Holyoke, Mass

24 Feb 2014

MACRIS Image: Gustave Schubach – Edward W. Battersby House
59-61 Ridgewood Ave
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Photograph date estimate: 1970’s

The MACRIS database cites the historic name of this residence as the Gustave Schubach – Edward W. Battersby House, located at 59-61 Ridgewood Avenue in Oakdale. The house is reported to have been built about 1915 and is categorized as a multiple family dwelling house in the colonial revival style. From my research, however, both of these families lived in this house for a relatively short time and I have not found any evidence regarding their actual ownership. The 59-61 Ridgewood Ave. address did not appear in the 1915 and 1916 City Directories, but shows up for the first time in 1917 with the residents recorded as James H. Chambers (59) and Mrs. Flora Martin (61).

Edward Wade Battersby was born in 1898, in Holyoke, His father Frederick W. Battersby was from England and his mother, Fanny Wade was born in Lawrence, MA. Edward Battersby lived at 61 Ridgewood Avenue only from 1921-1922, though for the years 1923-1924 he remained on Ridgewood Ave., moving to number 19. Battersby’s career was clerical, over time becoming a bookkeeper.

Gustave Schubach was born in Holyoke in 1893, the son of Paul C. Schubach and Anna Buchold. The Schubach family lived at 59 Ridgewood Ave from 1921 to 1926 and potentially part of of 1927 as the residence is recorded as vacant that year in the Holyoke City Directory. So it is interesting that both the Schubach and the Battersby families lived together in this building during the years 1921 – 1922.  From 1928 until his death in 1957, Gustave Schubach lived  at 77 Norwood Terrace, a house not even recorded as built in the 1927 Holyoke City Directory.

59-61 Ridgewood Ave Taken about 2011 (Morse – Pluta political signage is on the street) From Google

59-61 Ridgewood Ave Taken about 2011 (Morse – Pluta political signage is on the street) From Google

So I do find it a little unusual that the “historic name” for this building would be the Gustave Schubach – Edward W. Battersby House, considering Schubach lived there a total of about six years and Battersby only two. Of course it could well be that ownership was maintained by one or the other for years and the place was an income producing rental, or some notable event happened there. If you know anything further, please enlighten me.

Names of other residents in this building (over time) include: James H. Chambers, Harry & Dora Martin, Frederick L. Weber, Samuel Epstein, Mrs. Mary Epstein; Roman J. Folta, Frank J. Merkle, Wallace H. Lilly, Robert H. Kelly, James J. Curran, William H. O’Connor, Harry L. Cady.

Now oddly enough, both the Battersby and Schubach surnames appear in my family genealogy database, so I have at hand some research on both. However Gustave Schubach is a closer connection, via a marriage on my father’s paternal side of the family,  and has some interesting history so I’ve decided to share a few tidbits about Gustave (or Gustav as his name often appears). I’m certain some of this will jog your memory.

Gustave Schubach, born 18 Jan 1893 in Holyoke, grew up on Main and Bridge Streets. He was the fourth of five children born to Paul C. Schubach and Anna Buchold.  On 05 October 1915 Gustave married Lepha Brunelle, in Holyoke. At the time Gustave’s occupation was machinist and  Lepha was a  paper mill operator. They had two daughters, Mae, born in 1917 (eventually she married Ernest R. Lafond), and Doris Virginia Schubach, born in 1924. By 1930 Gustave is recorded on the Federal Census as being proprietor of a machine shop and it remains the same on the 1940 Census.

Gustave Schubach
About 1944

Gustave Schubach, however, had other interests and one was figure skating. Although he was not a figure skater himself, Gustave trained his daughter Doris and her partner Walter Noffke (later, Walter & Doris married) which led them to many wins, notably 4 consecutive wins at the United States Figure Skating Association’s annual tests.By 1945 Gustave Schubach was named Professional Instructor for  the Ice Birds of Springfield — at this time the Ice Birds had a membership of 236 and owned their own rink and property in Springfield on State Street and Roosevelt ave. One of the magazine covers featuring Doris and Walter for the year 1943:

Skating, Vol. 20, No. 5
Cover Photo: Doris Schubach and Walter Noffke Win Again,
1943

Finally, in closing, an excerpt from Gustave Schubach’s obituary dated 11 December 1957: Gustave Schubach, 64, 77 Norwood Terrace, died suddenly late Monday night in his home from a heart attack. A life-long resident of this city he was born 18 Jan 1893, son of the late Paul and Anna (Buchold) Schubach and was educated in the local public schools., For the past 33 years he operated the P & A Machine Co. on Race Street, and formerly was employed as head of the maintenance department at White & Wyckoff Co. He was a member of the Holyoke Turn Verein and the Figure Skating Club of Springfield.

Mr. Schubach trained his daughter Mrs. Doris Noffke, in figure skating and in later years, along with her husband, Mr. Walter Noffke, they were named national senior figure skating champions. he leaves his wife, Mrs. Lepha (Brunelle) Schubach, two daughters, Mrs. Mae Lafond of this city and Mrs. Noffke of Granby, two brothers, Paul of Westfield and Robert of Willimansett, one sister, Mrs. Lillian Farquhar of this city, five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held at the Alger funeral home Thursday at 2, Rev.  Ralph R. Thierolf will officiate. Cremation will follow in Springfield Cemetery.

Sources: Holyoke City Directories, 1915 – 1964; U.S. Federal Census, 1920, 1930, 1940;The Springfield Republican; Skating Magazine (personal collection); Massachusetts Cultural Resources Information System (MACRIS database), Google street images.