When reviewing the 20th-century downtown shopping area, including High and Maple Streets, only one intersection had major retailers on all four corners: High and Suffolk Streets.
This edition will look at the northwest corner of this intersection. The story of the Leo J. Simard Jewelry Store, which operated there from 1966 to 1983, was previously told in the Holyoke Memories blog dated February 14, 2025.
One of the joys of researching is tracking the property back to its origins, so here is some of the early history of the land at the northwest corner of High and Suffolk streets.
February 1, 1882 - William B. C. Pearsons to Patrick Greeley
November 4, 1882 - Patrick Greeley to E. W. Gridley
August 7, 1885 - Heirs of E. W. Gridley to Austin L. Shumway
The retail clothing store story began in August 1885, when Austin L. Shumway purchased the empty lot on the corner of High and Suffolk for $9,000 from the heirs of E. W. Gridley. The contract for building the store went to Currier of Springfield. His given name was not mentioned. The building was initially planned to have two storefronts, but after completion later in 1885, it had three storefronts on High Street and one on Suffolk Street.
Several different stores and services came and went in its first years. There was a print and frame shop, a gymnasium, a fruit store, a steam laundry, the Daily Democrat Printers, and a tailor, to name a few.
In February 1892, the entire building, which included. 293, 295, and 297 High Street, and 11 Suffolk Street, were leased for a term of 5 years to W. M. Currier Clothiers. Currier had about 20 stores in its well-established chain. Currier and Company was a manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer of men's clothing.
Work would be needed on the building, as a display window was installed on the Suffolk Street side and the three High Street entryways were replaced with a single central door.
The grand opening celebration was held on the evening of April 8, 1892. The Keating Wheel band performed, and a phonograph was demonstrated playing additional music.
The store itself was described favorably, well-lighted and stocked with men's, boys', and children's clothes for all occasions. The newspaper noted that, with all the building's changes, it was one of the finest clothing stores in the state.
A year and a half after opening, the Currier & Company's stock of clothing and store fixtures was purchased by the Naumkeag Clothing Company. The story continues in Part 2 of High & Suffolk.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription) Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1884 and 1889
Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Springfield, Massachusetts
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