by Laurel | March 17th, 2014
17 March 2014
This house located at 10 Beaudoin Terrace, is noted in the MACRIS database as the Foster Wilson House or the Richard H. Dietz House. The MACRIS info file dates it’s build year as 1886, it is a single family Colonial Revival. It looks to be a nice property on an acre+ lot, the house itself is said to be 3526 SF. An aerial view of the property:
The Holyoke City Directories have Foster Wilson associated with this property from 1885 – 1887, although his wife remained in the house after his early death in 1887 until about 1895. During the earlier years the address was referred to as Easthampton Road near Jarvis, assuming this was prior to Beaudoin Terrace existing as an official street. In all, Foster Wilson was in Holyoke for a total of only about ten years. An announcement of a book he published (now available online) and his obituary follow:
21 July 1879 — Foster Wilson of the Lyman Mills has just published a valuable book called the “Cotton Carder’s Companion,” which gives a good deal of information in regard to Cotton and the way it is worked.
11 April 1887 –Foster Wilson died at his home on the Easthampton Road, Saturday morning at 1:20, of Bright’s disease of the kidneys. Mr. Wilson came to Holyoke from Lowell about 10 years ago, and was employed by the Lyman Mills Corporation, being an overseer for a number of years. He bought a place on the Easthampton Road a few years ago, which he has since carried on. Mr. Wilson was born at Hudson, NH, and was 59 years old. He leaves a widow, a son and a daughter. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Church, and had a wide circle of friends. The funeral will be held from his late home this afternoon at 2 o’clock.
In 1896, Richard H. Dietz begins to appear as owner of the house and remains there through his death in 1935. He was a notable Holyoke citizen and owned a number of bakeries. His obituary follows:
08 December 1935 — Richard H. Dietz, Known as Baker, Dies at Holyoke — Native of Germany Came to Holyoke in 1881 — Was Active in Civic and Fraternal Affairs.
Richard H. Dietz, 72, well-known baker of Western new England, died late this afternoon at his home on the Easthampton road after a short illness. He was one of Holyoke’s best known citizens. He had held the presidency of the Tri-State Bakers association and was a charter member of the Holyoke Lodge of Elks. In politics he had been a Democrat though liberal in his political views. He served as alderman from ward 3 in 1896 and later was park commissioner under Mayor N. P. Avery.
Mr. Dietz was born in Crimmitschau, Germany, on June 16, 1863. He attended public schools there and when 14 years old left school to become a baker. He saved money and was able to come to this country in 1881. He went to work as a weaver in the Skinner Silk Mills.
Established a Shop
In 1883 he went back to the baking business and established a little shop at Park and Jackson Streets. Soon he secured larger quarters at Bridge and Adams Streets and in 1889 built a block on Park Street. In 1899 he sold his block and acquired property at 440 High Street, subsequently buying out a bakery across the street. In 1910 he established a bakery at Springfield and in 1918 merged his business with the Massachusetts Baking Company, which in 1918 was bought by the Continental Baking Company.
In 1887 he married Miss Bertha Glassmann. they had five boys and two girls. the sons are Walter of newton, general manager of the Hathaway Baking Company; Herman of this city, manager of the Springfield branch of the same company; Edwin, in a similar position in Long Island; Richard, Jr., superintendent of the Hathaway plant in Springfield, and Rudolph, in the motor business at Boston. The daughters are Mrs. Emil Atmus of Springfield and Mrs. William Muenter of Holyoke. He also leaves 15 grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Wilhelmina Balkemer of West Holyoke.
The funeral will be held at the home Tuesday afternoon at 2:30. Rev. E. P. Merkel of Easthampton will officiate and burial will be in Forestdale Cemetery.
Adapted, in part from The Springfield Republican, Other sources include Holyoke City Directories, MACRIS Database, Ancestry, Bing Maps.