Contents

Welcome from the President 05

Mayor Garcia's Welcome Letter 08

OPED 150th Year Director Aaron Vega 10

Board of Directors 12

Programs, Services & Products 14

The Chamber 15

Transportation 18

Education 19

Public Schools 20

Community College 22

A Brief History 26

Arts and Culture in the City 28

Parks and Recreation 32

Mall 36

Medical Center 38

Membership Directory 42

Buyer's Guide 50

Greater Holyoke Chamber

177 High Street

Holyoke, MA 01040-6504

(413) 534-3376

hello@holyokechamber.com

www.holyokechamber.com

This is a Town Square Publications, formerly MetroMedia (since 1997), publication created and produced for the Greater Holyoke Chamber.

Copyright © 2024 Town Square Publications

P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006

(847) 427-4905 | tbusby@tspubsdigital.com

www.TownSquarePublications.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. The Chamber and Town Square assume no responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the Chamber and Town Square is prohibited.

Chairman, CEO and Publisher | Douglas K. Ray

President and Chief Operating Officer | Scott Stone

Vice President / Director | Scott Ray

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Design Project Manager | Katharene DeLorenzo

Sales | Angie Riffel

Bienvenidos á Holyoke!

I am honored to present this new directory of the Greater Holyoke Chamber’s membership. Our members—businesses, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders and organizations—are the heart and soul of our great city and represent not only Holyoke’s great diversity, but its undying spirit as a city that always rises to meet its challenges.

For me, the chance to work with local business, governmental, and community leaders reminds me on a daily basis just how tight knit our city is, and always has been. For 150 years, since our incorporation as a city, Holyoke has looked to the dynamic spirit of its business community to create the jobs and economic vitality so essential to our civic health. I’m proud to say that for most of that time the Chamber has played an essential role in Holyoke, and we’ll continue to do so in the years ahead!

In fact, the Chamber will play a major part, along with Mayor Garcia’s administration, in celebrating Holyoke’s sesquicentennial in 2023. This will be a chance to celebrate Holyoke’s rich industrial and commercial history, and to look ahead as well.

For the Chamber, 2022 was a year of success, as we worked to put the setbacks and strictures of the pandemic behind us. That renewed vitality could be seen in our St. Patrick’s Breakfast, our annual golf tournament, and our morning and evening networking events, where increasing attendance is a welcome sign of a return to normalcy. It could also be seen in membership growth. We’ve brought on 40 new members in recent months. And the Chamber’s resurgence was also evident in other ways as well: in our partnership with MassDevelopment’s transformative development initiative to revitalize part of High Street; through the free one-on-one business and technical assistance we are offering local businesses—in both English and Spanish—with grant funding from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation; and through our successful Spanish classes for Chamber members and others, now entering their fifth “semester.”

With your help and your commitment, the Chamber will continue to do its part to help our city attain its full potential.
I thank our members and our many supporters for all you do for the Chamber and for Holyoke.

Cheers to 150 years, Holyoke; I hope to see you in the year ahead,

Jordan

Mayor Garcia’s Welcome Letter for Chamber’s 2024 Directory

Greetings!

Being Mayor of this city — being Mayor of any city — is a mix of duty and responsibility, achievement, and challenge. Rare is the Mayor who has the good fortune to report on a year of pride and celebration.

Since January 2023, when we launched Holyoke’s 150th Anniversary observance, I have joined the residents of this great city in learning more about our history, our ethnic and cultural forerunners, and our strengths and common interests as Holyokers.

From the Three Kings Festival to the dedication of our City Hall, from the joyous downtown Patronales Festival to the amazing Gala that lit up our grand ballroom, the 150th Anniversary of Holyoke’s incorporation as a City has been a constant reminder of Holyoke’s riches, its bygone days, and its exhilarating future. Coming together as a community to celebrate one another’s cultures, food, music, and traditions has brought immense joy to me and my family.

As I stated above, being Mayor is a many-faceted role. The encounters and experiences of a single day might be affirming, humbling, soaring, or frustrating. But against the backdrop of Holyoke’s proud embrace of where it’s been, where it is, and where we are going, I have felt energized and blessed.

People who live in Holyoke know what I’m talking about. If you’re a visitor to the Paper City, I’d like to say “Welcome” and encourage you to discover the fascinations of our one-of-a-kind City.

Thank you!

Joshua A. Garcia Mayor

Holyoke, Celebrating 150 Years a message from our
Planning and Economic Development Director and 150th Co-Chair, Aaron Vega

2023 was an extra busy, extra special, year for the City of Holyoke as the city celebrated its Sesquicentennial year while new businesses, projects, and opportunities continued to move forward.

I was honored to take on the co-chair of the Holyoke 150th Committee with my colleague Sharon Konstantinidis, as we ushered in a full year of events.

Using the 150th celebration as the umbrella for marketing and promotion for all events throughout the year, we had the opportunity to be part of the famous Holyoke St Patrick’s Day Parade with the MIFA/Holyoke 150th Float. Traveling birthday parties with a giant birthday card made its way through the city from Heritage State Park to the Senior Center and more! A “Day in the Yoke” combined several events including Doors Open Holyoke, The Great Holyoke Brick Race, the first ever Pioneer Valley Makers Fair, and the Paper City Food Festival into a daylong party. The 150th Masquerade Gala at the City Hall Ballroom enhanced people’s creativity in elegant attire and their passion to celebrate together. A Time Capsule and a Commemorative Book will feature moments and festivities during the year, capturing the pride in Holyoke.

