Holyoke, Mass

A Look Back — Churchill View

by Laurel | April 4th, 2010

Churchill View, James R. Smith & Bobby McKenna

It has been a while since I have posted, lots going on here, including the recent death of my father.

While sorting through old photos, I came across this image which is one of my favorites. On the left is my dad, James R. Smith and on the right is Bobby McKenna. This photo was taken mid 1930’s by my estimate and the location is behind the buildings on the corner of Jackson and High Streets, in Churchill, where my father and countless other relations lived.

The beagles belonged to my grandfather, not sure about the pups, but the adult dogs — parents of these puppies — were named Heather Belle and Rob Roy, apropos coming from a Scottish immigrant. This was way before my time, but family legend laughed about my father practicing the bagpipes with beagles howling along much to the annoyance of some people. If you have ever heard howling beagle dogs, you will know what I mean.

Bobby McKenna moved away from Holyoke not too many years after this photo was taken, Dad told me. I do not think Bobby McKenna finished school in Holyoke, but I always thought it would be nice for his family to have seen this picture.

2 Responses to “A Look Back — Churchill View”

Holyoke Home says:

April 4, 2010 at 12:01 pm

I am so very sorry to hear about your dad. Thank you for posting and sharing that wonderful image with your fans during this difficult time.
john says:

April 10, 2010 at 7:31 pm

Thanks! Great photo and story.

Sorry to hear about your father. My wife passed away several years ago on the 4th of April – the day you posted.

Any photos or stories about the canals?

thanks

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Suggested Holyoke Books

Mountain Park -- The Holyoke destination we all loved.

Mount Holyoke College, Postcard History by Donna Albino. Many Holyoke women have attended Mount Holyoke. Author also maintains an amazing MHC website based upon her personal collection.

Holyoke-Chicopee: A Perspective, by Ella Merkel DiCarlo. DiCarlo, a former Transcript columnist offers a fascinating compilation of her essays. Published in 1982, this out-of-print book is worth looking for in the aftermarket.

Holyoke, by Craig Della Penna. The first Holyoke book in the Arcadia series, published in 1997.

Belle Skinner Collection, by Ruth Isabel Skinner. Published in 1933, this book is long out of print but copies are still available in the aftermarket.