In 1941, the Gordon House was renamed the Hotel Nassau. No account was found as to what prompted the name change for this now sixty-year-old rooming house at 80 Hamilton Street. Abraham Z. and Dora Gordon continued to own the business.
Interestingly, the Holyoke Savings Bank had foreclosed on the mortgage dated March 5, 1888, which was still in the name of John M and Wallie Yoerg. The successful bidders at the June 12, 1940, auction were William and Edythe Radner, who, eight days later, conveyed the real estate to Abraham Z. and Dora Gordon, along with Isadore, Sidney, Maurice, and Victoria Gordon.
Researching the Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts, revealed that there were no deed transfers from the time the Yoergs acquired the 80 Hamilton Street real estate on July 27, 1874, to the foreclosure deed of June 12, 1940, a period of almost 66 years. Several businesspeople were identified as operating this rooming house during this period, although they did not own the real estate.
In the 1940s, the ads revealed that several rooms of the hotel had been remodeled. Accommodations included running water, sinks, showers, maid service, and message delivery service.
On October 22, 1953, Dora Gordon, a 35-year businesswoman and co-owner of Gordon House, which was later renamed Hotel Nassau, passed away.
On October 22, 1959, fire struck the hotel, causing considerable damage. There were no casualties in the blaze; however, the third and fourth floors of the building received heavy damage.
By this time, sons Sidney and Maurice Gordon were active in this business and formed the Nassau Realty Trust. The fire-damaged building was repaired for $7,000. Their longer-range plan was to build a two-story inn across the street at 77 Hamilton Street, where a four-story tenement building stood.
On January 23, 1963, the Nassau Realty Trust closed on the purchase of this building and an adjoining parcel to the rear of the building. The 14-unit apartment building with a store on street level was torn down shortly after to make way for the new Nassau Inn. Charles Paradis of Ludlow was selected as the building contractor. A loan for $94,500 was secured from Mechanics Savings Bank, later renamed Community Savings Bank.
An invitation-only party was held on April 5, 1964, to showcase the newly completed Nassau Inn. The new inn featured 10 rooms and suites. Each had a bath or shower, an efficiency kitchen, and was modernly decorated. There was a 1,000 square-foot basement room, called the Cellarium, where business meetings or conferences could be held. The space could also be used for lounging and recreation. There was a kitchen area in this room.
In March 1968, Abraham Z. Gordon passed away, approximately 50 years after co-founding the Gordon House and later the Hotel Nassau with his wife, Dora Gordon.
The Nassau Motor Inn continued in business until the mid-1970s, when financial issues made it no longer tenable. On November 19, 1975, Nassau Realty Corporation turned the building over to the bank for disposition.
In March 1976, Community Savings Bank sold the property, along with the 80 Hamilton Street real estate and a parcel on 405-407 Main Street, to the Council of Pentecostal Christian Churches Inc., which converted the building into the Emmanuel Bible Seminary. The church itself was located a short distance away at Cabot and Race Street, having been purchased from the Grace United Church two years prior.
The old Hotel Nassau building, located at 80 Hamilton Street, was razed in October 1981.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily- Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Holyoke Public Library History Room, online Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, Holyoke, Massachusetts, 1915 and 1949
Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts
Nassau Inn 1964 to 1975