With all the city celebrations happening, the Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) was as busy as ever!

The WinnDevelopment Company broke ground on their Phase One Housing Project at the former Farr Alpaca Mill Complex, known as 216 Appleton Street, creating 88 affordable apartment homes for seniors 55 and older, transforming a vacant historic mill complex.

Hydrogen and other green technology and innovation companies have started to consider a location in Holyoke, including RevoZero and Sublime technologies, as Holyoke is dedicated to renewable energy.

Though the Cannabis Industry has slowed down since its boom in 2020, many mill-buildings have been repurposed for the cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis, bringing new life to our historic mill buildings. Current operational businesses in Holyoke are thriving and have become another sector in our manufacturing DNA.

Beyond Walls returned to the city and created another 12 large-scale inspiring murals from Holyoke Community College to downtown. The Blue Sox returned for a fun filled summer season and the arts and culture sector thrived with events such as the Wistariahurst Museum, the PULP Gallery, and the Artery, contributing to the increased tourism.

A new middle school (Peck), a new state & federally funded Veterans Home formerly Holyoke Soldiers Home, and the rise of several small business-owners continue to add to the diverse fabric of the city.

Working with Local and State partners, the city continues to leverage its assets including our green energy, our location, our ready workforce, our available properties, and a city government ready to work with new and established developers and entrepreneurs.

As 2023 comes to a close, I am excited about the future potential of our city. I am energized by the partners and organizations that are working together to improve the lives of all Holyoke residents and I’m proud to be the OPED Director during this transformative time; 2024 will be another busy and special year, even without the 150th Anniversary.

I am proud to have had the opportunity, as an 18+ year employee of the City of Holyoke, to be a part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration!!

My first introduction to Holyoke began in my childhood when my parents owned a restaurant right here in downtown Holyoke!! I have fond memories of shopping at Steigers, Beckers and getting sweet treats at Langelier’s Bakery. Holyoke is where I met my husband, got a degree at HCC, and raised a family.

Being involved with this wonderful community, whether interacting with businesses or outreach through the Greek Orthodox Church, I will always value the culture and diversity of the people of Holyoke!

Co-chair
Sharon Konstantinitis

Our Board of Directors

Brian Sullivan

Northeast IT Systems, Inc.

Chelsea Falcetti

The Plan

Eileen Leahy

Comcast

George Mulry

International Volleyball Hall of Fame

Harry Montalvo

bankESB

Helene Florio

Holyoke Taxpayers Association

James Lavelle

Holyoke Gas and Electric

Julie Chartier Roughgarden

Greater Holyoke YMCA

Lauren Tabin

PeoplesBank

Lisa Schecterle

Holyoke Medical Center

Lynn Gray

Holyoke Mall at Ingleside

Meg Sanders

Canna Provisions

Michael Filomeno

Marcotte Ford

Michael Regan

Clayton Insurance Agency

Miguel Rivera

Rewarding Insurance Agency

Nayroby Rosa-Soriano

OneHolyoke CDC

Programs, Services & Products
for You and Your Business

The Chamber is committed to creating supportive environments for business success while facilitating the development of a ready workforce. We assist in connecting our members with local organizations, such as MassHire, to gain the opportunity to have high-school students’ intern – better growing the workforce within Holyoke!

This is a fantastic program involving seasoned leaders who solidify a mentoring program schedule for the business person wishing to gain sound advice on many areas of business development. Together with SCORE, we offer our Ask a Chamber Expert (ACE) Workshop series which dig deep into some of these business-related topics.

The Chamber in partnership with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center offers on-the-rise small businesses the opportunity for free mentoring within the chamber’s office. You can make appointments on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, which are free and confidential. Some areas these mentors can assist you with are business planning, marketing and loan packaging. To learn more visit www.msbdc.org/wmass.

EforAll is transforming lives and communities through an inclusive entrepreneurship program! Located just a few doors down from the Chamber office! Looking to start a business? Visit www.eforall.org/holyoke. Programas también disponibles en español en su comunidad.

The Chamber

About Us

Since 1890, the Greater Holyoke Chamber has been the center for business advancement in the greater Holyoke area. We work hard to strengthen our business community to bring a robust, prosperous, and growing environment for all of Holyoke and its surrounding neighbors. We are committed to be an inclusive, anti-racist, civic organization that welcomes all people that come through our door with the dignity and respect that we all deserve. Through our strong membership, community partners, diversity, and civic leaders - we can all grow Holyoke together.

There are a number of benefits that include:

Business and Technical Assistance

Are you looking for direction and support? We can help you and your business with your specific needs! We have contracted Lisa Totz, LT Consulting, who will meet with you and walk you through your specific needs. Meetings available in-person and virtually, Spanish interpretation available. Email greaterholyokechamber@gmail.com to schedule your appointment today!

Business exposure

No one is going to know you exist if you don’t put yourself out there! People who are moving into the area or who are looking for something cool to check out in the community reach out to us to provide suggestions. If you’re a member, you’ll get free marketing as a result!

Networking opportunities

Come mix, mingle, and rub elbows with other members of our professional community at various events we hold throughout the year. From mixers, educational seminars, sports, to multi-chamber events; the events we provide can lead to opportunities and might even score you early access to area expos and conventions.

Mailing list access

Our directory has contact information for every business within our membership. This list is available not just to members, but also non-members in the local community.

Grants and funding

We strive to provide a sense of community with your best interests at heart. We are resourceful and are able to help you find business grants and funding that you otherwise wouldn’t have known existed.

