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Samuel Resnic
Portrait of Mayor Resnic, c. 1961
35th Mayor of Holyoke
In office
1957–1963
Preceded byEdwin A. Seibel
Succeeded byDaniel F. Dibble
Member of the Board of the Directors of the Boston and Maine Railroad
In office
1964–1968
Member of the Board of Trustees of PeoplesBank[1]
In office
1954–1973
Personal details
Born(1899-03-01)March 1, 1899
Russian Empire
DiedNovember 24, 1988(1988-11-24) (aged 89)
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Political partyRepublican[2]
EducationBoston University
Northeastern University
(LL.B., 1928)[3]

Samuel Resnic (March 1, 1899 – November 24, 1988) was an American attorney, land agent, and the thirty-fifth mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and the city's first Jewish holder of that office. At the time of his election he was the largest individual tax payer in Holyoke.[4] He would also serve as a member of the board of trustees to PeoplesBank for nearly 20 years, and as a member of the board of directors of the Boston and Maine Railroad after he left office.


"Meeting Today to Map Future Of Roger Smith". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. May 18, 1961. p. 64. A meeting which could determine the future of the Roger Smith Hotel will be held this afternoon at 1:30 in the office of Mayor Samuel Resnic. A group of industrial, business and financial representatives have been invited to attend. O. A. De Lima, president of the Roger Smith Hotel Corp., has been invited to attend. He is expected to come here from New York City.

"Roger Smith Hotel Shows Ghostly Mien; Only 30 Guests, Some Transients Remain At Hostelry". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. April 12, 1961. p. 4. In contrast to the activities of other days, the Roger Smith Hotel took on the appearance of a ghost building Tuesday with only 30 permanent guests and a few transients occupying the 134-room hostelry...Mayor Samuel Resnic has expressed himself as disappointed in the sudden closing of the place, particularly whne negotiations are under way by some groups to purchase the hotel provided a satisfactory price can be agreed upon. Resnic said he is interested in leading a group of Holyoke business and civic leaders in a move to acquire the hotel...


first such since Whiting (citation needed)


"Jewish Attorney Becomes Mayor of Predominantly Catholic Town". New York: Jewish Telegraphic Agency. September 24, 1957. p. 4. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Legendary_Locals_of_Holyoke/mTcrBwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Samuel+Resnic%22+Holyoke&pg=PA75&printsec=frontcover

https://archive.org/details/qualityoflifeina0000unse/page/80/mode/2up?q=%22Samuel+Resnic%22

https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A137C4A333B6FC488%40GB3NEWS-13877169DE179AF7%402447491-13876BE8A145A3BD%4033-13876BE8A145A3BD%40?h=1&fname=&lname=&fullname=&kwinc=%22Samuel%20Resnic%22&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1/1/1987&rgtoDate=1/1/1989&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=hxmkoxpteaplgzjpfwhaofflkiggsbaw_wma-gateway016_1632406506485 [5]

-3 term mayor -founder and senior partner of Resnic, Beauregard, Waite, and Driscoll, originally based on high st -3 term mayor, elected in wake of Seibel's death in 1957, did not rerun in fall of 63, retired from public service in Jan 1964. -elected by every ward in the city in first election, previously had been on the Board of Aldermen for 10 years -first mayor to paint shamrocks and green lines on Holyoke st's for the St. Patricks Day parade (which started in his term?) -marched in parade every year until suffering stroke 1985 -received St. Patrick's Citizenship Award 1968 as non-Irish contributions -began tradition of the mayor's reception held every year prior to the parade -developed Whiting Farms Road, lampooned during his tenure as "a road to nowhere" -1958 in first term invited sent an invitation to Nikita S. Khruschehev to visit Holyoke -1961 elected president of Mass Mayor's association, first of Holyoke to have title -March 1961 made official delegate of the US to the World Conference of Local Governments, sponsed by Internatioal Union of Local Authorities - founder of Adams Plastics Co., maker of "pakkawood" in 1950s, sold to American Home Products -February 1964 made director of Boston & Maine RR, also made director of the Boston Garden -1970s became president of Holyoke Industrial Properties Inc. -1964 received Human Relations Award from National Conference of Christians and Jews -born in Russian Empire, parents came to US in 1907 -Resnic lived in Holyoke since 1929 -also cofounded the Log Cabin Restaurant with Edna Williams -former trustee of Peoples Savings Bank -member of Mount Tom Lodge of Free and Accepted MAsons -member of Crestview Country Club -married Theresa "Babe" Hendel in ???? (btwn 1919-1933), had two sons, Harold and Burton


https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/13105/1962acts0586.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

Ross Ave --> Resnic Blvd.


