Whiting Farms, Holyoke, Massachusetts

Whiting Farms is a neighborhood in Holyoke, Massachusetts, located to the southwest of the city center, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from downtown. Following the construction of Whiting Farms Road in 1961, the area was developed as a residential and commercial area in the 1960s and 1970s.[1] Its name derives from its original use as site of the farm of William Whiting, where the former mayor and papermaker bred a prizewinning herd of Jersey cattle in the late 19th and early 20th century, many of which were sold for breeding to all parts of the country.[3] A disastrous fire caused by arson in 1919 would kill off the entire herd of 75 head, and following this the farm, then-owned by William F. Whiting, became largely defunct.[4][5] At the end of the Second World War it was proposed that the property be redeveloped into an airpark, however these plans would never come to fruition.[6] Shortly after another case of arson in 1967 which destroyed a remaining barn,[7] the property began to see the medium-density residential development that characterizes it today, with the First Whiting Farms Cooperative Housing breaking ground later that year.[8] Initially criticized as the "Road to Nowhere" during Samuel Resnic's administration in the early 1960s, Whiting Farms Road today serves as a major artery for retail businesses and traffic to I-91 in the area.[9]

Holyoke Shopping Center, built on the fields and the site of the former farmhouse
Whiting Farms
Neighborhood of Holyoke
Rowhouse apartments typical of Whiting Farms
Rowhouse apartments typical of Whiting Farms
Whiting Farms is located in Holyoke
Whiting Farms
Whiting Farms
Whiting Farms is located in Massachusetts
Whiting Farms
Whiting Farms
Whiting Farms is located in the United States
Whiting Farms
Whiting Farms
Coordinates: 42.183582°N 72.634845°W / 42.183582; -72.634845
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CityHolyoke
Wards3, 5
Precincts3A, 3B, 5B
Developed1961[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total0.64 sq mi (1.7 km2)
Elevation
[2]
318 ft (97 m)
ZIP code
01040
Area code413

References
  1. "Holyoke Briefs". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. October 18, 1961. p. 39. The new homes will be located on the Whiting Farms Rd., recently completed to serve the new industrial park.
  2. Spatial analysis of "Holyoke Neighborhoods" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 3 Jun 2016.
  3. "Holyoke's Cattle; A Growing Fondness for Blooded Jerseys—Some of the High-Priced Cows—Park Improvements—William Whiting for Congress". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. July 22, 1882. p. 5.
    • "Hampden County- Holyoke". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. May 20, 1884. p. 6. Farmer Gibbs of the Whiting farm has recently sold four fine Jersey calves, one to go to the far West, one to Washington, one to Philadelphia and the other to New York
  4. "Holyoke". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. October 9, 1919. p. 14. Holyoke, Oct. 3—The stock barn of the Whiting farm on the Springfield road, just below Elmwood in this city, was totally destroyed by fire, which started about 9:30 this evening. Besides the buildings and 60 tons of hay, practically the entire herd of prize Jersey cattle, which had been bred by the Whitings for a generation was wiped out.
  5. "Whiting Cattle Victims of Fire; Holyoke's Prize Winning Jersey Herd Lost—Incendarium Suspected—Estimated Loss $60,000". Springfield Republican. October 4, 1919. p. 4.
  6. "Airpark for City is Discussed; Maj A. H. Tully, Jr., of Aeronautics Commission Attends C. of C. Luncheon, Meets City Officials—Favors Whiting Tract". Springfield Republican. May 15, 1945. p. 8.
  7. "Fire Causes Rerouting of Heavy Traffic". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. February 18, 1967. p. 22.
  8. "Building Permits Up $6.5 Million in Holyoke". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. December 22, 1968. p. 5. The new Whiting Farms cooperative apartments gave Holyoke a big boost in construction costs for this year
  9. "$20-Million Mall Proves Value of 'Road to Nowhere'". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. September 2, 1972. p. 20.

Holyoke by Craig Della Penna; features photographs of Whiting Farms

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