Getting your voice heard

Let’s grow Holyoke together! By being part of a chamber, you’re with other like-minded business owners who want to succeed. You have the opportunity to bring concerns to your local government like regulations, taxes, or costs that negatively impact you, and we are happy to be your voice!

The GHC offers a variety of membership opportunities:

GHC Business Membership - Base Rate ($500):

• Includes employee memberships with access to events including After 5’s & Power Hours (one year)

• Priority registration to events such as the Chamber Cup Golf Tournament and Annual Outing

• Opportunities to sponsor events throughout the year

• Company featured in the GHC’s directory and listing on online directory

• Welcome post on GHC’s social media, recognizing your organization as a new member

• Marketing opportunities to share your events and other initiatives through our networks

• Option for your employees to serve on a GHC committee

• Free job postings on the GHC Facebook page (per request)

• Guest passes available upon request

GHC Small Business, Non Profit, and Hospitality Membership - ($300):

• Includes employee memberships with access to events including After 5’s & Power Hours (one year)

• Priority registration to events such as the Chamber Cup Golf Tournament and Annual Outing

• Opportunities to sponsor events throughout the year

• Company featured in the GHC’s directory and listing on online directory

• Welcome post on GHC’s social media, recognizing your organization as a new member

• Marketing opportunities to share your events and other initiatives through our networks

• Option for your employees to serve on a GHC committee

• Free job postings on the GHC Facebook page (per request)

• Guest passes available upon request

GHC Entrepreneur/Single Membership ($150):

• Includes one employee membership with access to events including After 5’s & Power Hours (one year)

• Priority registration to events such as the Chamber Cup Golf Tournament and Annual Outing

• Opportunities to sponsor events throughout the year

• Company featured in the GHC’s directory and listing on online directory

• Welcome post on GHC’s social media, recognizing your organization as a new member

• Marketing opportunities to share your events and other initiatives through our networks

• Option for your employees to serve on a GHC committee

• Free job postings on the GHC Facebook page (per request)

• Guest passes available upon request

Increase your visibility by being a community partner

GHC Supporter ($2,500):

• Includes unlimited employee memberships with access to events including After 5’s & Power Hours (one year)

• $750 in exclusive sponsorship and event dollars to use throughout the year with premiere recognition and seating

• Priority registration to events such as the Chamber Cup Golf Tournament and Annual Outing

• Company logo featured on the GHC homepage and bi-weekly newsletter with hyperlink to website

• Company featured in the GHC’s directory and listing on online directory

• Welcome post on GHC’s social media, recognizing your organization as a new member

• Marketing opportunities to share your events and other initiatives through our networks

• Option for your employees to serve on a GHC committee

• Free job postings on the GHC Facebook page (per request)

• Guest passes available upon request

GHC Partner ($5,000):

• Includes unlimited employee memberships with access to events including After 5’s & Power Hours (one year)

• $2,000 in exclusive sponsorship and event dollars to use throughout the year with premiere recognition and seating

• Priority registration to events such as the Chamber Cup Golf Tournament and Annual Outing

• Company logo featured on the GHC homepage and bi-weekly newsletter with hyperlink to website

• Company featured in the GHC’s directory and listing on online directory

• Welcome post on GHC’s social media, recognizing your organization as a new member

• Marketing opportunities to share your events and other initiatives through our networks

• Option for your employees to serve on a GHC committee

• Free job postings on the GHC Facebook page (per request)

• Guest passes available upon request

Holyoke: Transportation

Interstate highways serving Greater Holyoke include:

I‑91 – North to Northampton, Hatfield, Greenfield, and South to Springfield, Hartford.

I‑391 – South to Chicopee, and Springfield.

Immediately south of Holyoke is the Massachusetts Turnpike, accessible from exit 14 on I-91 South:

I‑90 – East to Worcester and Boston, and West to Stockbridge, and Albany

U.S. Highways serving Greater Holyoke include:

US 5 – Running from Ingleside to Smith’s Ferry, connecting West Springfield to Easthampton and Northampton.

US 202 – Running from South Hadley via the Joseph E. Muller Bridge to Westfield, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts highways in the area include:

Route 116 – A minor freeway bypassing downtown Holyoke, connecting Chicopee to South Hadley via the Willimansett Bridge and the Vietnam Memorial Bridge.

Route 141 – A minor freeway connecting Easthampton over Mount Tom, through downtown via Appleton Street and Main Street in South Holyoke to Chicopee via I-391.

Several buses from the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority operate in the city including the Paper City Express with a route across town as well as routes to South Hadley, Westfield, Northampton, Amherst, and Springfield, connecting with Peter Pan Bus Lines at the Holyoke Transportation Center.

Passenger rail service returned to Holyoke in August 2015, after being absent since 1967. Amtrak’s Vermonter stops at the Holyoke station once a day in each direction, and a New Haven–Springfield Shuttle pilot program will commence in Spring 2019 linking Holyoke to adjacent stations in Northampton and Springfield, as far north as Greenfield and south as New Haven, Connecticut, with two trains operating in the morning and the evening. The planned route will provide service to commuters working as far north as Greenfield and as far south as New Haven, Connecticut, with connections to New York City. The evaluation period of this pilot service will tentatively end in 2021 based on the results of the program.

Holyoke: Education

Holyoke, MA is a census place located in Hampden County, MA. It borders Chicopee, Easthampton, Westfield and West Springfield.

