The first wave of Polish immigrants arrived in Holyoke during the late 1880s. By 1895, there were approximately 300 who lived in Holyoke, many of whom worked at the Lyman mills.
The first pastor who took up residence in Holyoke was Rev. Anthony M. Sikorski. Prior to this time, a priest from Chicopee served the growing Polish community. Services were held in the basement of the Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Mosier Street in what was called the Flats section of Holyoke. It was identified as the Polish Roman Catholic Congregation of Holy Mother Dolorosa.
In 1897, the Polish community initiated fundraising activities intending to construct its own church. Fairs, dances, bazaars, and surplus earnings from pew rentals contributed to the creation of a fund.
On February 9, 1901, the Holyoke Transcript published a brief article about an imminent real estate purchase. The news was that the Poles of Holyoke had purchased a house and lot at 79 Bowers Street as a new church site.
A map is shown below of the approximate location for the planned church. Mechanics Savings Bank had acquired the property through an 1889 foreclosure action and continued to own the property in 1901. The property was approximately halfway up Bowers Street hill between Mosher and East Dwight Street, and would have provided some impressive westerly views of the city.
However, the initial plan changed. On March 25, 1901, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield purchased the empty lot at the northwest corner of Lyman and Maple Street from Agata Ierzyk to build the new church.
The land was initially owned by the Hadley Falls Company, which conveyed it to Reuben A. Chapman and Robert G. Marsh on August 28, 1854. On March 25, 1901, the property was transferred to Agata Ierzyk, who in turn conveyed it to the diocese on March 30, 1901. Deeds of record are shown below.
George P. B. Alderman designed the plans for the church, which were accepted by Rev. Sikorski in mid-April 1901. Foundation work began later that month, and by August 1901, the church was close to completion.
Initially, the plan was to add the spire later; however, in October 1901, the framework for the steeple was built. In November, the slate roof was installed, and interior work started, adding pews and stained glass windows.
The church opened on December 1, 1901. Over 700 people attended the first service in the church, which had a 1,260-seat capacity. The total construction cost was estimated to be between $30,000 and $35,000.
On March 9, 1902, the new church organ was dedicated.
On April 12, 1903, Rev. Sikorski died. His obituary stated that he was in poor health, which was exacerbated by the stress encountered during the construction of the new church and its associated parishioners. His will provided for the construction of the church altar.
The church was formally dedicated on August 30, 1903, as Mater Dolorosa, the sorrowful mother.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts, Holyoke Public Library
Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts
Assessors' Office, City of Holyoke, Massachusetts, MapGeo
Mater Dolorosa Church at Lyman and Maple Street
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