"Where you always find the smallest prices"
The great satisfaction of writing about Holyoke lies in its mosaic of residents who emigrated from other countries in search of a better way of life for themselves and their families. Today, we learn about Benjamin William Cohen and his family, who came to Holyoke from Russia in 1901.
Benjamin William Cohen, known as B. W. Cohen, was born in Russia on December 10, 1883. In 1900, he arrived in the United States at the age of 16 and settled in Holyoke. Upon his arrival, he was fluent in both Russian and French, but not English. He attended night school and, after six months, was able to read the newspaper. He had hoped to become a physician, never thinking he would enter the retail clothing business.
It was around 1903 that he married the former Sarah Dyrdach, who also had emigrated from Russia. By 1910, the family had grown with the addition of three sons and a daughter.
He lived for a short time at 118 Newton Street until 1903, and for one year at 110 Sargeant Street. For the remainder of his life, he and his family resided on Willow Street in a home purchased in 1907.
Upon his arrival, Mr. Cohen worked as a door-to-door clothing peddler, as was the custom of the day for many. In 1907, he opened his first store at 61-65 Cabot Street at the northeast corner of Park St., now renamed Clemente Street. The shop was simply named B. W. Cohen, and it kept that name for the next 61 years. On May 16, 1912, he and Ely M. Lipcin purchased the real estate from Louis A. LaFrance at 61-65 Cabot Street.
His shop featured clothing for men, women, and children. His newspaper ads usually emphasized that his goods were sold at lower prices and with better credit terms than his competitors. At times, there were giveaways, such as in 1918, when a complete silverware set valued at $15 was given to customers spending $50 or more.
In December 1920, the store held a removal sale as Mr. Cohen relocated his shop to 293-295 Main Street. In April 1923, he and Moses Jacobson purchased the real estate at 293-303 Main Street from Charles U. Roy. Mr. Cohen later bought out Mr. Jacobson's interest a year later.
Along the way, Mr. Cohen purchased several other parcels of real estate, including a tenement block at the northwest corner of South Bridge and Ely Streets in 1910 and commercial property at 15-23 Suffolk Street in April, 1924.
In September 1925, the Main Street Store expanded to include a women's fashion area. The store address was changed to 293-299 Main Street for several years.
The store sponsored a candlepin bowling team and was noted for giving gold footballs and basketballs as gifts to the victors of various sports competitions.
In the early 1930s, Mr. Cohen's son, Isidore "Tim" Cohen, joined the business as general manager. He was a graduate of Holyoke High School and Syracuse University. He took postgraduate courses in business administration at Cornell University. Tim Cohen was a buyer at Filene's Department Store from 1928 to 1931, then left to become the manager of his father's business. He also served in the Air Corps during World War II.
The business continued through the 1940s and 1950s at 293-295 Main Street. In 1961, a fire starting in an apartment at 297 Main Street damaged portions of the building and the contents of B. W. Cohen. The business recovered and reopened after necessary repairs were made.
However, a major fire in March 1964 destroyed the building, the clothing store, and several other businesses. B. W. Cohen relocated to 372 High Street at the northeast corner of Appleton Street. Tim Cohen stated that the new location provided 25% more space than the previous one, enabling the store to offer more high-end fashions.
Two years later, Tim Cohen died on September 4, 1966. The business was then operated by his wife, Shirley (Craven) Cohen, and Benjamin Cohen. She was also the owner of the Woodlawn Pharmacy on Newton Street in South Hadley.
Two years later, in October 1968, Benjamin W. Cohen announced his retirement and the transfer of the business to new owners. A going-out-of-business sale was advertised on October 30, 1968. Benjamin Cohen was close to 85 years old at the time. He left behind a legacy of providing many customers with clothing over his 65 years in the apparel business.
The next installment will provide the details of Basil's, the successor clothier at 372 High Street.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
Findagrave.com
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