This photo offers a glimpse into life in Holyoke in May 1888, around the time of the town’s incorporation. Some of the businesses that can be recognized in the photo looking north on “Inter-ocean Avenue,” over half a mile south of the railroad depot, include J.M. Whitham Hardware, Logan County News (Phillips County wasn’t formed until 1889), the post office, a drug store (possibly J.A.V. Price & Co.) and a farm loans office (possibly Wm. C. Robinson’s). The windmill at the end of the street is probably at one of the two public wells put down on Holyoke’s main street in 1887. The Nov. 8, 1887, issue of the Logan County News says, “We thought the News office was isolated when we commenced to build and Mr. Whitham was our only neighbor, but since then we have been encroached upon by buildings until our block is almost solidly built up and puts us in the center of business.” The News reported on May 22, 1888, eight months after “the first nail was driven in commencing to build the town, being the 22nd day of September last,” that the number of business houses and residences was 123 and the population was about 800. — Source: Phillips County Museum
Peekin' into the Past
Five Years Ago — May 21, 2015
Holyoke City Council decided that it is no longer interested in negotiating on the First Pioneer replat or the O’Neal drainage pit. The decision was made at a special council meeting May 13.
Strong wind or possible microburst destruction was reported in the southeast part of Holyoke May 15 and 16, with the most significant being the roof of the old bus garage that was peeled off the building on the southwest corner of the football field. Multiple funnel clouds were sighted in the county, but no known tornado touchdowns were recorded.
Ten Years Ago — May 20, 2010
K-9 Ace, the newest member of Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, has been out and about learning the tricks of the trade. Deputy Michael Grant acts as the primary handler and said Ace has done about 75 searches so far. Those mainly include trial searches during his training.
Abbey Christmas and Michelle Chichester of Colorado Preservation Inc. began traveling around rural Phillips County on May 11, looking at different buildings, taking photographs and documenting locations. They will spend much of the summer months researching and surveying the county’s rural historic sites.
HHS senior Nicole Brandt was recently recognized as the 10th-place winner in the national Stock Market Game InvestWrite essay contest. She also earned first place in Colorado’s spring 2010 competition and was honored for her accomplishments at the Colorado Stock Market Game awards ceremony May 12 at the Denver Zoo.
Twenty-Five Years Ago — May 25, 1995
D.Ann Dorris will fill the position of director of nursing at Melissa Memorial Hospital, which was left vacant by the sudden death of Charla Berry. Dorris began her duties two weeks ago.
Handmade items made by Indians in Mexico will be featured in wide variety at Peña’s Artisans Mexicans (Artisanias Mexicanas), a new business scheduled to open in early June in Holyoke. Sergio and Socorro Peña will be opening the store at 430 E. Denver St.
Highline Electric Association and the City of Holyoke are in the preliminary stages of negotiating a land transfer which may lead to both organizations changing sites, but not until 1997.
Fifty Years Ago — May 21, 1970
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst will observe the 60th anniversary of the organization of its congregation on Sunday, May 24, with a special anniversary service.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has accelerated plans, announced last February, to put serial numbers on all food coupons used in the Food Stamp program. New coupons provided by USDA are being numbered like dollar bills to make it easier for investigators to track down stolen coupons and others used fraudulently.
Seventy-Five Years Ago — May 24, 1945
The second band concert of the summer season will be presented Saturday night under the direction of Miss Dorothy Litch. It will start promptly at 8:30 p.m. on the courthouse square. Come in and do your trading early in the evening.
As a protection for the nation’s small supply of tires, tire dealers will be required, beginning June 1, to maintain current records and to take a monthly inventory to establish accountability for tires and tire certificates, the Office of Price Administration announced. The new requirements will help enforcement agents uncover illegal transfers of tires.