• • Population: 38,254
  
• • Number of Households: 15,062
  
• • Average Age: 36
  
• • Bachelor’s Degree and above: 22%
  

• • Average Household Income: $45,045
  
• • Average Property Value: $209,900
  
• • Average Home Ownership: 40%
  

• • Residential Tax Rate: $19.26/$1,000
  
• • Business Tax Rate: $40.60/$1,000
  

The economy of Holyoke, MA employs 15,456 people.

• • Average Male Salary: $40,970
  
• • Average Female Salary: $34,596
  
• • Largest Industries:
  
• • Healthcare and Social Assistance (3,317)
  
• • Educational Services (2,091)
  
• • Retail ($1,872)
  
• • Highest Paying Industries:
  
• • Utilities ($95,353)
  
• • Professional, Scientific,
  Tech Services ($92,692)
  
• • Transportation and
  Warehousing ($67,611)
  

Holyoke’s public school system is currently in state-receivership with a turnaround plan that offers pathways of excellence for every student. We are the home to eight elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school with two campuses.

Holyoke High School

• • North Campus: 87% graduation rate
  
• • Dean Campus: 75% graduation rate
  

Additionally, Holyoke offers parents and students K-12 Charter School options:

• • Holyoke Community Charter School (K-8)
  

American International College

Amherst College

Bay Path University

Elms College

Hampshire College

Holyoke Community College*

Mount Holyoke College*

Smith College

Springfield College

Springfield Technical Community College

Western New England University

Westfield State University

University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

*indicates Chamber member

Holyoke Public Schools

Holyoke Public Schools: Students are at the center of everything we do

Holyoke Public Schools is a PK-12 public school district serving 5,100 students and their families. We educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. We’ve invested in recruiting and retaining top-quality educators who inspire bold thinking, recognize student potential, and encourage all students to work towards their goals.

Our mission is to provide equitable, high-quality education and build trusting relationships so that all Holyoke students develop the skills and access the opportunities they need to graduate high school prepared for life, career, and college.

HPS offers high school students the opportunity to graduate with additional credentials that expand their college and career options. Our students receive an in-depth, well-rounded MassCore-aligned education that provides them with exposure to a wide array of college and career opportunities in their areas of emerging interests, as well as community-based learning opportunities. Our early college and dual enrollment offerings allow students to earn both high school and college credit at the same time so they can graduate with up to two years of college credit. Internships, job shadowing, and work-based learning opportunities offer our students valuable experiences to learn about potential career pathways and explore their interests while receiving the essential foundations for academic success. Our students learn to become effective communicators, critical thinkers, engaged and productive community members, and mindful individuals.

HPS is in the process of rezoning, which will allow the district to transition to separate elementary (PK-5) and middle (6-8) schools and redraw school boundary lines for fall 2023. These changes will allow the district to better meet students’ academic and social-emotional needs by:

• Designing schools tailored to elementary or middle school grades;

• Staffing each grade with a complete team of teachers who collaborate together; and

• Expanding learning opportunities, including growing dual language and offering varied enrichment opportunities to students.

• Students are at the center of everything we do.

• Every child can and will learn.

• School is a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging.

• Students and staff hold high expectations for themselves and each other.

• Trusting relationships lead to successful partnerships.

• Our equity commitments are enacted in our daily work.

• We intentionally build a community that is anti-racist, inclusive, and culturally responsive.

• We ensure that students, families, and staff get the support they need to be successful.

• We seek out and incorporate the voices of those impacted, with a commitment to include those who have been excluded in the past.

• We promote access and inclusion for all students, staff, and families.

• We respect, embrace and honor the diversity of our students, families, staff, and community.

• We reflect on our own behavior to minimize harm to others.

• We create a culture of acceptance and empathy so that everyone feels valued and is able to contribute to our community’s success.

Our Learner Profile describes the most important attributes and skills a student develops throughout their educational journey in HPS, from PreK through high school. Beyond the academic standards a student develops, the Learner Profile paints a picture of the type of person a Holyoke student is now and who they will be supported to become.

With these characteristics clearly articulated, Holyoke has a shared picture for our destination. Over the next two years, teams will work together to ensure the Learner Profile comes alive in each classroom.

• Reflect and persist
Learners think deeply, learn from doing, and develop the confidence and skills to persevere through challenges.

• Embrace empathy and kindness
Learners seek to understand, appreciate, and value individuals from all cultures and belief systems.

• Apply critical thinking
Learners analyze situations and solve problems.

• Communicate effectively
Learners use language to exchange information, build relationships, and develop understanding.

• Help themselves and others
Learners advocate, collaborate, own their learning, and seek solutions.

Holyoke Community College

The first two-year college in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Holyoke Community College opened its doors in 1946 in classrooms made available by Holyoke High School. Area professors, who worked during the day at Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College, taught evening classes for working adults, many of whom were recently returned veterans taking advantage of the G.I. Bill.

Today, Holyoke Community College (HCC) is located on a beautiful 135-acre campus just off Interstate 91, and serves approximately 7,000 students annually in credit and non-credit courses. Students primarily come from Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, and approximately 800 students graduate from HCC each year.

Now in its 76th year, HCC plays a key role in the economic health of the region, by providing a launchpad, a fresh start, and the smart choice for hundreds of students each year, many of whom build lives and careers right here in our community. Since its inception, HCC has been the cornerstone of our region’s economic vitality, and we will remain a steadfast and active partner in its growth and prosperity in the years to come.

Holyoke Community College means many things to our community of business leaders, alumni, students, faculty, staff, board members, donors, and friends. But, what we all agree on is that HCC represents opportunity for student excellence and success. We were founded on the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity for an affordable and quality college education, and from the college’s earliest days following World War II, George Frost, the college’s first president, put that principle into practice.

