Silvio O. Conte

“ But in every age, some men succeed in rising above the transcient, and in creating works which outlast the times which produce them. The founders of Holyoke were such men. They built with such honesty and intelligence that the city has never been forced to abandon its original foundations.
Since its founding, Holyoke has, of course, experienced the economic fluctuations that every industrial community knows. Throughout, however, the people of Holyoke have exhibited an undaunted spirit and Holyoke today remains as it was designed, a manufacturing city. ”

“ Not only has the need for moral leadership been superbly met in this community, the desire for quality education for all has been fulfilled. Formal education in Holyoke had its beginnings in a humble, one-room schoolhouse in 1802. As the community grew, so, too, grew Holyoke's schools. Today, excellent public and parochial systems provide the young residents of Holyoke with a variety of opportunities for instruction. ”

“ While the concerns that gave the city its unofficial title "The Paper City" have been sadly depleted in recent years, several of those firms remain, providing employment for many Holyoke residents and maintaining Holyoke's reputation for a high quality of manufactured product.
Holyoke today is a city fighting the ravages to which other industrial communities have succumbed. I believe it is winning this fight. In the battle, the city wisely is using every tool available to it. ”