During the first half of the 20th century, many restaurants started doing business to serve dinners and accommodate large weddings, banquets and social functions. One of these facilities, which began operating in 1935, was the White House Restaurant.
The restaurant was initially named the White House Restaurant and within its first year changed its name to the White Restaurant. A 1935 advertisement stated it served American, German, and Italian cooking. The space was rented, which came into play in 1947 when the building was sold.
The business operated at 43 Canal Street opposite the Gas & Electric Plant. The building is historic, as it housed Hadley Mills employees from the mid-19th century when it was constructed. Ten units were in this row house, and two, numbers 43 and 44 Canal Street at the corner of Center Street, were needed to develop this restaurant. Odd and even-numbered sides of the street did not apply here.
City Directories dating back to 1916 show that the 43 and 44 Canal Street addresses were used for residential purposes through 1934.
The restaurant's turning point occurred in 1936 when its owners were Alfred J. and Albina M. Corbeil. The prior owner struggled to obtain a beer and wine license, which was thwarted by local church officials and the city's licensing board.
The wedding reception and banquet business flourished under Corbeils' ownership for the next eleven years.
In 1947, the Holyoke Portuguese Club announced that it would purchase the building and planned other uses for the space.
The site was a farm in Smith's Ferry, including seven acres. The plan was to build a large restaurant, three houses for his family members, and at a later date, eight or nine more homes for veterans. Due to the scarcity of wood, the Corbiels purchased a lumber mill in Huntington and barns to store the wood it would need for construction.
The new restaurant and banquet facility opened on December 21, 1947, with seating for 300 guests.
The business continued to thrive with many wedding receptions and banquets. In 1961, an anniversary party was held to celebrate the its years 25 years in business.
In the early 1960s. local bands playing contemporary music were brought in to attract a younger audience.
In 1961, Alfred Corbeil permitted the Parks and Recreation Commission to build a playground on a plot of land to the rear of the building. The Smith's Ferry Women's Association had requested that the commission study playground sites. The playground opened on June 28, 1961.
Albina Corbeil died in 1960, as did her husband four years later. The White Restaurant continued for several more years, operated by their sons. In May 1967, the business and real estate were listed for sale. The liquor license was transferred in 1968 to Danny's Inc., a new venture on Dwight Street. The real estate was sold in 1970 to the Cercle Rochambeau, a French club.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates are shown.
Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories.
1935-1947 White Restaurant location, 43-44 Canal Street
1947-1968 White Restaurant location, Smith's Ferry
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