Holyoke Commercial Institute (Holyoke's Business Schools, Pt. 4 of a 5 Part Series)

 In 1927, Hannah Thompson sold the Thompson's Business School, which she had successfully operated since 1901, and retired. The new business manager, then owner, was Fred Giehler, a Certified Public Accountant admitted in New Hampshire, who changed the business name to Holyoke Commercial Institute. 

Mr. Giehler was educated at Boston University School of Commerce and later took post-graduate courses at Bentley College of Accounting. He had twenty years of business experience, including Assistant Treasurer of a million-dollar business and as an auditor for Burd & Company. He installed a complex cost accounting system for a candy company and was a consultant at the American Extension Institute.

The school continued to operate in the Senior Building, also known as the City National Bank Building, located at 380 High Street.

The first indication of business activity was shown in an advertisement for summer classes, which were scheduled for July 1, 1929. Courses included bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing.

Overall, the curriculum was divided into various areas of study:

• Standard General Business~ business training on a one-to-one basis
• Standard General Business~ plus Stenographic
• Standard Secretarial~ bookkeeping, shorthand dictation, typewriting, office practice, business law, office organization, and salesmanship
• Standard Accounting~ from bookkeeping to corporate accounting and income tax

The school advertised a low annual tuition payable monthly, a 90% employment placement rate over the preceding two years, individual student attention, and following a curriculum recommended by the National Accredited Association of Commercial Schools.

Fred Giehler's spouse passed away in January 1936, and subsequently, the business was subject to a foreclosure action by a secured party in the same month.

In February 1936, Alma Kusnick opened the Holyoke Business College located in the Gallup Clothier building at 291 High Street. The Childs, Thompson, and Giehler commercial school education continued under a new owner and with a new name.

Citations:

Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.

Holyoke Public Library History Room, online Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts.