Regularly reviewing the Holyoke Transcript-Telegram news articles, I come across unfamiliar business names that appear interesting and would like to learn more about them. This is the case with today's business and human interest story, Feather & France.
At first glance, this may have been the name of an apparel shop that existed in Holyoke in the early 1920s. I couldn't have been farther away. In 1910, Frank Feather, an expert tinsmith, and Wallace France, a bookkeeper, formed a partnership named Feather and France that specialized in fabricating sheet metal products.
Frank Feather was born on March 26, 1859, in Kerghly, England. At the age of 15, he learned the tinsmith trade working in his hometown. In 1881, he arrived in the United States and lived in Boston for two years before moving to Holyoke. He lived at 81 Bond Street for several years upon his arrival.
From 1884 to 1910, Mr. Feather worked for the Lyman Company, where he performed sheet metal and tinning work. This business was located at 139-141 Main Street. He was the principal assistant to Charles P. Lyman, the company's owner.
From 1888, he resided at 14 Washington Street in Holyoke, a place he called home for the next 56 years. He would regularly walk from his house to his Race Street shop and back at the end of his workday.
From 1895 to 1897, Mr. Feather served Ward 7 as alderman. Notably, he served on the city's last upper board, as the dual-chamber system was replaced by the single-board system in 1897.
In 1910, he formed a partnership with Wallace M. French, the longtime bookkeeper at the Lyman Co. The Feather & France company initially was located at 56/57 Race Street and in 1916, relocated to 158 Race Street.
Wallace M. French lived at 131 South Street when the partnership was formed. In 1923, city directories listed him and his wife, Anna, as residing at 280 Maple Street, and in 1930, he lived at 161 Sargeant Street.
Mr. French left the business in 1930, and Mr. Feather continued until his retirement in 1942, at the age of 82. The business's assets were sold at a public auction held on the premises on July 9, 1942.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Holyoke Public Library History Room, Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
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