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Date: 6/10/2016
I started working at the late and lamented WREB in downtown Holyoke in May of 1982. Across the street from the studios was Ryback’s Market, a full service grocery store. Around the corner across from City Hall was the block was Steiger’s Department Store, the first location established by Albert Steiger. Down the street was Duncan McLean’s Bakery, a busy place that made and sold Scottish meat pies – delicious.
The Bank of Boston had an imposing building on High Street, which, if I remember correctly, was its headquarters for Western Massachusetts. Schermerhorn’s Seafood was close to the studio and a favorite place for lunch. At least once a week, I went to Shirl’s Record Whirl to check out what albums were in her sales bin.
Oscar Bail and Son was a great sponsor for the station and was a wonderful shoe store also on High Street.
These businesses and others helped make up the fabric for what had been Holyoke’s downtown shopping district. I don’t recall the real glory days of High Street, though. Holyokers would explain to me that on Thursday nights, with store’s extended shopping hours, in the 1930s, ‘40s and into the ‘50s and ‘60s, the sidewalks could be shoulder to shoulder. It was a shopping destination not just for the residents of the Paper City, but also for other towns.
The Holyoke Mall, of course, along with the publicity of crime in the city, killed the final vestiges of High Street’s glory.
Haberman’s Hardware was the last business standing of those anchor companies and I was saddened to hear of the store’s intention to close its doors.
Haberman’s was one of a kind when it came to hardware stores – a place where you could buy items for a modern day home, but also a store that catered to the needs of older homes. It certainly saved me several times.
You would walk in, tell the person behind the counter – most likely someone with the last name of Haberman – what you needed and he would direct you to the items or get it for you.
I once required a small threaded metal piece that held a lamp fixture together. No one had it. I walked into Haberman’s, was warmly greeted by Hal Haberman who took one look at my item and said, “Lamp nipple.” He brought me over to an aisle, opened a drawer and asked me how many I needed.
I loved that.
The health of downtown districts has been one of the most consuming issues for residents of many communities, its elected officials and urban planners for the last 40 years. Downtowns thrived because they were the center of government, the courts, employment and housing.
In Holyoke‘s case High Street was just steps away from many of of the city’s factories. There were homes also within easy walking distance. Take away the jobs – the exodus started after World War II – and collapse began.
A few years ago the Urban Land Institute came to Springfield to look at its downtown. The conclusion of the study was pretty simple: downtowns must be neighborhoods.
If people live downtown, they will be the necessary audience for stores and services, which will be attracted to the area.
Homes must come first.
In Holyoke there is certainly that effort to reclaim housing near High Street.
In another few years one might see a real renaissance of the area.
It’s just too bad that Haberman’s won’t be around to service the needs of those homeowners.
As Hal told me, though, 89 years has been “a damn good run.”
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