The 104-year story of the Marks family and their connection to the painting business dates back to 1903. Meyer Marks, the 19-year-old son of Simon and Jennie Marks, was listed in the Holyoke City Directory as a painter who was employed at 340 High Street. In 1906, he formed a partnership with his father, Simon Marks, and they began a painting and wallpapering business at 471 High Street. The business was known as S. & M. Marks.
From the outset, the company heavily advertised its services. For the better part of 10 years, an ad appeared in the Holtyoke Transcript indicating that they would paint and paper a room, wall, ceiling and border for $3.00 or 300 cents or 1 cent per day. It was catchy and repetitive, which caught a customer’s attention. The company also painted house exteriors.
In addition to interior and exterior house painting, the S. & M. Marks Company performed commercial work. Shortly after having gone into business, the company placed second in a bid to paint the Willimansett Bridge. In 1907, the company placed the lowest bid on painting the City Hall basement.
In August 1907, a little over a year from forming the partnership, the company relocated to 95-97 Maple Street at the southwest corner of Lyman Street. The O’Leary Block property was purchased by Jane Marks, and would stay in the family for the next 99 years.
At the time of purchase, the building had 8 tenements, a grocery store, a butcher shop, and a bakery. The move was completed in September 1907.
In 1911, when journeymen painters and paperhangers went on strike for higher wages, S. & M. Marks was one of only three concerns in Holyoke to pay the workers the wages they sought.
In 1917, the partnership between Simon and Meyer Marks was dissolved. The business was renamed S. Marks, a name it carried through its existence. Simon’s younger son, Louis Marks, joined the business after completing high school. Although he had the opportunity to attend college, he chose to help his family run the business.
Meyer Marks went on to paint at the shipyards in Quincy, Massachusetts. In 1918, Meyer Marks died at age 36.
During the 1920s, the business evolved into a paint and wallpaper wholesaler in addition to a painting business. In 1925, the company repainted the entire Mohican Market at 215 High Street. In 1929, they performed the interior and exterior work at the new Sears and Roebuck building in Holyoke. In the early 1930s, the company advertised a deal for the do-it-yourselfer. A customer could purchase 5 gallons of paint and supplies for $8.50.
Jane Marks sold the Lyman and Maple Street land and building to S. Marks & Company Incorporated on September 26, 1932.
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
Hampden County Registry of Deeds, Springfield, Massachusetts
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