Beckmann's Restaurant

 One of the more popular dining spots in the downtown area, and there were many, was Beckmann's Restaurant.

The story of Beckmann's began in Northampton in the late 1800s. Charles T. Beckmann moved his family from Hartford, Connecticut, to Northampton, Massachusetts, when he purchased a candy store in 1890. After Charles' death, his son, Major Albert Beckmann, and daughter, Gertrude (Beckmann) Miller, continued to run the business. 

In 1925, they expanded the Northampton shop to include a bakery and restaurant. On August 23, 1928, they opened a Holyoke shop at 52 Suffolk Street, managed by Henry Miller, Gertrude's husband.

The restaurant served breakfast, lunch, and dinner, had a bakery, and sold a variety of homemade chocolates. The restaurant also promoted afternoon tea specials with dessert items.

In 1931, Major Beckmann became jail master and the keeper of the House of Correction in Hampshire County. Active restaurant management was turned over to his brother, Carl T. Beckmann and Gertrude Miller. Major Beckman served as Hampshire County Sheriff for forty-two years.

In 1934, the restaurant advertised its Pine Room, which could accommodate smaller gatherings. Guilds, businesses, bridal showers, and other civic and social organizations held many functions there, most attended by under fifty guests.

In 1939, Beckmann's announced the grand opening of the outdoor Terrace Garden, an extension of its restaurant presumably to the rear of the building. 

Holyoke resident and firefighter Edward Green purchased the restaurant from the Beckmann and Miller family in 1939. He continued to operate the business until it was sold to Harold D. Roos on July 1, 1967. 

Mr. Roos had purchased the Phoenix Restaurant on Dwight Street from Frank Lucchesi one year earlier and would operate both restaurants. It was unknown how long Beckmann's would be allowed to remain at the 52 Suffolk Street location, as Hadley Falls Trust Company, the building's owner, was discussing razing the building for parking.

On June 30, 1976, Beckmann's Restaurant closed its doors. The neighboring business, Goss Insurance Agency, planned to expand into the restaurant space and be the sole occupant of the building.

Citations:

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

Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories.   

Beckmann's Restaurant is shown to the left and Leo J. Simard, Jewelers to the right in this 1961 photo of 52 and 54 Suffolk Street.

August, 2015 Photo of 52 Suffolk Street. 54 Suffolk was absorbed into the now single occupancy building.

Holyoke Heater Company (Away from the Canals, Edition 17)

The Holyoke Heater Company produced a novel product for its time, the Matchless Water Heater. The company touted that cold water would turn hot in 30 seconds. Electricity ignited the gas, and water was heated as it flowed through brass and copper seamless tubes. Traditional coal heaters took fifteen to twenty minutes to heat water during this era. 

The inventor of the heater was T. H. Stephensen, the superintendent of the Barlow Manufacturing Company.

The Holyoke Heater Company started as part of the Barlow Manufacturing Company at 25 Spring Street in 1910. The Barlow Manufacturing Company reorganized as the Barlow Company in April 1911. 

In 1912, a new corporations were formed, identified as the Matchless Heater Company, distinguishing itself from the Barlow Company, which manufactured store and window fixtures, and sundry items. The Barlow Company continued to produce the water heater at this time.

In 1911, the Gas Light and Coke Company of London, England, requested to see the product as it had over 700,000 gas light and coal users. The Domestic Science Department of Good Housekeeping magazine also tested and approved the product and granted its seal of approval.

In February 1920, the Holyoke Heater Company purchased the McHugh Foundry at 90 Sargeant Street. Along with the real estate, the company acquired the foundry's machinery and equipment. The castings for the heater previously manufactured in Middletown and Bridgeport, Connecticut, would now be made at the Holyoke foundry. 

The company continued to be successful into the 1930s, winning Post Office and federal building contracts for its products. 

In 1938, the Empire Range was introduced to the market. The Holyoke Heater Company had absorbed the Empire Burner Company of Easthampton. Homer Dufault, an employee of the latter, was the range's inventor. He assigned the patent rights obtained in 1939 to the Holyoke Heater Company. 

The Holyoke Heater Company transferred the property at 90 Sargeant Street to Holyoke Foundry Corporation in 1943.

Researching the Registry of Deeds revealed that Holyoke Heater Corporation was leasing factory space at 54 Waltham Street in 1946. 

In 1948, Holyoke Foundry transferred the real estate at 90 Sargeant Street to Abraham Cohen in an assignment for the benefit of creditors' insolvency action.

Citations:

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

Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke, Chicopee & Springfield, Massachusetts, City Directories.

History of Massachusetts Industries, Orra L. Stone, 1930, p. 613

1911 Richards Standard Atlas of the City of Holyoke

Map Citation: 1915 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map: Holyoke Heater Company purchased the McHugh Foundry Company property in 1920.