by Laurel | January 27th, 2014
27 January 2014
Edward O’Connor House
MACRIS Image, date unknown
This magnificent house is located at 1093 Dwight Street, on the northwest corner of Dwight St. and O’Connor Avenue. A Queen Anne Victorian, it was built in 1884, designed by architect George P. B. Alderman of Holyoke.
It was an interesting journey learning a little about prior owners of this house. The original, and perhaps the most interesting, owner of the house was Edward O’Connor. Initially it was difficult learning much at all about Edward O’Connor simply because there were numerous Edward O’Connors in Holyoke at that time and having no distinguishing middle initial to narrow down the field it was a challenge. However, the ability to access city directories turned out to be a tremendous asset, although even this was confusing because the address of 1093 Dwight Street was formerly denoted as 243 West Dwight Street, at least in some records. But the great thing about city directories is they often offer other clues and in this case 243 West Dwight was denoted as “at the cor of O’Connor.” Problem solved. Sort of.
Sparing readers the search quest, fortunately I was able to contact someone via e-mail who turned out to be a descendant of this family. She not only responded quickly but gave me details I did not have and some confirmation of what I had found in the city directory. (Many thanks to you for your help, Mary.)
Edward O’Connor House
Corner Dwight St. & O’Connor Ave
Built 1884, Queen Anne Victorian
Image © Llewellyn Lafford, all rights reserved
Edward O’Connor House
View from Dwight Street
Built in 1884, Queen Anne Victorian
Image © Llewellyn Lafford, all rights reserved
Anyone related to any of these people? Let us know!
Edward O’Connor was b. 23 September 1850 in Holyoke, MA, son of Edward O’Connor and Johanna Garvey. He owned E. O’Connor Men’s Furnishings High St., Holyoke. Edward O’Connor married (1) Mary Curran, who d. 25 Jun 1877 of typhoid fever in Holyoke and (2) Margaret Martin (1854-1940, in Michigan). Edward died 27 Aug 1887, his obituary follows:
Edward O’Connor, the well-known Holyoke clothing dealer, died at his Dwight Street residence Saturday night of gastric fever. Mr. O’Connor was 38 years olf, was born in Holyoke, had lived there all his life and was one of the best-known men in the city. He was a member of the board of aldermen in 1875 from Ward 5, served in the common council in 1878, and was again elected an alderman in 1884. He served the city as superintendent of streets in 1879 and 1880. He was a prominent member of the St. Jerome temperance society at one time and served as its president. Mr. O’Connor was always very active in its politics, an ardent democrat, although he supported Blaine at the last presidential election, and was an active worker for Mayor O’Connor [note Dr. J. J. O’Connor was a relative], during both of his municipal campaign. He leaves a widow and three children. the funeral well be attended tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock from St. Jerome Church.
Edward’s wife remained in the house for a few years after his death and then moved back to Michigan, where she was from originally. And while Edward died young and was out of the clothing line, his relatives — some with the same name — remained and continued on for many years with the E. O’Connor & Co. store, later found at 297 High Street.
Below is a 1911 picture of the O’Connor Ave – Dwight Street corner from Richard’s Atlas of the City of Holyoke, where at this point the O’Connor house is owned by Dr. E. J. Hussey. P.J. Murray is at 19-21 O’Connor Ave, and I believe this is the same person who was the interesting long term owner of The Bud. The green area at the bottom of the image is Holy Cross Church and Rectory.
O’Connor Avenue and Dwight Street
From Richards Atlas of the City of Holyoke, 1911Click on Image to Enlarge
Finally, this house is actually for sale. You can have a look at many interior as well as exterior shots of the home, pricing and listing agent information at the following link: 1093 Dwight Street.
Adapted in part from The Springfield Republican.
Black & white house photo from MACRIS.
