Waiting Station

One of the many fascinating buildings in Holyoke was the 600-square-foot Waiting Station, constructed over the Second Level Canal water at Race and Appleton Sts. The Waiting Station was undoubtedly unique. Conceived in the early 20th century as a trolley stop for the Holyoke Street Railway, a portion of the building's foundation jutted into the canal.

Much of the foundation, brickwork, and flooring were completed in 1903. To my surprise, the building had a basement that rose several feet above the canal. The basement walls were cemented while the canal was drained for seasonal maintenance. A covered wooden porch facing the canal sheltered those awaiting the trolley.

Holyoke Water Power (HWP) retained ownership and control over the land and building while leasing the station to the Holyoke Street Railway (HSR). A key provision in the lease was that the building would be razed if a suitable renter did not come forward once the lease had elapsed. 

The Waiting Station officially opened on April 13, 1904. It was equipped with running water and a refreshment stand selling beverages, fruits, and cigars. The station also had folding chairs for patron comfort and large windows that allowed patrons to see the oncoming trolley cars. It was built with a men's and women's room. 

Several shopkeepers have operated the station throughout its history. Its journey had been challenging, including numerous reported after-hours robberies.

By the 1930s, a half-dozen stools, a counter, and a grill were added.

The Waiting Station continued operating into 1987, long after the last streetcar traversed the city. Thereafter, it became a bus stop. The HSR, however, wound down its operations in 1988, signaling the end of its $1 per year lease with HWP. 

Efforts were made to save the building by finding a use for it and a tenant. However, a news account below indicated that HWP was not eager to pursue this unless it was for the benefit of public service. The Waiting Station met its demise and was razed in early 1991, 87 years after its construction.

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

Source: Public Records, Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield Mass.

circa 1970s

circa 1970s

circa 1988

Chronology

Unity Press (Away from the Canals, Edition 4)

I am intrigued by mill buildings located away from Holyoke's canal system. One such building is at 232-242 Suffolk Street, where Unity Press was located.

The origins of the Unity Press began as the printers of the Holyoke Transcript newspaper in 1872. The print shop was located within the Transcript building at 180 High Street. 

By 1906, the shop was known as the "Transcript Job Print Department", which printed Elizabeth Towne's NAUTILUS and other works. The shop advertised the printing of billheads, letterheads, statements, rent receipts, receipt blanks, form letters, and custom prints. The print shop was awarded the printing of the 1921 Holyoke Municipal Register.

In 1922, the Holyoke Transcript sold its job printing plant and a significant contract to print the Price & Lee City Directories to a newly formed corporation, Unity Press, Inc. 

The incorporators of Unity Press, all veteran Holyoke Transcript employees, were:

Andrew J Hunter, President
Seraphim Archambault, Vice-President
Lachlan Murray, Secretary
Charles T. Fahey, Treasurer

Unity Press then leased and operated the Transcript Print Shop, which continued into 1929. In the summer of 1929, the Transcript planned to erect a new building. The Unity Press principals decided to move to larger quarters to accommodate their growing business. 

On March 13, 1929, Unity Press Inc. purchased vacant land on the southeast corner of Suffolk and Linden Streets from Thomas A. Bray. Three years earlier, Bray had purchased this land from Holyoke Water Power Company.

In May 1929, Unity Press awarded W. K Traquair the contract to construct the new print building. The May 2, 1929 edition of the Transcript stated, "The building will be of two stories and of modern steel construction. New presses will be installed that will make the shop one of the best equipped in this part of New England. Howes and Howes are the architects."

Unity Press continued at this location for thirty years. The company won many contacts to print the Holyoke and West Springfield Municipal Registers, voters lists, school department publications and annual reports. Aside from these jobs, the company performed private printing jobs, including two identified as Holyoke residents; (Edward) Gordon's Book on Contract Bridge and Blanche D. Sampson's collection of forty-nine poems titled The Crystal Loom.

The company lost its largest account, the Price & Lee Company of New Haven, CT in February 1959. The publisher of city directories had found another method of printing directories and no longer needed Unity Press's services.

Thirty-five employees lost their jobs the following month when Unity Press closed. The machinery and equipment were sold at a public auction in late April 1959.

The 13,000-square-foot building was sold to the owners of Plymouth Paper Company in November 1959.

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

Stein's Kiddies World

During the 1950s and into the 1970s, many families shopped at Steins' Kiddies' World for toys, hobby items, baby and children's furniture, and more. Today's post follows the store's timeline and its founder, Louis J. Stein.

Louis J. Stein was born in Russia in 1898. His family immigrated to New York City when he was a child before relocating to Holyoke in 1916. 

A review of Holyoke City Directories indicates the youthful beginnings of his entrepreneurial spirit. At age 19, the directory stated he worked as a pedlar. 

During 1920 and 1921, he worked for his father at Max Stein & Son Automobile Exchange at 522 Main Street. The business bought and sold used vehicles, sold new and second-hand auto parts, and purchased scrap iron and other metals. 

From 1926 to 1930, he operated Louis Stein Grocer at 147 Sargeant Street. In 1931, he moved on from the grocery and became a service station attendant. 

From 1932-1950, Louis Stein owned a gas and oil service station at 358 Main Street on land purchased from Holyoke Water Power Company (HWP). Stein's Service Station was adjacent to additional land owned by HWP which would be the future home of Stein's Kiddies World. 

Louis Stein purchased this land from HWP in 1949 (later addressed 370-392 Main Street). A building was constructed, and Stein's Outlet store opened for business. The outlet store sold, among other items, small appliances, clothing, and toys at bargain prices. 

Stein's Toy Outlet followed in 1954, and in 1955 the name was changed to Stein's Kiddies World.

The store sold more than toys. This included bicycles, jungle gyms, slides, children's learning aids, baby and children's furniture, and outdoor picnic and patio furniture. Its ads aptly described it as "Holyoke's Only Outdoor Supermarket for Outdoor Furniture & Playthings." 

In April 1955, Louis Stein's son-in-law, Hy Nozik, joined the business as President and General Manager. Mr. Nozik had ten years of experience in merchandising and retail.

In 1959, plans were announced that a second store would open at 352 High Street (HT-T Indicated 452 High St. in error), the site of the former Jacobson Brothers Department Store. This was short-lived as by May 1960, ads reflected only the Main Street location.

In 1972, Stein's Kiddies World moved to the South Street Shopping Plaza. About this time, another store was opened on Sumner Avenue in Springfield.

In May 1973, Hy Nozik announced that the Holyoke and Springfield stores would close. The reason cited was competition from major discount department stores. 

In August 1973, an advertisement appeared showing a new store named "Younger Generation" would open in the South Street Shopping Plaza. This was operated by the Nozik family and featured children's clothing, toys, and children's furniture.

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

 392 Main Street ~ photo taken in 2018