HCC was founded on September 9, 1946, when the Holyoke School Committee voted to establish the Holyoke Graduate School. Classes began soon after at Holyoke High School. The following year, the school was renamed Holyoke Junior College (HJC).

From the beginning, the city-sponsored school lacked resources traditionally associated with colleges. HJC flourished nonetheless, thanks to the perseverance of its small but dedicated staff. Until 1958, founder Dr. George Frost and secretary Ellen Lynch were the only full-time employees, sharing a tiny office in a former cloak room in the Holyoke High School building. Together they scavenged chalk, erasers, and pencils for the part-time faculty who taught classes in the borrowed quarters during the evenings.

In the fall of 1967, after joining the state’s fledgling community college system and a brief relocation to other downtown buildings, Holyoke Community College moved back into an impressively renovated Holyoke High School building. Four months later, the building burned to the ground.

The 1968 fire was a pivotal moment for HCC. Then-Holyoke Mayor William Taupier joined with business and civic leaders to ensure the college remained in Holyoke. The day after the fire, Mayor Taupier took an option for the city to buy land where a new campus could be built. Holyoke residents flooded the governor’s office with letters urging that the college be rebuilt in Holyoke.

That passion and pride for HCC are why we are here today. Our roots, history, and mission engendered a fierce and abiding loyalty in the community.

Holyoke Community College is a transformative place of learning. Wrap-around services ensure that barriers are removed so that students have everything they need to succeed in college. Engaging deeply with their academic subject matter and forging meaningful connections, our students benefit from networks leading to new careers, and from educational opportunities at prestigious four-year colleges and universities.

Like those who were part of our founding in 1946, we remain committed to excellence and to providing opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to achieve their educational goals and to create better lives for themselves and their families. As participants in the life of Holyoke Community College today, we commit to building upon the achievements of those who came before us.

HCC students are our neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers, children, parents, grandparents. They live locally. A college education makes them better workers, more engaged citizens, and more lively consumers. Everyone benefits. We renew our commitment to serving new generations of students and celebrate our willingness to innovate, learn, and take risks as we celebrate the past and imagine the endless possibilities we can create and achieve.

Holyoke – A Brief History

Welcome to Holyoke, we are celebrating our 150th year! Holyoke is an exciting community with committed citizens, a rich history, a dynamic business sector, and a wide variety of opportunities. The best way to learn about our proud city is to experience it!

Walk through the Mount Tom State Reservation, row the Connecticut River, shop with 20 million others at the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, view dinosaur footprints, enjoy our annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, take your family to ‘Celebrate Holyoke’, or enjoy a ride on the historic Merry-Go-Round at Holyoke Heritage State Park.

Holyoke holds the distinction of being the first planned industrial community in the Nation. As such, downtown Holyoke features rectilinear street grids, a novelty in New England. In 1847, merchant investors utilized a natural 57-foot drop in the river to construct a granite dam and multi-level canal system. With this construction came an elaborate complex of mills and worker’s housing. The street hierarchy upon which the worker housing and mills were built were a potential economic development tool, it lends well to high-rise buildings and the surrounding canals are landscaped into a source of recreation and relaxation. 

Holyoke attracted successive waves of Irish, French Canadian, German, Polish, Jewish, and Italian immigrants who worked in the mills, established small businesses and raised their families. Holyoke’s population rose from just under 5,000 in 1860 to over 60,000 by 1920. This population growth led the municipality to become officially incorporated as a city on April 7, 1873, only 23 years after its initial incorporation as the “Town of Holyoke”. The biggest industry in Holyoke was the production of paper, at its height Holyoke was the largest paper producing city in the world. Holyoke was coined “Paper City,” a name that carries on to this day.

Many artifacts of the City’s pioneering engineering machinery is on display and in use today, making Holyoke a unique living museum ahead of the curve in the 21st century.

The City’s attractive complement of urban scale and natural serenity includes numerous mill sites as well as a collection of parks, historic sites and recreation destinations. What else would you expect from the Birthplace of Volleyball?

Education thrives in the Pioneer Valley. There are 14 colleges and universities convenient to the city, which cooperate to provide skilled graduates to the area. Holyoke is at the center of New England’s Knowledge Corridor, which extends from the Vermont border to just below Hartford. Locally employers have available the Holyoke High School Dean Campus, a Technical High School, that partners with businesses to supply both skilled workers and customized training programs.

Holyoke is ahead of the curve when it comes to “Green Energy”. The City was built on water power and continues to use this incredible asset through the municipally run dam. Two-thirds of the electricity produced by Holyoke Gas & Electric is derived from non-greenhouse gas producing, renewable hydroelectric generation resources. With a growing consumer interest in sustainable production practices, Holyoke’s hydroelectric production capacity is more than just an environmental decision – it makes business sense.

Welcome to our City, you’re sure to enjoy yourself!

Beginning at the end of World War II, an influx of Puerto Ricans and other Latino groups began to immigrate to the Northeast United States, many worked on the valley’s tobacco farms, and arrived in Holyoke in search of better job opportunities at the mills as previous generations had. By 1970 the number of Puerto Rican residents numbered around 5,000, however by that time of their arrival, many faced a city economy in free fall. Holyoke’s mills had begun to shutter due to the changing economic landscape of early globalization and deindustrialization. Despite economic and social difficulties, the population grew significantly during the 1980s and from 1990 to 2016, the buying power of the Latino community at-large increased by nearly 300%. Today, Latinos form the city’s largest minority group, with the largest Puerto Rican population per capita of any American city outside Puerto Rico proper, with nearly half of Holyoke’s residents being of Latino descent.

