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Every year, Americans exchange an average of 142 million Valentine’s Day cards – making the holiday near the top of the list of card-exchanging holidays (second only to Christmas). Valentines come in many different shapes and sizes, and can be handmade or store bought, clever and creative, or very traditional. Whatever form they come in, the valentines that we exchange each year have their roots right here in western Massachusetts, and are symbolic of the love, caring, and appreciation that we have for the important people around us.
Vacant paper mills line the narrow strip of land between Water Street and the Connecticut River in Holyoke, MA. Near the end of the 19th Century, Holyoke, with more than 25 paper mills, was the world’s largest paper manufacturer. Today these mills of The Paper City are skeletal reminders of a former age— some victims of fire, some demolished, a couple converted to other uses. “Echoes of Industry: The Death and Rebirth of Holyoke’s Mills,” a new photo/video exhibit at Wistarihurst Museum, explore this past and a new form of industry that is currently being shaped…
Wistariahurst Museum is exhibiting a new display of artifacts from the Museum’s collection commemorating the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of Holyoke’s participation in the Civil War entitled, “Holyoke Remembers the Civil War.” To learn more about this rich time period and connect with local history, bring your family to check out the exhibit, through October 31, 2013.
Congratulations to Tara Winters of Williamsburg! Tara has won a 4-pack of lawn tickets to see Dropkick Murphys at Mountain Park in Holyoke on Friday, August 16th, 2013 @ 8pm as part of our monthly Parents’ Night Out promotions! Our next Parents’ Night Out will be to see one of the great performance at the Calvin Theater in Northampton in September! Check back next week to see who we are giving tickets away to see for a super fun Parents’ Night Out!
YES Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Saturday, July 27th, 2013 @ 8pm Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets! This month at Mountain Park, enjoy an evening with YES performing three classic albums in their entirety: The YES… Read More
Chicago Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Friday, June 21st, 2013 @ 8pm Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets! This month at Mountain Park, enjoy an evening with Chicago, winner of the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award — and we’re… Read More
Bike Tours of Holyoke Mills & Canals and Mansions: June 1st & 8th The Wistariahurst Museum is holding two bicycle tours around the city of Holyoke, one exploring the city’s mills and canals, and the other exploring the mansions of the Fairfield Avenue Historic District. Teens and their parents can spend quality time together while learning local history and developing a greater sense of place by becoming better acquainted with the history… Read More
Blogging the Days in the Life of William Cobbett Skinner 1888 Journal is posted online as the year unfolds. In 1888, William Cobbett Skinner was 31 years old, working under his father’s guidance at Skinner and Sons Manufacturing in Holyoke, MA. Wistariahurst Museum’s blog entries will track Will’s 1888 journal. Each week new entries will be transcribed and uploaded to the Wistariahurst Museum website for interested readers to follow. “The journal entries… Read More
Victorian Valentines Workshop Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke Sunday, February 10th, 2013 On Sunday, February 10 from 1-3pm, come to Wistariahurst Museum for this fun and creative program that will inspire the artist in everyone! In 1847, the year she graduated from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts received her first Valentine’s Day card. She was so pleased with this English novelty that she tried making some valentines of her… Read More
The Holyoke History Walk: A Virtual Tour of the City Have you ever walked, biked, or driven through downtown Holyoke and wondered about the history of the city’s numerous old buildings? Each empty mill, towering church, and brick rowhouse tells a story of the city’s past. An exploration of Holyoke’s history reveals a rich, diverse, and complicated history. Visitors to Holyoke can now learn about the city’s history themselves – from home… Read More
Source-to-Sea Clean-Up in Hampden County Sunday, Sept. 30th The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees), United Water, and Holyoke Friends of the River have joined forces this fall to organize a river clean-up volunteer day on the banks of the Connecticut River. On Sunday, September 30th, from 9am-Noon, folks of all ages and abilities are invited to meet at the American Legion next to Pulaski Park (50 St. Kolbe Dr., Holyoke, MA) to… Read More
Houdini’s Magic Come to Holyoke Opening Night: Friday, Sept. 14th Wistariahurst Museum During the months of September and October, the Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke will house a special exhibit filled with magic history – featuring specifically many items used by the world famous magician Harry Houdini! The exhibit includes many different objects, including handcuffs, tools, posters, documents, and more, all from the collection of Houdini enthusiast and fellow magician Sidney Radner (known… Read More
Darius Rucker Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Friday, Sept 14th, 2012 @ 7pm Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets! This month at Mountain Park, Darius Rucker brings country favorites and Hootie classics to the Pioneer Valley on… Read More
Wistariahurst Museum Hosts Victorian Game Day & Beethoven’s Wig Marjorie Latham of the Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke, MA writes: Are you and your kids looking for some great ways to have fun this coming weekend? We would love to see you! Wistariahurst Museum is hosting two free youth events this Saturday and Sunday, June 2nd & 3rd! Victorian Game Day on the Lawn at Wistariahurst: On Saturday, June 2, from 1 to… Read More
The Decemberists at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Sunday, July 31st, 2011 @ 7pm Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets! The Decemberists were one of the first bands to play at Mountian Park in Holyoke in 2009… Read More
History Comes Alive in Holyoke Marjorie Latham of Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke, MA writes: For most people, Wistariahurst is a museum. But when Allerton Kilborne enters the home on Cabot Street, it is like entering a time machine. On Sunday, June 19th at 4pm, Allerton will return to Holyoke to offer a tour of Wistariahurst as he remembers it as a child and will share intimate stories about the family not often… Read More
Lucinda Williams & Amos Lee at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Saturday, July 23rd, 2011 @ 7pm Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer another chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets! Mountain Park just announced another fabulous concert this summer: Lucinda Williams & Amos Lee… Read More
Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas at Mountain Park in Holyoke, MA Sunday, July 24th, 2011 @ 7pm Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets! Mountain Park just announce that Alison Krauss & Union Station will… Read More
Children’s Museum in Holyoke It’s winter here. The ground is cold, but not yet snow-covered. The days have been getting shorter and we’ve hit the point at which they will grow longer again. We spend our time at home with playdough, legos and K’nex. My two older kids, Henry and Isaac, are at school. Weekends have been filled with cookie-baking and holiday traditions of many kinds. Henry is tired from school. Isaac… Read More
Willie Nelson & Family at Mountain Park Holyoke, MA Sunday, August 8th, 2010 @ 7pm Hilltown Families and Iron Horse Entertainment Group have partnered up to offer a chance to win free tickets to see adult venues in the Pioneer Valley for a PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT! You pay for the sitter, we’ll pay for the tickets! This month we are pleased to offer a chance to win a pairs of tickets to… Read More
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