Birth of a City: The Affects of Canals on Holyoke, Massachusetts

The city of Holyoke is situated in the mid-western portion of Massachusetts . At one time, nearly 15,000 years ago, this area was situated at the bottom of an area of water known as Lake Hitchcock. Over time, the waters receded, leaving a double legacy--the alluvium rich soils which have supported a long history of agriculture in the Connecticut Valley, and the Connecticut River itself, the original motor of economic progress in the region. It is from this river that a city would be born.
It is believed that Captain Elizur Holyoke was the first European to explore Holyoke, Massachusetts. In 1633, Captain Elizur lead a daring expedition up the Connecticut River to explore the potential for settlement. Two years later, based upon his encouraging report, European agriculture settlement began in the region. …