During the 2017-2018 school year, Holyoke Public Schools saw 235 new students enroll whose families were displaced during Hurricane Maria. In some cases, children were sent to live with relatives here in Holyoke temporarily while the island was rebuilt.  In 2018, San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz spoke in Holyoke, describing the gradual recovery of the island as well as its severe lack of resources. Cruz was presented the key to the city on April 28, 2018 by Mayor Alex Morse to honor that “in such a time of despair [she] provided a beacon of hope and opportunity for Puerto Ricans.

On February 9, 1895, William G. Morgan invented volleyball, originally known as “mintonette” for its similarity to badminton, at the Holyoke YMCA. Though the original YMCA building in which the sport was first played was lost to fire in 1943, the Greater Holyoke YMCA remains an active chapter. Now officially dubbed the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, the museum resides in Holyoke at Heritage State Park and inducts a new class of athletes, coaches, and contributors every October. The city’s legacy in the creation of the sport is also honored by two volleyball clubs in the Netherlands.

Each summer, The Valley Blue Sox lure in thousands of spectators into Mackenzie Stadium, ranking them third in attendance in collegiate summer baseball. A member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, The Valley Blue Sox won their first NECBL Championship in 2017 and proudly won back-to-back titles as they once again won the NECBL Championship game in 2018.

Holyoke has a rich history in the world of boxing. It was in Holyoke that bantamweight Sixto Escobar, the first Puerto Rican to become a world champion, fought and won his first match in the United States, on May 7, 1934, against bantamweight contender and Canadian flyweight champion Bobby Leitham. Most notably, Rocky Marciano’s professional debut took place at the Valley Arena Gardens on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1947; the venue also served as the ring for many other well-known fighters including Beau Jack, Fritzie Zivic, and Tony DeMarco.

Prior to his professional career, one of Mike Tyson’s earliest fights was at the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club on February 12, 1983. As the 8th ranked amateur super-heavyweight in the country at the age of 16, Tyson won the fight handily with a knock-out and gained the Western Massachusetts Golden Gloves title. The Golden Gloves tournament was held in Holyoke from 1958 until 2005, when it was relocated to Vernon, Connecticut. Following an 8-year departure, it returned briefly to the city, but ultimately moved to Springfield, MA.

Arts and Culture in the City

For more information, periodically check out ExploreHolyoke.com!

Día de los Reyes/Three Kings Day

Thursday, January 4th, 5pm-8pm

Nueva Esparanza brings the community together to celebrate Día de los Reyes (Day of the Kings), which celebrates the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to Jesus after his birth. Nueva Esparanza holds a dinner with music, entertainment, dancing, and gives out toys to the children in the community. For more information, to sponsor, or donate visit www.nuevaofholyoke.org

St. Patrick’s Day Road Race

Saturday, March 16th

1PM-3PM – for more information: holyokestpatricksroadrace.org

Our 10K Road Race has grown from less than two hundred runners in 1976 to become the largest race in Western New England with nearly 6,000 competing for cash prizes. The early support given by Olympians Bill Rogers, who won the first three races, and Frank Shorter helped to establish this race as a quality event. Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Road Race is the kickoff to a weekend full of fun, family and festivities!

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Sunday, March 17th

Begins at 11:30am – for parade route information: holyokestpatricksparade.com

Since 1955, hundreds of thousands of people turn out for the biggest homecoming in town to watch the St. Patrick’s Parade make its way down the streets of Holyoke! Leading the parade each year is the Grand Marshal, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a resident of our city or a member of the Committee who is of Irish ancestry. Similarly, the recipient of the annual John F. Kennedy National Award takes a place of honor in the parade. Originally presented in 1958 as the Outstanding American of Irish Descent, it was renamed in 1964 to honor the first recipient, John F. Kennedy who was then a Senator soon to be the President of the United States. Beginning in 1955 a Grand Colleen and her court has reigned over the annual parade from a majestic float that carries them along the nearly three-mile parade route. Whether you’re a lifelong fan, new to town or living halfway across the world, you won’t want to miss a moment of this beloved community event!

Holyoke Farmers Market

May-October & December-March

The Holyoke Farmers Market is the oldest running farmers market in the country! For nearly 50 years the market has been providing local farmers, crafters, and the community a place to support one another and provide accessible produce to our low-moderate income families and residents. Our Market Manager, Alexis Diaz Dejesus, is passionate about food equity and food education and works to ensure that all citizens of Holyoke can access fresh and affordable produce. The Holyoke Farmers Market is currently the only HIP access point in the City and one of the only bilingual markets in the area! Visit www.holyokechamber.com/elmercado for times and locations.

Holyoke Pride

Saturday, June 22nd

Local businesses, musicians, and performers
gather in Veterans Park and honor our strong and
growing LGBTQIA+ community! For vendor opportunities, to donate, sponsor, or to be a part of the fun
visit www.holyokepride.org.

El Noche de San Juan

Saturday, June 15th

Nueva Esperanza leads El Noche de San Juan as a way to pay homage to Holyoke’s large Puerto Rican population. Held the third Saturday in June in Carlos Vega Park, celebrating with the community over free food, music, kid-friendly activities, and a free salsa dancing class! For more information, visit www.nuevaofholyoke.org.

Holyoke Rotary Summer Concert Series

Wednesday’s beginning in July

5:30PM-8PM

Each summer, the Holyoke Rotary brings FREE summer concert series to Heritage State Park! Featuring local food, the community can enjoy a bite to eat while drinking an icy brew or soda and listening to popular local bands! Bring your blanket, or lawn chair and have a great time!

