twenty years of its existence the town acquired a
population of about 11,000 and a valuation of nearly $10,000,000. In the
sixteen years that have succeeded, the population has almost trebled and
the valuation this year is nearly $16,000,000.

There is not another city in the east that can show such swift and at
the same time substantial growth as Holyoke has enjoyed during the two
decades succeeding the war. In a few years it became the greatest
paper-making centre of the country. It has now twenty-four large
paper-making corporations, one having the largest paper-mill in the
world. A long established cotton mannfacturing company employs one
thousand and three hundred operatives. A company manufacturing worsted
goods employs one thousand persons, the two mammoth thread-mills have
some one thousand names on the pay-rolls. The Unquomonk silk works,
which were destroyed by the great Mill River flood of 1874 were
re-located in this city, where was found a safe, reliable water-power.
There are woolen factories, including a company for manufacturing
imitation seal-skin goods and a large blanket mill. The manufacture of
Blank books and Envelopes, Steam-pumps, Wire, Machinery, Cutlery,
Screws, Fire-hydrants and Steam-boilers, Cement works, Spindles and
Reeds, Fourdrinier wire and Rubber-goods are among the city's greatly
diversified industries. There are extensive brickyards and stone
quarries near at hand and the lumbering business is an important
industry.

[Illustration: OPERA HOUSE.]

The building growth of the city has kept pace with the manufacturing.
Where a few years ago were acres of woodland, swamps or brambly
pastures, are now well-graded streets lined with pleasant houses. Hills
have been leveled, ponds and ravines filled and made into valuable real
estate. From the highlands in the western part of the city, there are
river and mountain views of surpassing beauty. Gradually the building
centre is moving westward and many charming homes have been created on
the suburban streets. The old stage-road which led from Springfield to
Northampton is now a wide, well-graded highway with handsome villas
surrounded by spacious grounds. Here are the fine residences of
Treasurer R.B. Johnson of the Holyoke Savings Bank, G.W. Prentiss of the
wire-mills, Westover, the residence of E.J. Pomeroy, Lawnfield, the
house of R.M. Fairfield, "The Knolls" the fine residence of Mr. C.H.
Heywood, and on the higest point of all is Rus-in-