Oscar Beauchemin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Oscar Beauchemin | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Beauchemin, c. 1938 | |
| Born | c. 1876 Quebec, Canada |
| Died | January 15, 1938 (aged 62)[1][2] Holyoke, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery[1] Holyoke, Massachusetts |
| Known for | Architect |
| Notable work | Valley Arena[3] J.R. Smith Block Holyoke Transportation Center Springdale Main Street
|
| Spouse | Maria E. Doherty |
Oscar Beauchemin (c. 1876 – January 15, 1938) was an American architect, and civil engineer based out of Holyoke, Massachusetts who designed a number of tenements and commercial blocks in the Greater Springfield area, and whose work was prominent in the Main Street architectural landscape of the Springdale neighborhood of Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Beauchemin was born in Quebec around the year 1876,[4][5] with his family relocating to Holyoke within a year, where he would spend nearly his entire childhood. For the first part of his subsequent career, he was employed by the Merrick Lumber Company. Having a long-held interest in designing buildings, he first became active as an architect in 1903,[1] and opened his own independent firm in 1908.[4]
By the end of his career Beauchemin had become under the employ of Holyoke's municipal engineering department.[6] Throughout his life he was an active member Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters and was known to be a competitive candlepin bowler.[4][7]
Following a period of brief illness, he died in the evening of January 15, 1938 at his home at about the age of 62.[1]
,_Holyoke,_Massachusetts.jpg)
While known to have constructed smaller dwellings as well, Beauchemin's works were generally large brick tenements with ground-floor storefronts or offices, done in the neoclassical style. Among features common to his work were festoon-adorned friezes, belt courses and angled windows placed at a corner of the front facade.
- J.R. Smith Block, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1906)[1]
- Bergeron Apartments, Chicopee, Massachusetts (1909)[8]
- The Clinton, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1909)[9][10]
- Cavagnare Block/736-740 Dwight St., Holyoke, Massachusetts (1909, demolished c. 2000) [9][10][11]
- Oakdale Pharmacy Block, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1910)[12][13]
- The Parkview, Springdale, Holyoke, Massachusetts (c. 1910)[4][10][14][a]
- Paquette Block, Springdale, Holyoke, Massachusetts (c. 1910)[4][10][15][b]
- Guenther Block, Springdale, Holyoke, Massachusetts (c. 1910)[4][10][15][b]
- Wayfinders Dwight/Clinton, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1910),[16] formerly Gauthier Block
- 331-335 Main Street, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1911, demolished 1989)[17]
- Choiniere & Beauregard Block, Springfield, Massachusetts (1912, demolished)[18]
- Pelott Block, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1912)[10][19][20][c]
- Bijou Theater, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1913, 1916 expansion, demolished)[21][22]
- Holyoke Transportation Center, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1914),[23] formerly Holyoke Central Fire Station
- Knights of Columbus Building, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1915, demolished)[24][25]
- M. A. Scannell House, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1915)[26]
- The Colonial/Beauvais Block, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1916)[27][21]
- Dennis M. Reardon House, South Hadley, Massachusetts (1916)[28]
- Valley Arena Gardens, Holyoke, Massachusetts (1926),[3] noted sports and entertainment venue best known as the site of Rocky Marciano's professional debut
The former Central Fire Station, redeveloped as the Holyoke Transportation Center in 2010
Gauthier Block, built c. 1910
Guenther Block (left) and Paquette Block (right), both built circa 1909-1910
The Parkview, built 1910; it along with Guenther and Paquette being defining features of Springdale's Main Street landscape