Patronales

August 1, 2, 3, & 4th

A team of Puerto Rican leaders started the Las Patronales festival in 2022, which brought in over four days, 200,000 people into the city! With popular Puerto Rican acts, the entire city and tourists from all over the nation came to Holyoke to dance, eat, and celebrate Puerto Rican culture. Now into its third year, this has proven to be a fun, cultural, and economically driving festival for our community! For more information, visit www.nuevaofholyoke.org.

Doors Open Holyoke

October 12th

Doors Open Holyoke provides the community and tourists alike the opportunity to walk through different Holyoke businesses, points-of-interest, churches, and more! Loaded with historic context and architecture - this is a great way to explore the city and see places you may not always have the chance to see.

Great Holyoke Brick Race

October 12th

Racing into its 13th year, the Great Holyoke Brick Race drives dozens of people onto Race Street to witness artful and eclectic bricks racing for the number one spot! The Brick Race boldly runs in honor of one of the originators, the late and great Dean Nimmer.

Paper City Food Festival

October 12th

Moving into its 4th year, the Paper City Food Festival takes place on the Appleton/Suffolk block on High Street and showcases dozens of local food, vendors, and a variety of local music acts! This is a great event that unifies the community and businesses alike.

Children’s Museum Holyoke

444 Dwight Street

413-536-7048

The Children’s Museum at Holyoke is one of the most popular destinations from across the state. Located in Heritage State Park the museum is situated alongside the historic Merry-Go-Round. We have over 30 exhibits including a new stem-based world of motion room, the curvy climber, water table, air maze and much more. Additionally, we are home to a very extensive PEZ collection. Families can pack a lunch and spend the day. Over 50,000 people visit the museum each year. For more information, visit our website at www.childrensmuseum.holyoke.org.

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm

Admission: $8.00 for adults and children/$5.00for seniors/children under 1 are free

El Corazón de Holyoke

El Corazón de Holyoke is a public art installation displayed throughout Main Street, which holds much of Holyoke’s Latinx heritage. The concept of the art project is a cultural appreciation for Holyoke’s rich Puerto Rican ancestry and to uplift the community to bring back hope and activity as we begin to embrace new life post-pandemic. With the talents of local artists, El Corazón de Holyoke illustrates the importance of cultural identity, resilience, and joy while carrying the stories of their ancestors forward. In Spring 2022 and Summer 2023, Beyond Walls enlisted several Latinx and cultural artists to bring extraordinary murals onto High Street and throughout the Puerto Rican cultural district.

Holyoke Merry-Go-Round

221 Appleton Street

413-538-9838

Hours: Every weekend 12:00pm-4:00pm; Summer hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30am-4:00pm; Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm

About 150 antique merry-go-rounds exist in North America and 1 very special one has a home in Holyoke. Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, a recent recipient of the National Carousel Association’s 2018 Historic Award, is still in working order and can be ridden by children, families, and carousel devotees at Holyoke Heritage State Park. The carousel and original band organ were restored and moved to the city park over 25 years ago after spending 65 years at Holyoke’s Mountain Park. The ride is handicapped accessible and open to the public on weekends, holidays, and school vacations, September through June from 12 -4 pm, and in the summer Tuesdays through Saturdays 10:30 am til 4:00 pm and Sundays 12 - 4 pm.

The Merry-Go-Round can be rented for private family & corporate parties, weddings, children’s birthday parties & school field trips. Rides are only $2 per person. Summer camps, daycare & non-profit group rates are $1.50 per person.

For more information regarding private rates as well as information regarding upcoming fun & family events log on to www.holyokemerrygoround.org. You can also find us on Facebook!

Wistariahurst Museum

Wistariahurst is a cultural and educational center owned and operated by the City of Holyoke and supported by Historic Holyoke at Wistariahurst. Wistariahurst is dedicated to preserving Holyoke’s history and inspiring an appreciation of history and culture through educational programs, exhibits and special events. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Wistariahurst is the former home of William Skinner, a prominent silk manufacturer and was built in 1874.

The buildings and grounds were owned continually by the Skinner family until 1959, when Katharine Skinner Kilborne, the youngest child of William and Sarah Skinner, and her heirs gave Wistariahurst to the City of Holyoke for cultural and educational purposes.

Today, Wistariahurst offers a wide variety of public programs and events including: workshops, concerts, lectures and demonstrations and serves the community through educational programs, community partnerships, history projects, and outreach activities.

Parks and Recreation

Holyoke is home to a wide array of municipal, state, and private land trust parks. The largest of these is Springdale Park, is home to the annual Western Massachusetts Puerto Rican Parade and Festival. In total the city department of parks and recreation maintains 47 listed municipal facilities comprising nearly 250 acres, and including several baseball diamonds, playgrounds, a skatepark, basketball courts, tennis courts, a municipal pool, and a dog park.

The Holyoke Water Works also maintains land holdings for the preservation of its watershed, some of which are open to the public, including Ashley Reservoir and Whiting Street Reservoir, which allow hiking, but bar certain activities such as fishing, dog walking, and swimming. This same area, which transects the Metacomet Ridge, also contains a portion of the New England National Scenic Trail, managed by the National Park Service.

There are two state parks in Holyoke maintained by the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation, the largest being the Mount Tom State Reservation, as well as the urban Holyoke Heritage State Park which was built on the site of the former Skinner Silk Mill, adjacent to City Hall.

