With access to the Connecticut River, spending a summer afternoon at the shore was an attractive and affordable delight to many city residents. One of the very popular spots was known as “Depression Beach”, located on an island about a mile north of the Holyoke dam. Much of the length of the island is in clear view for travelers crossing the Joseph E. Muller Bridge from South Hadley into Holyoke. The river and cove form part of the island’s borders.
The beach extended about one mile from High Rock to almost the point of the island. The clayish sand was described as pebble-free and soft, and described by a reporter as, “rich in a sand that Monte Carlo and the Rivieras would like to have.”
The area was long known for swimming and recreational activities for youngsters, dating back to the late 1800s. It was also known as the “Third Pier” and “The Hayfield”, but during the 1930s and into the 1940s, it was better known as “Depression Beach.”
Its name and popularity stem from the fact that there were no locker room charges, a great benefit to many who were financially struggling during the nation’s Great Depression. And this was a very popular summer recreation area. At times, news accounts estimated 2,000 to 2,500 people would be enjoying the beach on a hot summer Sunday.
To the many who flocked to the shoreline, the name given to their sandy oasis was anything but depressing. People pointed to the clear, clean water and the spacious beachfront as an inviting, enjoyable retreat. The Holyoke Board of Health saw no harm from bathing in the waters and would issue health warnings in the future if conditions changed.
The police department patrolled the beach waters in a small, gray motorboat. This replaced the rowboat of the 1920s. One year, the motorboat went missing and was later discovered at Hampden Ponds in Westfield. Some boys had “borrowed” the boat for their use.
News accounts called this the Police Department’s “Navy”, and the officer commanding the boat was the “Admiral”. The boat was named the “Mary Ann”. River patrols would not occur when the “Admiral” had the day off. Later, the police department assigned a backup in these instances, and one who served in this capacity was named “Commodore” by the bathers. The boat had a coverage area of 2 miles and a top speed of 8 mph. The use of this craft had saved 3 lives by 1934. The police also tended to those who needed first aid.
In 1936, a major flood deposited silt, trees, and debris along the length of the beach, causing extensive damage. It is doubtful that the beach was restored to its previous condition. However, the beach continued in active use into the 1940s during World War II. No news accounts of activity were uncovered after 1943.
Please take a few moments to enjoy the news articles and photos that follow.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
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