This is the first of a two-part series about the Millane drug stores, which operated in Holyoke for about 80 years. The first installment tells of the Millane brothers, who founded and operated the business for 45 years before selling it in 1948 to the Klimoski family, a transition that will be covered in the second part of this series.
Our story begins with Martin F. Millane Jr., born in Holyoke on September 14, 1879, to Martin F. and Kathleen (Kennedy) Millane Sr. The senior Martin Millane hailed from Ireland and worked as a blacksmith in Holyoke. Martin Millane Jr. attended local schools and graduated from Holyoke High School. From this point forward, all references to Martin F. Millane will relate to the junior Millane.
In 1898, Mr. Millane obtained a job working at the Alexander E. Sunter Drug Store at 170 Dwight Street at the southeast corner of Pine Street. Those wanting to become pharmacists apprenticed under a licensed pharmacist at the time. There were about 30 pharmacies in Holyoke operating at this time, according to the Holyoke City Directory.
In 1901, Mr. Sunter entered into a partnership with Mr. Millane, who was now a licensed pharmacist, and the pharmacy was named Sunter & Millane. In 1903, Mr. Millane moved a short distance across the street to open his own pharmacy at 167 (renumbered 785 c.1907) Dwight Street, near the northwest corner of Pine Street in the new O'Connor block.
The new pharmacy had tile floors and a steel-ornamented ceiling. The store featured the latest in fixtures, including 4-foot, plated-glass display cases trimmed in mahogany. The soda fountain counter was onyx with a mahogany canopy.
In August 1903, his brother John joined him as he worked toward becoming a pharmacist.
In June 1904, the Millane brothers purchased the A. E. Sunter pharmacy across the street and closed it. Mr. Sunter then devoted his time to his pharmacy on High Street and another in Springfield.
On April 27, 1907, the brothers opened a second pharmacy at 907 Hampden Street. To distinguish the drug stores, the names were Millane Drug Co. at 907 Hampden Street near Nonotuck and Millane Brothers at 785 Dwight Street.
In 1908, John Millane passed his pharmacy board exam and became a licensed pharmacist.
In late 1919, the brothers' partnership was dissolved, and the Hampden Street store was discontinued. The store at 785 Dwight Street was operated by John Millane under the name Millane Drug Company. Martin Millane had moved to Springfield and operated the Millane Drug Company at the corner of Carew and Armory Streets. This Springfield pharmacy operated from 1920 to 1940, at which time Martin Millane retired.
John Millane continued to run the store at 785 Dwight Street into 1933 and relocated to its final destination at 773 Dwight, at the northeast corner of Pine Street, by October 1933.
On July 14, 1939, John Millane's son, Arthur James Millane, and his wife, Margaret McEwan Millane, purchased the real estate at 771-773 Dwight Street from Leonetta and Mary Rigali. Arthur Millane had worked at the store for several years and had become a licensed pharmacist.
With an effective date of February 1, 1948, and continuing for a term of 5 years, Charles Klimoski leased the pharmacy premises from Arthur Millane for $70 per month. That's the equivalent of $970 per month in 2026 dollars when adjusted for inflation. There was an option to renew for an additional 5-year term at $75 per month. Those were certainly different times, providing a business tenant with an opportunity to succeed.
The history of two families in the retail pharmacy industry continues in the concluding chapter of the Millane Drug Co.
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
Growing Up in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Facebook
Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts
MACRIS- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information Center, Boston, Massachusetts
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