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City of Holyoke

Historical Commission
Historical Significance Assessment Form

Date of Submission: __Feb. 24, 2017___________________________


Researcher(s): ___Olivia Mausel__________________________
_____Joe Paul________________________
_____________________________

Property Title/Historical Name: __Mater Dolorosa Church

Address: __71 Maple St./ 173 Lyman St, Holyoke, MA

MACRIS-MHC # (if surveyed/listed): HLY AG ( District), HLY 365 , HLY B (Downtown)

1. Rating on the Historical Resources Inventory Form

X Highest Priority High Priority Medium High Priority Other Priority

2. Date of the structure

17th century 18th century X 19th century 20th century 21st


century

Note: Early Date. Historic resources of the 18th C. and earlier are listed as of major significance based only on
age.

3. Age

It is the oldest example in: X Holyoke The State The Region


Nationally

Comments:_Last and oldest example of Polish Roman Catholic Church -1901

Example: The 1770 Bushman Fuller houseis one of the oldest 18 th c structure in Holyoke-
1770 Bushman Fuller house

4. Role played

Military Educational X Religious X Social Industrialist X Cultural Other

X Local role of significance: Only remaining Polish Catholic Church in Holyoke- a cultural
landmark
of the Polish Community who settled in Holyoke from 1896 to the present time.

Regional role of significance:


____________________________________________________________________________________
National role of significance:
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Note: Many historic resources played major educational, military, religious, social, industry or
other roles of local, state, or national significance.

5. Noted Resident(s)

Name(s): _Rev. A.M. Sikorski (1896) first pastor

Military Educational X Religious Social Industrialist Cultural Other

Local role of significance:


__________________________________________________________________

Regional role of significance:


_______________________________________________________________

X National role of significance: _Fr. Ignatuius Maternowski, Holyoke Native, Chaplin on D-


Day

Locally noted Regionally noted Nationally noted None noted

More than one noted resident How many? __50+__

Noted residents listed on Inventory Form:


___________________________________________________________

Other noted residents: ___Fr. Maternowski was the only U.S. Chaplin killed on D-Day in France.
Purple Heart (posthumous) Fr. Maternowski remains were returned to the U.S. and interred in
Mater Dolorosa Cemetery in 2014.

6. Archaeology

Listed sites on property? Yes X No

Have archaeological investigations been done on the property in the past? Yes
X No

List details of the archaeological investigations if known: __ unknown artifacts yet to be


investigated

Archaeological Context
The context of the archaeological resources will remain intact should this demolition
go forward? X Yes Somewhat No

Comments: The area was formerly known as the Patch, which held many shanties of
the early
immigrants who helped built the Holyoke dams and the canals. Also the city reservoir
was in the area.
The reservoir was closed due to cholera outbreaks down river. There may be unknown
artifacts
buried in the area.

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7. Event

This property is the location of a significant event for:

X Holyoke The State The Region Nationally

Comments: Only Polish church remaining in Holyoke (Established in 1901)

8. Architecture

Style Classification: 1901 Neo-Gothic Revival church

Number of other properties in Holyoke of this style: __ 0


Number of other properties in the neighborhood of this style: __0
Occurrence- It is the only occurrence of such construction in: __ unknown

X Holyoke The State The Region Nationally

Comments: the property was designed by prolific architect G. P.B. Alderman, who is
responsible for
over 50 Holyoke buildings from 1870-1920. William Twarog was the mural painter and
the 16 stained
glass windows were made by Edward Heimer of Paterson New Jersey.

For example: The 1883 H. H. Richardson train station or the McKim Mead and White bank building,
Suffolk Street

Standard - It is a particularly fine example in: X Holyoke The State The Region
Nationally

Comments: Neo-Gothic Revival example of George Aldermans designs. Also it may be


the only red
brick Catholic Church in the community.

For example: Holyoke City Hall is a particularly well-proportioned example of Gothic Revival.

9. Preservation
For example, it is one of several such structures defining the colonial period/ Victorian period in a
neighborhoodor one of a group of structures built to provide housing for workers during an industrial period
or the vegetable stand that attests to the narrative of farming on this particular route.

Pre Preservation Status Details

1. Are the details and elements, which mark the essential elements of the property still
intact?

X Yes Somewhat No
Comments: _The building has been closed since 2011- 6 years. No
Regular maintenance has been reported to date.

2. Are the details and elements, which mark the essential style of the property still intact?

X Yes Somewhat No
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Comments: exterior style is still intact to date

3. Are the details and elements, which mark the essential setting of the property still intact?

Yes X Somewhat No
Comments: _The 2014 proposed historic district was denied by the City
Council.
The setting of the property continues to deteriorate as. the owner
disinvestment in
their properties

For example: Holyoke Canal System in which the owners have taken particular care not to
impact the basic structures or the 1849 Samosett House (Czelusniak Funeral Home).

Integrity - The integrity of the exterior architectural details have been preserved (i.e., there
have been no exterior renovations since construction or renovations made according to
Secretary of the Interior Standards in materials and procedures).

X Yes Somewhat No
Comments:
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Construction Location or Site - The original structure has not been moved (i.e., a
particularly early structure that remains where it was originally built).

X Yes Somewhat No
Comments:
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

For example: the site is especially significant as it is connected with the narrative history of
the location or the property as in the 1856 Shaker House, 59-61 Chestnut St.

Alteration - It is an unaltered complex of structure(s), site, or location (this may include the
yard, fencing, outbuildings, and original property lines).

X Yes Somewhat No
Comments:
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

10. Location
It is part of an historic streetscape?

X Yes Somewhat No
Comments: The Property is a cultural landmark of the Polish community
and a
historic part of Ward 4 before urban renewal of the 1950.

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For example, it is one of several such structures defining the Victorian period in a
neighborhood or one of a group of structures built to provide housing for workers during an
industrial period or the vegetable stand that attests to the narrative of farming on this
particular route. For example, Lyman Terrace Housing, Hadley Mills townhouses, Fairfield
Avenue, or row houses on Newton Street.

11. Contributing Factor


It is a contributing part of a larger historic event?

X Yes Somewhat No
Comments: The property is a integral part of the early Ward 4, and
associated with the early Polish population, school, convent and Chapel. It is
adjacent to Prospect Park on the National Register (2004), North High Street
National Register District (1975) and Hampden Park National Register District (2012)
The property is integral to the strong industrial development in
Downtown area and part of the Irish, and French Canadian working class which
established separate parishes based on language, and ethnic identity. The influx of
the Polish immigrants in the 1890-902 resulted in the establishment of a third
branch of ethnic identity.

For example, Volleyball, Paper or Fabric industry, Entertainment industry, Manufacturing, or Water
power

Attached Documentation:

X Photo images Blueprints X Sketch(es) of property X copy of article(s)

Other: __________________________________________________________________________________

Signatures of Researcher(s): ____________________________Date: _____________

____________________________Date: _____________

____________________________Date: _____________

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