Colonial Ballroom

 It was the 1930s, and dance schools and ballrooms were prevalent in Holyoke. One of the more notable locations that remains standing is the former Colonial Ballroom, the subject of today's story.

The Colonial Ballroom was located in the Murless Building at 455 High Street, which was 30 feet south of the southwest intersection with Essex Street. The Hampden County Registry of Deeds shows Daniel Murless purchased this vacant parcel on High Street from Holyoke Water Power on December 1, 1887.  

The land was not developed until 1909-1910, when the present structure was completed. No information about its construction was found in newspapers. However, a March 1911 Holyoke Transcript news article referred to "some months ago" when referring to when the new building was completed. 

Helen Hilberger's Colonial Ballroom enjoyed its grand opening on March 11, 1933, and billed itself as Holyoke's Largest and Most Modern Ballroom. Music was provided by Jerry Falvey's Broadcasting Orchestra. Admission was 30¢ with free coat-checking. 

A portion of the proceeds would be donated to the Mayor's Committee on School Canteens. Wednesdays were designated as canteen nights for further donations. Holyoke's Mayor Toepfert endorsed the fundraising events.

The hall itself was brightly decorated, with pastel-colored, full-length curtains hung on its large windows facing High Street.

Dancing started at 8:30 P.M. and was preceded by an hour dedicated to providing dance lessons. Most dances were held on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

There were Beginners' Nights, Old Timers' Nights, and High School Nights to attract specific audiences.

Several groups of musicians were noted in their advertisements, including Chap's Debutantes, the Virginians, and the Ross-Nelson Orchestra.

In addition to the scheduled entertainment, the ballroom hosted high school dances and proms, wedding receptions, club and social functions, holiday parties, and glee club rehearsals.

In February 1934, Helen Hilberger became affiliated with the Allied Institute of Dancing, an organization comprising over 300 dance schools nationwide. It offered a unique approach to various dances and was open to both adults and children in small class settings. 

Helen Hilberger's Colonial Ballroom stopped operating in mid-1934. In April 1940, Walker's Colonial Ballroom attempted a revival; however, this venture was short-lived.

The Colonial Ballroom experienced a short existence; however, the legacy of its original owner, Helen Hilberger, was prominent and will be explored in the following chapter.

Citations:

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

Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Springfield, Massachusetts

Ancestry.com (paid subscription), Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information Center (MACRIS), Boston, Massachusetts

Holyoke Water Power Deed to Daniel Murlless, December 1, 1887

Fleetwood Chemical Company, Inc.

 The twenty-two-year run of manufacturing plastic products had come to an end at the 178 Sargeant Street factory building. The mill was initially constructed for the Holyoke Silk Hosiery Company in 1920, which operated for approximately eighteen years. From silk to plastics to industrial chemicals for the paper industry, this is the story of the Fleetwood Chemical Company, Inc.

On July 29, 1963, Fleetwood Chemicals Inc., a Webster, Massachusetts-based company, closed on the purchase of the plant at 178 Sargeant Street. The company, formed in 1949, relocated to Holyoke to be closer to the paper mills it served, including American Writing Company and Parsons Paper. The company produced a specialty chemical product used by paper mills.

P. J. Kennedy, a Holyoke engineering firm, was working on designs for a $25,000 renovation. It was anticipated that construction would be completed and the plant would be operational by November 1, 1963. The plant had 16 employees who would be working at the new location, with the possibility of additional staff being added.

The plant would initially occupy the basement and first two floors with an eye towards future expansion. 

On October 18, 1966, a tragic event occurred. While a new gear was being replaced in a mixing tank, an explosion occurred, severely injuring five employees, one of whom later died. The force of the explosion traveled up the open staircase, breaking the adjacent windows to the top floor. For additional details, please refer to the news article below.

In November 1969, Colloids Inc. of New Jersey acquired Fleetwood Chemicals Co. The company may have continued for another year before closing. In 1971, talks began at a municipal level to purchase the building for elderly housing. In June 1972, the property was sold to Holyoke's Marken Corporation. 

A year later, on May 29, 1973, the property was transferred to the Sargeant Arms Apartments Associates, a partnership, and converted to housing units for the elderly. The housing complex opened in March 1974 with a new address, 296 Oak Street.

Citations:

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

Holyoke, Massachusetts, Assessors' Office

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