The Trustees of Reservations maintain several parks in the city, including the Dinosaur Footprints Reservation, Land of Providence, and Little Tom Mountain. The latter, once part of the Mount Tom Ski Area, has remained closed since the ski resort shuttered in 1998, and was subsequently purchased in part by the Trustees, along with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club.

In recent years there has been discussion of reopening the property as a nature camp, or potentially as a special permit skiing area, however while some have still used the remaining ski slopes in recent years, the area has been subject to vandalism and remains closed with no plans for reopening agreed by its landholders.

at the corner of Beech and Appleton Streets

413-534-5631

The birthplace of Volleyball! The Greater Holyoke YMCA is home to two pools, swimming programs for all ages, 50+ exercise classes each week a Preschool, before-and after-school Child Care, Child Watch, Kid Zone, strength training equipment, volleyball leagues, YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, senior wellness, a masters swimming club and more. But We’re More Than a Gym. We’re a Cause. Though the world may be unpredictable, one thing remains certain – the Y is, and always will be, dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families, and communities. Join us! Visit our website at www.HolyokeYMCA.org.

Holyoke Mall

Located in the heart of the Pioneer Valley, Holyoke Mall is the premier shopping and entertainment destination in Western Massachusetts. Positioned at the crossroads of New England, the shopping center is accessible from both I-90 and I-91, welcoming visitors throughout Western Massachusetts.

At 1.6 million square-feet, Holyoke Mall is one of the largest centers in the Northeast and features a dynamic mix of 130 retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. With innovation in mind, the center remains focused on providing guests with an all-inclusive, one-stop shopping experience.

Holyoke Mall leads the industry as the retail landscape continues to shift and reshape by introducing experiential retail, entertainment venues, and more dining option. While dining, entertainment, and services are a current focus, shopping remains at the heart of the center.

Traditional retail will satisfy any shopaholic with a wide array of retail locations from local to national brands. Featured tenants include Apple, Build-A-Bear, Earthbound Trading Company, Five Below, and Yankee Candle, along with beloved department stores Best Buy, JCPenney, Macy’s, and Target.

The shopping center offers 19 dining locations including three full-service restaurants: 110 Grill, Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub, and Sumo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar. Additionally, food court tenants feature local and national favorites such as Charley’s Philly Steak, OneZo, and The Greek Place.

Holyoke Mall has continued its expansion into the entertainment space over the last five years.

Indoor adventure park, Altitude Trampoline Park, provides family-fun and fitness and features trampolines, dodgeball, climbing structures, and a battle beam. Round1 Bowling and Amusement, located on the lower level in Center Court, features bowling, arcades, billiards, karaoke, ping pong as well as a full bar and dining. Indoor play area, Billy Beez, encourages children of all ages, and their families, to bounce, climb, crawl, and create lasting memories together.

Holyoke Medical Center

Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) is committed to setting a new standard in patient care for the families of Western Massachusetts. A nationally accredited hospital, HMC is the first and only hospital in Western Massachusetts to obtain the prestigious accomplishment of becoming certified in the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. The Medical Center also received the Top Hospital Award in 2020, 2016, and 2014 from the Leapfrog Group for excellence in quality of care and patient safety. This full-service hospital provides a complete line of inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services, including a newly constructed state-of-the-art emergency department with an award-winning Stroke Service.

The Center for Behavioral Health, located on the HMC campus, includes three adult inpatient service units, outpatient behavioral health therapy services, and a partial hospitalization program. Two of the inpatient units were constructed in 2021 to provide best-in-class care in a purpose-built facility, specifically tailored to accommodate the needs of behavioral health patients with all of the modern requirements, including secure outdoor space.

The more than 330-strong medical staff includes on-site physician practices such as: Cardiovascular Specialists; Comprehensive Care Center (Addiction Treatment and Recovery Support); Endocrinology & Diabetes Center; Gastroenterology; General & Specialty Surgeons; Infectious Disease Management; Kidney Associates; Musculoskeletal Spine Center & Pain Management Center; Neurology & Sleep; OB/GYN & Midwifery; Oncology Center; Orthopedic Center; Pulmonology Center; Rheumatology; The Institute for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery; Thoracic Surgeons & Lung Cancer Screening Program; TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Therapy; Urology Center; Vascular Center; Weight Management Program; Wound Care Center; and The Work Connection, which provides comprehensive occupational medical services to local employers.

Holyoke Medical Center is a member of Valley Health Systems, which also includes the affiliates Holyoke Medical Group, Holyoke Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice Life Care, and River Valley Counseling Center.  

Holyoke Medical Group is a physician group with the mission to provide medical services, including Adult and Pediatric Primary Care Services, Family Medicine, and Walk-In Care to the residents of the Pioneer Valley. Walk-In Care Centers are located at 1962 Memorial Drive in Chicopee and 140 Southampton Road in Westfield.

The Holyoke VNA is dedicated to serving Hampden and Hampshire counties and through their varied programs and services, provides the best in quality home care. Hospice Life Care provides compassionate care to terminally ill patients throughout the Pioneer Valley at home, assisted living, or in long-term care facilities. Hospice Life Care addresses not only the physical dimensions of terminal illness, but also the practical, emotional and spiritual.

Since 1953, River Valley Counseling Center has been changing lives and empowering our community throughout the Pioneer Valley. RVCC believes that you have a say in feeling better, and active participation can make all the difference to your emotional wellbeing. That’s why the behavioral health team establishes true partnerships with every client. They work with you to determine the course of treatment and offer compassionate, respectful, community-based care and rehabilitative services for children, individuals, couples and families.