Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 2/13/2023
HOLYOKE — The city of Holyoke turns 150 this year and to celebrate, anniversary events throughout the whole year are scheduled for Paper City residents to celebrate their history.
Way back in March of 1873, the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved an Act to Establish the city of Holyoke. By April 4, the Act was signed by then state Senate President George B. Loring and on April 7, Gov. William Washburn signed the Act.
Finally, on May 29, 1873, by a vote of the town officers meeting in Parsons Hall, the city charter was officially voted on. The vote was 377 in favor of cityship and 17 voted against. The city of Holyoke was then born.
Now the city is prepping for a year of celebrations throughout the city to mark the milestone. Mayor Joshua Garcia presided over an official 150th anniversary kickoff in January. A formal dedication is planned for April to commemorate the city’s founding in 1873.
“As Holyoke works for a progressive and prosperous future, we never lose sight of our extraordinary past. The celebration of our sesquicentennial is yet another opportunity to come together as a city to affirm the contributions of the many cultures, individuals and industries that have made Holyoke uncommonly dynamic,” Garcia said.
The committee plans on partnering with other major Holyoke events such as the St. Patrick’s Parade and Road Race, Fourth of July fireworks, Doors Open Holyoke, Pride Fest, Fiestas Patronales de Holyoke, Paper City Food Fest and the City Hall Tree Lighting.
Office of Planning and Economic Development Director Aaron Vega is co-chair of the 150th Anniversary Planning Committee and is overseeing event set ups throughout the year. Vega explained the ommittee would be working on their own anniversary events as well as sponsor other annual events in Holyoke so they fall under the umbrella of the 150th celebration.
“We’re feeling excited,” Vega said about preparations for the year ahead. “What we’re doing is taking all the citywide events that return to celebrate Holyoke — the parade, Fiestas Patronales, Doors Open – under the umbrella.”
Last month at the Nueva Esperanza Three King’s Day celebration at Morgan Elementary School, a few members of the 150th Committee had a stand set up to provide more info to interested residents and begin spreading the word more about the year ahead. This served as a soft kick off to the year of events.
The next big event for the 150th celebration outside of the annual St. Patrick’s weekend will be a dedication event on April 6.
“That’s where our focus is right now. When the city was incorporated and when City Hall was built it was never dedicated to the city or to the state,” Vega said.
Vega added they are inviting newly elected Gov. Maura Healey and other local elected officials from Holyoke and surrounding communities to celebrate the milestone.
Another project the 150th committee is focused on that has generated the most buzz thus far is creating a time capsule for Holyoke in 2023 to be opened in 50 years.
“There was a time capsule done in 1973 the 100th anniversary, but it turns out it was never really done, or nobody can remember where it was put,” Vega said with a laugh.
Due to a learned lesson, this time the committee is planning on not burying the capsule but storing in it the City Hall Ballroom with information around why it is there.
“The plan is to have it open in 50 years. We went with 50 years because hopefully the children and the youth that are around today will be able to open it and say, ‘I remember that stuff, I remember when this happened. Maybe I’ll be around but I will be pushing over 100 so I’m not sure but hopefully our kids will be,” Vega said.
The capsule will feature different items from the city, but Vega noted they would soon be beginning reaching out to the public for feedback and ideas on what people want to see captured from this time period. Vega also said it would also feature information and potentially items related to life post coronavirus pandemic.
Other things that could be included feature a yearbook from the high school as well as annual reports from nonprofits, including Girls Inc. Feedback will be welcomed in this process according to Vega. Vega said the committee has joked the capsule should be looked at not as a capsule, but more like “the Ark, from ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’”
Another one of the big projects specifically being done by the 150th Committee is the creation of a gala event for the city for the fall. Vega added that while nothing is yet set for the fall, he believes any gala event would most likely be a multi-venue, multi-location event.
Vega also noted that some of the facets of the multi-venue event would be free while others would be charged. The committee is also looking to have the multi venue event be centered around City Hall and utilize the parks and surrounding neighborhoods.
As someone with deep ties to Holyoke and its community, Vega said he is looking forward to a year of gathering and celebrating the city’s birthday.
“I think it’s important to celebrate milestones and even more so now since the [coronavirus] pandemic has really changed how we all think about time and getting together and gathering,” Vega said. “For me, to really be part of sort of the last migration of parents who immigrated to the area and to recognize its history and its relationship to American history, we’re really proud of that. I think it’s a time for people to reflect on the history of it, but also for young people to recognize and understand the community that they’re part of because sometimes history gets lost on people.”
The city is looking for, “an army of volunteers and sponsors” throughout the year in different 150th anniversary celebrations. The Explore Holyoke website at exploreholyoke.com has a sign-up link for volunteers. In addition, the website will also provide the latest information on 150th anniversary happenings.
If you go to exploreholyoke.com you can find the 150th Anniversary tab on the home page which brings you to different resources about the year ahead, history about the city, and a full list of the city events planned throughout the year. Vega encourages the community to check out the website for all 150th information and general information about events and things to do in the city.