Holyoke's Social Diversions
The world of the Holyoke's working class embraced more than the workplace. Outside the mill existed church, family, benevolent societies, and other institutions which enriched working class life and the culture of Holyoke. Within these institutions workers defined themselves and created a number of distinct cultural worlds. One cultural world was a world of responsibility based on the duty to family inculcated from an early age. Here young workers developed the means and values necessary to maintain families of their own. Before entering this world, some even lingered for a time in the raucous, hard drinking world of saloon culture. The immigrant and migrant impact was particularly strong in contributing to the social and cultural character of the community, reflected in much of Holyoke today.
Companies held events to boost morale and provide another opportunity for recreation. Pictured here is lunch time concert for employees of Worthington, formerly Deane Sump Pump Company. 
The Irish families that came to America and settled in the Holyoke area in the 1600s and 1700s were mostly from the north of Ireland and were Protestant. The First Orthodox Congregational Church in Ireland Parish was formed by Reverend Dr. Lathrop in 1799. The building was originally a meeting house.
“A library is as much a part of the intellectual life of a community as its schools, and should be supported generously as part of our educational system. Within the se walls you will find authors devoted to literature, arts, and science, and they are free to anyone who will ask. We can say to the citizens of Holyoke you have only to ask here and you will find knowledge to make your life useful and happy.” William Whiting, President of the Library Board from 1870 – 1910. The opening in 1870 of a town library on the block surrounded by Essex, Cabot, Maple and Chestnut Streets, with some 2,500 books available for the 300 subscribers made it possible for more people to read books, though reading solely for pleasure was considered unworthy. If good books were not furnished for the young, they might read novels and sensational newspapers!
Annual regatta at San Sauci Club House, located north of Holyoke on October 11, 1890. The Canoe Club, located just above the dam, incorporated in 1888 and consisted of a boat house that could hold 6-8 canoes. The club moved several times, with the final club house built at Smith’s Ferry in 1903, where it remains today. Holyoke’s third generation found social life more unified than it had been, but there were still some separation between Protestants and Catholics. Catholics were excluded fairly consistently from membership in the Canoe Club, pictured above, Irish, French Canadians and Polish organized outing clubs with headquarters at Hampden Ponds beyond the reaches of the city. Photograph courtesy of Heritage State Park. German religious and cultural organizations kept German immigrants together in worship and recreation. Among the mutual benefit societies founded by national groups in Holyoke, the German Benevolent Society, established in the 1860s, and the Turnverein, founded in the 1870s, were perhaps the most active and powerful. Germans cultivated interest in music, and on several occasions German societies gave concerts and hosted festivals. Above right is the Turnhalls outside and inside at 624 South Bridge Street. In the gymnasiums and beer halls of the two Turnhalls centered much of the German social life. Photograph courtesy of Shirley Morrison. There were over 20 clubs and organizations associated with the Skinner Coffee House, a local settlement house. Clubs at the Skinner Coffee House included: Women’s Club, French-American Club, Association for the Blind, Italian Women’s Club, Homemakers Club, Negro Women’s Club, Polish Women’s Club, Children’s Dramatic Club, Junior Reading Group, Polish Folk Dance Group, Children’s Glee Club, Ukrainian Women’s Club, Quilt Club and the Dancing Club. Along with providing entertainment through pageants and musical revues, organizations created a community through regularly scheduled meetings and luncheons. Many girls joined the same clubs years after their mothers’ involvement, indicated stability of the organization and strong family and ethnic ties. Above is the Italian Women’s Club. 
League of American Wheelmen in Holyoke. In 1896 Charles E. Walker opened up his Sporting Goods Store on High Street. The first big bicycle boom hit the country at the same time. His grandson, Roy Walker Jr. took over running the store. When he pedaled the streets of Holyoke, he usually carried a set of wrenches – for the unexpected adjustments. Up until the 1920s, bicycles were vehicles used mostly by adults. By the 1950s, bikes were used mostly by children and the industry was fighting to stay afloat. 
Many immigrants saved their money and took the trolley to Mountain Park. “One time …..all the factories had a play at the Casino at Mountain Park. You might have heard how they had shows up there at one time at the Casino, it was down the hill. And every factory in Holyoke, that is American Thread, the Alpaca, Skinners and I think the other one was the American Writing, National Blank Book.” Female, French-Canadian second generation who worked in Skinner Mills.
Annie Kane, Irish born, said of Mountain Park, pictured above: “I went into the Hadley [Thread] Mill to work at 14 for $6 a week, six to six, as a doffer. We had to all pitch in. Out of $6 I got fifty cents – I used to save that to go dancing. That was big in them days – you could go to Mountain Park for five cents.”
La Familia Hispana, Inc. sponsors the Annual Hispanic Family Festival. Their events and programs foster enrichment and development of the Hispanic culture and civic knowledge, which includes developing a library of Hispanic literature and films and collaborating with other civil and cultural organizations.
Union Canadienne was established in 1881. After 1885, dozens of new organizations were formed and with few exceptions, they had aims and purposes that were decidedly secular. The motto of the Cercle Rochambeau, for example, established in 1900, was “s’instruire at s’amuser” or to “instruct and amuse oneself.” There was also a new French Canadian social hall in Ward 6 in 1885.