Holyoke, Mass

[Adapted from the Berkshire Eagle, 21 February 1957.]

A 23-year-old Western Mass. Electric Co. employee was injured at 9:30 this morning when a company truck was truck by a car on Route 143 in Peru, state ploice reported.

Eugene Murphy Jr. of 64 Stoddard Ave., who was in the rear of the parked truck, sustained a cut on the forehead when the vehicle recoiled from the impact.  He was treated by a company doctor.

Two of five Holyoke-area teenagers in the car were injured, neither seriously.  The driver, Donald R. Leclair, 17, of Holyoke, suffered a sprained wrist and bruised knee.  Norman Girouard of Aldenville received bruised to the knee and thigh.  There were treated by Dr. Ralph Mosonella of Dalton.

Other passengers who escaped injury were Raymond Provost of Holyoke and Norman Nadeau and Calde Flardeau, both of Willimansett.  The five were going to a funeral in North Adams.

The electric company truck was parked at the side of the road while crewmen were working on lines in the vicinity.  Warning markers had been placed along the road, state police said.

Trooper Francis Reardon investigated the accident.

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[Adapted rom the Berkshire Eagle, 18 February 1957.]

Mrs. Elizabeth Reardon Prendergast of Holyoke died Saturday morning in Providence Hospital, following a brief illness.  She was the widow of Patrolman Michael J. Prendergast of the Holyoke Police force.

Survivors include a son, Sgt. Edward M. Prendergast, a state policemen stationed at the Lee barracks.

Mrs. Prendergast was born in Florence, educated in Northampton schools and was a graduate of Northampton Commercial College.  She was an original member of Holy Cross parish, Holyoke.

Services will be conducted tomorrow morning at 8:15 at the John B. Shea Funeral Home, 693 Dwight St., Holyoke, followed at 9 by a Solemn High Mass of Requiem at Holy Cross Church.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Northampton.  Friends may call at the funeral home at their convenience.

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[Adapted rom The Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), 17 February 1955.]

Funeral services for Mrs. Alice Cowan, late resident of 738 S. Mitchell, Arlington Heights, were held February 15 at her residence with Rev. Stuart C. Saul officiating.  Black’s Memorial home was in charge of arrangements.  Interment was in Forestdale Cemetery, Holyoke, Mass.

Mrs. Cowan died February 14 at Sherman hospital, Elgin, at the age of 65.  She was born June 17, 1885 in Concord, NH., and was married to William Arthur Cowan, December 28, 1904. in Hookset, New Hampshire.  She is survived by her children, James T. Cowan of Bellows Falls, N.Y., Mrs. Ruth Riley of Alrington Heights and Mrs. O. Arthur Aslaksen of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

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[Adapted from the Berkshire Eagle, 13 February 1959.]

Holyoke, Mass.—The mayor and superintendent of schools today challenged the Civil Liberties Union for its stand against the temporary use of public school facilities for parochial school pupils.

The Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts protested yesterday that free city housing recently provided for Roman Catholic parochial school classes violates the principle of church-state separation in the federal and state constitutions.

Mayor Samuel Resnic, who is of the Jewish faith, declared; “I’d do it again.  We’re just observing Brotherhood Week—and how better?”

School Head Defiant

School Superintendent William R. Peck said Holyoke residents can settle their own problems without “outside dictation.” continue reading

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