Hofbrau Cafe

Adolf G. Hering was associated with the liquor business as early as 1905, first at 75 Cabot Street, when he was in partnership with Gustave L. Kuenzel. In 1908, Hering and Kuenzel relocated to South East Street, where they continued in business for many years. 

The Hofbrau Cafe was a prominent Holyoke restaurant that opened on January 30, 1934, under the ownership of Mr. Hering and John J. Bresnahan, his son-in-law. It was located at 674-676 South East Street in South Holyoke. 

The restaurant building was three stories, with two six-room apartments on the top two floors. The restaurant itself had seating for 100 diners.

The Hofbrau Cafe specialized in German foods and, in its early years, featured music by a German orchestra on Thursdays and Saturdays. As time passed, the menu became more varied, with American, Italian, and Chinese dishes offered. In 1937, an advertisement promoted free talkies, which were movies with soundtracks.

In 1937, the business was incorporated as Hofbrau Cafe, Inc. Mr. Hering was President and Treasurer of the newly formed corporation.

The building was damaged by fire on May 21, 1945. The fire did not spread to the upper two floors occupied by the Hering and Bresnahan families. On November 24, 1945, the Hofbrau Cafe reopened after extensive renovations.

In early May 1948, Frank and John Gibbs, brothers from Greenfield, purchased the business. On August 25, 1948, the restaurant was again sold to Stanley Kubic from Chicopee. Mr. Hering continued to own the building. 

Alfred F. Marcotte, an insurance agent, purchased the business in September 1949 and the building from Clara Bresnahan, the late Mr. Hering's daughter, in 1958.

In January 1979, a fire destroyed the neighboring building at 672 South East Street which was subsequently razed. The restaurant was impacted by smoke damage. It reopened in April 1979.

In 1980, the Hofbrau Cafe, Inc. sold the real estate at 674-676 South East Street William W. Smith for $20,000.

Due to a decline in business, Mr. Smith closed the restaurant in April 1981 and listed the property for sale or rent. A brief attempt to reopen the restaurant later that year failed.

The upper two floors of the building were removed in 1983. In 1984, Eugene Taylor, an automobile sales manager in Chicopee, purchased the business. Local country and Western music bands provided entertainment. 

A building fire occurred on July 26, 1984. After repairs, the bar/restaurant briefly reopened and continued offering Country and Western music entertainment.

The Board of Health closed the business in 1985 after 15 people were overcome by gas fumes. In July, 1985, Holyoke Machine Company purchased the real estate to accommodate future business needs.

Citations:

Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates are shown.

Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories.

Essex Paper Company (Away from the Canals, Edition 15)

Holyoke had many paper manufacturing companies starting in the mid-19th century. The latter part of the 19th century gave rise to paper converters, companies that produced products using paper. One of these companies was the Essex Paper Company, which incorporated in 1895.

Information obtained from prior paper converting companies shows that several have produced paper products such as tablets, composition tablets, and other items suitable for school use. Essex Paper was not an exception. There were several new articles of Essex Paper Company being awarded contracts to supply schools with paper and paper products.

Essex Paper Company was located 35 feet southerly of the southeast corner of North Summer and Lyman Street. The land was originally acquired from Holyoke Water Power Company on June 18, 1895 By Patrick J. Judge. Mr. Judge transferred the property to Thomas M. Cleary and John H. Preston on July 27, 1896.

In March 1904, the plant was very busy fulfilling its orders. Expansion plans were drawn by architect W. J. Howes to double its size with a 50' x 100' addition.

The company had financial problems three years later and was placed into an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors. Subsequently, the creditors were satisfied that, given time, the company would pay its debts.

In July 1907, the company was reorganized as the Essex Pad and Paper Company.

The company was reorganized and incorporated as the Cleary Manufacturing Company in 1923. In 1925, the Reynolds Manufacturing Company, which was operating in the Whiting Street mill on Main Street, needed room to expand. The company acquired the property of the Cleary Manufacturing Company. 

Other mill occupants included Jennings Silk in the late 1920s and early 1930s, Holyoke Junk Company in the mid-1930s, and Frank Stein & Sons Inc. in the 1940s and 1950s.

The building was razed in 1958 as part of what was to become the Henry J. Toepfert Apartments.

Citations:

Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates are shown.

Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories.

The 2-story former Essex Paper Company building stands prominently on the upper right in this photo. Citation: Transcript-Telegram, Tue. September 30, 1958.

View of 32 North Summer location looking in a northeasterly direction