The Whiting Street estate building was completed by May 1886. At its inception, retailers such as William Eastman, a produce and fruit store operator, and the building’s architect, E. A. Ellsworth, had street-level space.
Offices and manufacturing space took up much of the upper floors. The American Pad & Paper Company had moved into the building from its former location at 60 Main Street. This was a company in its infancy on a trajectory for future success.
In 1890, an article in the Springfield Republican reported that the building had been sold to George W. Collins. The story of the sale was soon refuted. Mr. Collins was interested in acquiring the building; however, after determining that annual expenses were $5,200 and rental income was $4,600, he decided against the purchase.
On July 31, 1899, a major fire erupted in the building. The source of the fire was pinpointed to the Parsons & Green Company, a stationery manufacturer, situated on the third and fourth floors.
The second-floor tenant, the law firm of Brooks & Hamilton, was also impacted. Atty. William H. Brooks was working on a case in Pittsfield when the fire occurred. A law student working in the firm saved the important papers relating to several utility cases against the city of Holyoke.
The first-floor storefronts were occupied by M. Callahan, grain dealer, S. Worthington, a paper company, and Boston Belting Company. One store was vacant.
As the building contained two elevators and four stairwells, the fire spread quickly. Firefighters had the blaze under control within two hours. The building damage was estimated at $100,000, while the tenants sustained $50,000 in losses.
On November 22, 1914, another fire destroyed the fourth floor's Bullard Thread Company, owned by mayoral candidate W. H. Bullard. Plymouth Paper Company, located on the third floor, also sustained heavy water damage when it was flooded. Firefighters were hampered by low water pressure and sought alternative sources with sufficient pressure to fight the fire. Damages were estimated at $137,000.
As a result of the second fire, the Whiting Street Commission hired architect W. B. Reid to improve the building. He mapped out plans to eliminate the gabled fourth floor and replace it with a flat roof. The trustees at the time were J. S.McElwain, F. H. Harris of Springfield, and Aaron Bagg of West Springfield.
The story of the Whiting Street building continues in the final 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
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