Holyoke’s New City Barn

by Laurel | December 27th, 2011

27 December 1908

An Up-to-Date Structure

Combines Stable, Storage Facilities, Blacksmith Shop and Many Other Details.

The board of public works are now occupying the new city barn and have, in the building a structure which fills the various need of the department and which will eventually prove a saving investment for the city. The old ramshackle buildings have been either removed or remodeled and back from Commercial street a 1 1/2 story brick building has been erected running the full length of the lot and forming the back of a square of city buildings. At the back of the building run the railroad tracks and the cars can be unloaded on to the large elevator and the contents of the cars elevated to any one of the floors in the new barn. Facing Commercial street the remodeled building constructed from the old barn is located with the pumping machines. The building is heated from a furnace in the basement and there is room for the storage of tools. On the top floor a harness-room has been prepared, where the wet harness can be taken, dried and oiled. On the right side of the square the wagon sheds are located and on the left side there are other sheds, one being used for the storage of the sand used for the streets. The new building has been arranged to offer every convenience in the transaction of business. On the outside is the runway for the horses, the horses being stabled on the second floor where there are accommodations for 30. On the left side of the first floor of the building is the blacksmith shop with forge where the repair work on the apparatus owned by the department is done. In the center of the building is the electric elevator, which is tested to carry over 4000 pounds and which not only moves the freight and goods used by the department to any floor, but which is used to carry the sprinkling wagons and other apparatus to the storage-room on the top floor. On the right side of the first floor is the carpenter and paint-shop, which is fixed to take care of whatever woodwork it is necessary to do, and the painting of the department wagons is also done in this room. The shop is equipped with a band and buzz saw, a drill and a planer, the power being furnished by an electric motor. A horse clipping machine is to be installed and also an emery wheel for sharpening the calks on horseshoes. On the right side of the second floor the stables are located, the department having at present about 15 horses housed there. On the left is the feed room with a bin capable of holding a carload of oats and a large space for hay. On the top floor at present the city watering carts are stored to the right while to the left a large space is left for the storage of various articles used by the department.

Fronting the elevator are large sliding doors and when these are thrown back team-loads can be backed into the elevator and unloaded with a minimum of labor. Taken together the plant is an ideal one, and one which he department has needed for some time, and the building is large enough to accommodate the growing needs of the department. The accommodations show a marked improvement of the former arrangements and the board has certainly got the worth of its money in the planning and erection of the present building.

Adapted from The Springfield Republican.

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