Date Of Visit: March 31, 2017
Location: 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA
Cost: Free, although there is a fee to enter or use some of the attractions at the park such as the Children’s Museum, Volleyball Hall Of Fame and the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round
Hours:
Park hours
Sunrise to sunset
Visitors center hours
Sunday:
12:00 pm-4:00 pm
Tuesday – Saturday:
12:00 pm-4:00 pm
Parking: Free onsite parking for about 50 cars is available in Visitors Center lot
Park Size/Difficulty: 7 acres/Easy
Handicapped Accessible: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are allowed
Highlights: merry-go-round, canal, children’s museum, volleyball hall of fame, easy trail, statue, picnic area, play area, guided tours of the area
Website: Holyoke Heritage State Park
Tip: From May through mid-October, the park offers hour-long narrated train rides on a 1920s vintage railroad on Saturday and Sunday.
Fun Facts:
- Holyoke is still known as the “paper city” because during the 19th century the city produced an estimated 80% of the writing paper used in the United States and was home to the largest paper and alpaca wool mills in the world
- Between 85% and 90% of Holyoke’s energy which is powered by the municipally owned canals pictured below was carbon neutral as of 2016
- Holyoke is also the birthplace of volleyball
Among the abandoned and dilapidated buildings of a once thriving mill town there is a special park that preserves the history of the area while providing family friendly entertainment and honoring their heroes.
The first building you notice upon entering the park is the Holyoke Merry Go Round. The affordable merry go round ($2 per ride) is very popular with children celebrating birthdays (perhaps I can have mine there). The merry go round, which was once part of Mountain Park (an amusement park that used to be located in the area), has been around in one capacity or another since the early 1900s.
Railroad tracks remain at the park as a reminder of what was a staple of the area. The railroad tracks are no longer in use. Yet they remain a reminder of the railroad system that bisected the area. The last photo shows the end of the tracks right next to the entrance of the Children’s Museum.
The Children’s Museum At Holyoke is located along the path of the canal (444 Dwight St). Although we didn’t go in, I did take some photos of the some murals on the exterior of the building.
Located next to the children’s museum is the Volleyball Hall Of Fame. Again, due to time constraints, we did not visit the museum. But, it is certainly on my list!
I loved walking along the canal. The views of the old factories and the canal offered some nostalgia and pretty views. I also appreciated the simple, yet historic, feel of the park. It is, in a word, charming, despite the many abandoned buildings in disrepair that line the canal. It felt like a refuge from the busy, crowded streets, although I am sure it is much more crowded during the summer season and when the temperatures rise (if that may ever come).
Along the walkway, which is handicapped accessible, there is a small picnic area and play area. There are also some interesting exhibits.
One of the exhibits is a storm drain art display. The artful displays encourage people to not pollute.
This flywheel stands near what was once the location of Skinner Mill. The mill was sold in 1961 and burned in 1980.
The pearl of the park is the statue dedicated to all of the officers who have lost their lives while on duty as police officers. The officer’s names are all engraved on the monument.
There are three police officers’ names listed on the monument. All three of these officers died while on duty working for the Holyoke police.
Officer John P. Driscoll lost his life on April 25, 1922 when he succumbed to injuries sustained when he fell from the running board of a car that he had commandeered after pursuing a vehicle that was being driven by a drunk driver. Officer Driscoll had been with the agency for five years and was survived by his wife, five children and parents.
Officer James Gatzounas died after being assaulted as he and other officers responded to a fight at a New Year’s Eve street party on January 1, 1977. During the altercation, Officer Gatzounas was kicked and punched as he attempted to place one of the suspects under arrest. He later died after going into cardiac arrest.
Two suspects, ages 19 and 17, were charged with first degree murder. When Officer Gatzounas’ autopsy revealed he died of cardiac arrest instead of injuries from the beating, the charges were reduced to manslaughter. Officer Gatzounas had been with the agency for 18 months and had previously served with the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was survived by his wife and child.
The Man displayed in the statue, flanked by two children, is John A. DiNapoli. Officer DiNapoli was shot and killed i his vehicle while he was following a suspect. Officer DiNapoli had served for 21 years. DiNapoli was known for his service to the community. he and a few other officers started a Christmas tradition of giving toys to the children of Holyoke who lived in high crime neighborhoods. He was survived by two grown children. His son also became a police officer.
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Below is a short video from the Holyoke Merry Go Round
April 16th, 2018 at 10:48 am
Got some new ideas to travel some new places. Thanks. 🙂
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April 16th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Thank you! I’m glad I was able to show you some new places ( :
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April 16th, 2018 at 2:49 pm
We over-use the word “hero” but those three brave men certainly justified the name.
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April 16th, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Yes, I certainly agree on both counts.
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April 16th, 2018 at 6:04 pm
I’m always impressed with the amount of effort you put into each individual post. Will send this post to a friend who volunteers in Holyoke.
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April 16th, 2018 at 10:33 pm
Thank you so much! I am always curious about the things I see when I go out. It’s kind of my pet peeve when I photograph something but I don’t know the history or story behind it. For instance, I couldn’t find out who sculpted the statue of Office DiNapoli and it’s been driving me crazy! But, I do like getting the history behind whatever I photo. I think it adds some flavor to the post. Thanks again!
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April 17th, 2018 at 5:53 am
Yes, in an art museum, I always wish labels told more about the Biblical or mythical or historical event depicted in a painting or sculpture.
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April 17th, 2018 at 9:24 am
Awesome post. Loved the photos, and I appreciate all the history you added.
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April 17th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Thank you!
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April 17th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
You’re welcome!
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April 18th, 2018 at 5:06 pm
Yeah, I like this visit!
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April 18th, 2018 at 9:15 pm
It was fun, wasn’t It? Thank you!
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April 25th, 2018 at 9:50 am
You always visit the most extraordinary of places.
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April 25th, 2018 at 9:18 pm
Thank you Samantha!
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April 25th, 2018 at 9:37 pm
I’m thinking officer’s Gatzounas’ cardiac arrest was brought on by the beating.
Nice post!
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April 26th, 2018 at 10:52 pm
Thank you, Terre. From what I could gather from my research the defendants, both teenagers, were charged with manslaughter rather than murder, because Officer Gatzounas’ cause of death of cardiac arrest was not directly connected to his assault which sounds dubious. They also may pled out to a lesser charge to avoid a trial. In any case it was a tragic event.
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April 27th, 2018 at 9:29 pm
Yeah, that is what your post indicates, but I think the beating caused the heart attack therefore, they should have been charged with murder. But, that was long ago but frustrating nevertheless.
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April 29th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
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