Anniversary Hill Ski Slope (Craft's Ski Trail)

When a Holyoker thinks of skiing in the mid-to-late 20th century, the Mt. Tom Ski Ski Area comes to mind. Before this ski area opened in 1962, skiers enjoyed another nearby hill for this wintertime activity in Holyoke.

In early 1935, a group interested in developing a portion of Mt. Tom for skiing met with Holyoke officials. In September 1937, four local ski enthusiasts announced plans to form the Holyoke Ski Club. The hope was to promote a ski jump and run on Mt. Tom State Reservation. L. D. Pellissier of the Holyoke Street Railway was also involved, as he wanted to create a winter resort at Mt. Park. This plan did not materialize.

In October 1937, the city announced plans for a ski trail on the east side of Anniversary Hill. The Parks & Recreation Commiteee unanimously approved the WPA project, which included clearing the land and building the approximately 120-foot wide, 1,200-foot run. No ski jump or tobogganing was included in the plan. By month's end, the Holyoke Ski Club had grown to 60 members, and at its peak in the mid-1940s, the membership climbed to 150.

On October 30, 1937, The Holyoke Ski Club held a party and a business meeting and voted to accept an organization emblem and to name the slope the Crafts' Ski Trail. No further mention of that slope's name was discovered moving forward.

The ski run would be the first municipally owned and controlled slope in Western Massachusetts. It would run roughly parallel to the south side of Easthampton Road and end at a bowling green, once located behind the present-day Northampton Street fire station. The practice and beginner slope was located on the north side of Easthampton Road behind the latter-day John J. Lynch School. 

The main slope was opened in January 1938, relying on Mother Nature's snowfall. In December 1938, plans to include a rope tow, a lengthened and widened course, flood lighting for night skiing, and a toboggan run were introduced to the Parks and Recreation committee. 

Neither a rope tow nor lighting for nighttime skiing was installed. Material shortages and prohibitions as to material usage during World War II hampered the effort. Also, blackout restrictions were in place to minimize nighttime lighting.

No further information about the Anniversary Hill slope was discovered after the winter of 1950/1951. The Holyoke Ski Club had moved to a hill operated by the South Hadley Ski Club, where a rope tow was in place.

Source of News Articles: Newspapers.com (paid Subscription): Citations Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript-Telegram; Publication dates are shown.

Note: The homes toward this photo's mid and upper center are located on Dillon Ave.

Gleason's Rathskeller

In the mid-20th century, Holyoke had many great restaurants. The Yankee Pedlar, The Log Cabin, The Hofbrau, Kelley's Lobster House, and Delaney's Restaurant were some of the more prominent evening dining spots. One addition to this list is Gleason's Rathskeller, the subject of this blog.

William "Bill" P. Gleason, a native of Cavendish, Vermont, arrived in Holyoke as a child in 1888. He was a B & M Railroad brakeman in his early adulthood. He subsequently became associated with Holyoke's liquor industry. He once operated a liquor establishment on High Street and a restaurant in the Knights of Columbus Building on Suffolk Street.

After Prohibition, he opened Gleason's Rathskeller, located at the corner of Suffolk St. and Newton Place, across from the Suffolk Theater and close by Holyoke City Hall. The building, constructed around 1915, was home to Schermerhorn Fish Co., a bar on the first floor, Woodbury Billiards on the second floor, and several short-lived businesses.

Gleason's Rathskeller celebrated its grand opening on April 27, 1933. The establishment offered lunch, dinner, entertainment, dancing, and alcoholic beverages. Chinese food was added to the menu. In 1934, the restaurant was remodeled.

William P. Gleason died on August 26, 1942. His widow, Margaret F. Gleason, sold the business to George J. Sweeney, proprietor of Sweeney's Cafe, on October 20, 1942. In 1945, Sweeney purchased the real estate from Suffolk Realty Associates, which had owned it since 1914. Sweeney then transferred the real estate to Gleason's Inc. in 1947.

At its height, the restaurant's first-floor dining room could seat 150 people, and the second-floor Emerald Room could seat 300. Over the years, food choices have included Chinese, German, and American fare. The Emerald Room hosted many engagement and bridal parties, political rallies, public receptions of notables such as Eunice Shriver Kennedy and Morris Udall, service and social club dinners, the St. Patrick Parade functions, and other large banquets. 

The business was sold in 1959 to Louis A. Tonelli and John P. Kennedy, who had extensive restaurant and catering experience. They had operated Tonelli's at the corner of Sargeant and Maple and subsequently on Northampton St and Ridgewood St. Subsequently, the restaurant was sold several times, and its name was changed to Gleason's Townhouse and later The Townhouse.

The restaurant abruptly closed on April 21, 1980. Attempts to sell the building or lease the premises as a restaurant failed. In late 1981, the real estate was sold to the principals of an insurance agency, law firm, and radio station WREB. The address was listed as One Court Plaza. Holyoke Community Media, Inc. currently owns the building. 

Source of news articles: Newspapers.com (paid Subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript-Telegram; Publication dates are shown.

2018 Photo (Bill G)

2018 Photo