Shawnee Pre-Cast Products Co. (Cherry Street)

With the proliferation of new housing starts and the aging of others, Thomas E. Slattery of 87 Beech Street embarked on a business providing precast concrete products to his customers. The Shawnee Pre-cast Company, formed in 1956, was an offshoot of the Norwalk Concrete Burial Vault Company, formed by his stepfather, Alfred Kriger, in 1934. 

Mr. Slattery was the manager of the Norwalk concern at the time. He formed his own business, located on the same property as the burial vault manufacturer. Shawnee Precast produced pre-fabricated concrete steps, porch units, terraces, and sidewalk slabs. 

The one-piece steps and porch units were hollow, allowing for easier transport, and took approximately 15 minutes to 2 hours to install in most cases. Compared to on-site construction by a mason, this was a time-saver for building contractors. The products were guaranteed for 10 years. The non-skid surface helped prevent slipping.

The precast manufacturing business was located approximately opposite the Holyoke Soldiers' Home on Cherry Street.

In May 1964, the construction plans for Interstate 91 led to an eminent domain taking of the precast-concrete construction plant. The State DPW appraised the property loss at $32,000, plus moving expenses, and the company initiated a court action. Mr. Slattery was subsequently awarded $44,500 in a Hampden County Superior Court action. 

Shawnee Pre-Cast Products Company moved to 550 New Ludlow Rd. in South Hadley, along with its companion business, Norwalk Concrete Burial Vault Company.

Shawnee Pre-Cast Products Incorporated continued operations until 2003, marking almost 70 years of business for the two pre-fab concrete companies.

Citations:

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

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

Shawnee Precast Products, Cherry Street (1964)

Norwalk Concrete Burial Vault Co. (Cherry St.)

 Viewing Cherry Street today, with expansive space taken by the I-91, one is hard-pressed to imagine the former Carpenter Hospital, Holyoke Tuberculosis Sanitorium, and a concrete vault dealer along the stretch of road between Hillside and Homestead Avenues. The two hospitals were covered in previous chapters, and today’s topic tells the story of the Norwalk Concrete Burial Vault Company.

Norwalk Precast Molds, an Ohio-based company, was founded in 1906 as a manufacturer of sheet-metal-jacketed wooden molds for producing concrete burial vaults. The company developed a concrete burial vault and mold system which provided superior strength and consistency in the casting. Due to the popularity of this vault, and the mold equipment used to precast it, a system of licensing was established nationwide.  Molds were sold to more than 300 distributors across the country who were licensed to manufacture the “Norwalk Vault” in their respective areas.

In 1934, Holyoke’s Alfred M. Kriger was listed as the local sales rep for the Norwalk Cement Burial Vault Co. Mr. Kriger’s residence was listed at 452 Appleton Street, with a business address at 275 Park Street. Shortly thereafter, the business moved to the north side of Cherry Street, where it would manufacture the vaults. The vaults would be stored in a shed erected on the property of Michael Coffey.

It wasn’t until 1945 and 1946 that Alfred M. & Eleanor Kriger acquired the Cherry Street parcels in separate transactions with John J. & Ellen Coffey (1945) and Samuel M., Raymond M., Marion S., and Ella A. O’Connell (1946). 

The Coffeys, who were dairy farmers, had owned the property since purchasing it from Auguste Bonitz in 1917. They retained ownership of the house and farm buildings, and sold only the land to the Krigers. A survey map is shown below with the roughly 7/10 of an acre purchased from the Coffeys. The adjoining O’Connell lot was approximately 1/4 acre.

Upon the passing of Alfred Kriger in 1952 and Eleanor Kriger in 1957, Thomas E. Slattery, Eleanor’s son, became president of the corporation.

Norwalk Concrete Burial Vault Co. continued to operate in Holyoke until 1964, when the land was taken by eminent domain for the construction of Interstate 91. The company moved to 550 New Ludlow Rd. in South Hadley, where it continued in business as part of Shawnee Pre-Cast Products Company, operated by Thomas Slattery. The story of this company will be published in the next chapter.

Citations:

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

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

Company History - Norwalk Precast Molds

National Clothiers & Habadashers (Pt.2 1947-1975)

The successor to the National Pants Store was The National Clothiers and Habadashers. The owner was Sidney Shpetner, and the store manager was Alvin Simmons. The store moved into more spacious quarters at 348 High Street, which was the former site of the Jordan Luggage Shop. The shop was more than three times the size of its previous location, and now measured 1,760 square feet.

The architect who designed the store was Christopher Kantianos of Springfield. The store had a first floor and a basement, with large display windows to showcase its wares.

A devastating fire in December 1953 destroyed 4 large buildings, including the building housing The National. In June 1954, the store signed a 10-year lease, relocating two doors away to 344 High Street at the southeast corner of Division Street. As with its previous location, the store operated on two floors: street level and the basement and featured large display windows. It is here that the National became a High Street fixture for more than two decades.

The new store would inventory men’s clothing except for shoes and suits. It would also feature an expanded women’s clothing line.

The store closed at the end of 1975, and an insurance company then moved into the former store location.

Citations:

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

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

(Above) Artist Depiction 344 High Street 

(Below) Google Maps 2025-  344 High Street