Cheney & Company. The shop was on the east side of Maple Street between Suffolk and Appleton Streets.
The store was a retailer of jewelry, silver settings, silverware, bridal collections, Gruen watches, cameras, desk sets, lighters, cigarette cases and optical supplies.
In 1927, the business was incorporated as Cheney & Hunt Inc., with Mr. Cheney as President and Mr. Hunt as Treasurer. The following year, the store underwent significant renovations to accommodate the growth of its business. This included installing a modern exterior, a mahogany interior, new display cases and improved lighting. The jewelry section would be separated from the opticals.
On August 22, 1931, Cheney & Hunt Co. moved to a larger and more contemporary retail space at 281 High Street. Many in the business community believed the move came with great risk, given the progression of the Great Depression. The space was leased to Messrs. Cheney and Hunt by Thomas S. Childs. As an aside, the building's upper facade bearing the Childs' family name has been removed since 2018.
On November 4, 1941, Joseph Cheney died at the age of 51. The role of President was taken by his brother, Jean L. Cheney. In 1942, Cheney and Hunt Company renewed its lease on High Street for an additional 5 years.
On January 30, 1950, Frederick W. Hunt died. Although both founders had passed away, the business continued to operate under Frederick Hunt Jr.'s leadership. The younger Mr. Hunt had graduated from the Massachusetts School of Optometry in 1939 and was associated with the business.
In 1953, the company relocated its optical back to Maple Street, this time to number 231 Maple. It discontinued jewelry sales, selling its remaining inventory to Frederick's Jewelers of Springfield. Frederick's would maintain its presence in Holyoke by occupying the space vacated by Cheney & Hunt at 281 High Street.
In 1955, Raymond Longre, an optician associated with Cheney & Hunt, was listed as President, a position he held through 1975. He succeeded Jean Cheney, who died in 1956. Frederick W. Hunt's widow, Lano (Williams) Hunt, was the company's Treasurer through 1964 as well. Frederick W. Hunt Jr. was the Assistant Treasurer for some time.
In 1969, Cheney & Hunt celebrated its 50th anniversary in business, a remarkable accomplishment given its early years during the Great Depression when many startups and existing businesses failed.
In 1975, Cheney & Hunt, opticians, was one of several Holyoke optical firms to sell their businesses to Chilton Inc.
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
Massachusetts Cultural Research & Information System, Boston, Massachusetts