"Elect Resnic to Head Board of Aldermen; Wins Post Nine Votes to Two Over Veteran Romeo Beaudry". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. January 2, 1956. p. 31. Elected president of board of aldermen

boston and maine board of directors 1963 https://archive.org/details/bostonandmainerailroadannualreports/bostonandmaine1963/page/n1/mode/2up to 1968 at least https://www.bmrrhs.org/s/1968-BM-Annual-Report.pdf


Hubbell directory https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Martindale_Hubbell_Law_Directory/1OQ7AQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22Boston+and+Maine%22+%22Samuel+Resnic%22&dq=%22Boston+and+Maine%22+%22Samuel+Resnic%22&printsec=frontcover

Nominating committee and community representative member for AJC http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1941_1942_10_AJCAnnualReport.pdf

Controversy of Mater Dolorosa school temporarily in public quarters http://www.ajcarchives.org/ajc_data/files/vol_62__1961.pdf

Holyoke Regional Business Dev Corp https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/13105/1962acts0586.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y


https://archive.org/details/sim_employment-security-review_1960-09_27_9/page/12/mode/2up https://www.google.com/books/edition/Employment_Security_Review/bNpzJAqHEDYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Samuel+Resnic%22&pg=RA8-PA13&printsec=frontcover


https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A12AE9C35A497B0E8%40GB3NEWS-13316CC7B9D920F1%402443357-132E2669AFD348B8%408-132E2669AFD348B8%40?h=1&fname=&lname=&fullname=&kwinc=%22Samuel%20Resnic%22&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1970&rgtoDate=1980&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=gbvaufozawjlulomhzublhuycddsdqpe_wma-gateway008_1632505274785 "A Neighborhood Dies; For five years, forces struggled to keep urban renewal plan alive". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. August 1, 1977. p. 8. Early advocate of the Prospect Heights redevelopment plan, an urban renewal initiative that replaced 13.7 acres of land in the vicinity of Mater Dolorosa and Pulaski Park. One of last initiatives as mayor, faced defeat from aldermen at the time 8 to 3, with opposition of residents being the majority of those who spoke during meetings, even in subsequent efforts. Eventually HUD and Holyoke Redevelopment Association would pass the measure in 1968, 12 to 2. The mayor continued support thereafter his tenure, along with his successors Mayors Dibble and Taupier, and had a letter of support entered into the record.




"Conflict of Interest; Law People Wink, Blink and Nod At". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. September 23, 1973. pp. 15, 39. The next year, an 18-member commission made up of legislators, lawyers, and municipal and religious leaders submitted a draft of proposed legislation. A conflict-of-interest bill was enacted in July 1962, with a deferred effective date of May 1, 1963...In Holyoke, contractor Daniel J. O'Connell resigned from the planning board, as did Robert K. Lee, a distributor of building supplies. Then-Mayor Samuel Resnic decried the law for being 'unfair and unreasonable' and complained that he and the partners of his law firm wqould not be able to take part in city business for one year after his term expired. Resnic chose not to run for re-election in the fall of that year





https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinamerica0000unse_o4f4/page/576/mode/2up?q=%22Resnic%2C+Samuel%22 bio


https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A12AE9C35A497B0E8%40GB3NEWS-12F12894A52F09AB%402436813-12ECD929A3E809BE%4034-12ECD929A3E809BE%40?h=3&fname=&lname=&fullname=&kwinc=%20%22Resnic%22&kwexc=&rgfromDate=8/30/1959&rgtoDate=9/5/1959&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=bnogmegvkmahtknzrvyhnjxbmvprbfaw_wma-gateway004_1633613721659 Sale of Land for Industry Area Okayed

https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1448A28D6430363D%40GB3NEWS-14EEAF144629C402%402436149-14EAD3E7C31F8870%4023-14EAD3E7C31F8870%40?h=2&fname=&lname=&fullname=&kwinc=%20%22Samuel%20Resnic%22&kwexc=&rgfromDate=&rgtoDate=&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&state%5B0%5D=connecticut&state%5B1%5D=illinois&state%5B2%5D=indiana&state%5B3%5D=michigan&state%5B4%5D=nebraska&state%5B5%5D=new-hampshire&state%5B6%5D=new-jersey&state%5B7%5D=new-york&state%5B8%5D=ohio&state%5B9%5D=rhode-island&state%5B10%5D=texas&state%5B11%5D=wisconsin&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sid=zhwzbywsizgcsoyetmtdqoeunvpecfcg_wma-gateway009_1633614170968 Victory

https://archive.org/details/sim_united-states-congress-hearings-prints-and-reports_january-22-23-26-28-1959/page/462/mode/2up?q=%22Resnic%22 Urban Renewal effort


https://archive.org/details/sim_traffic-world_1960-09-17_106/page/42/mode/2up freight forwarder welcomed


Khrushchev controversy in first term, 1959 ""Khrushchev? He's shrewd..."". U.S. News & World Report. Vol. XLVI, no. 19. May 11, 1959. p. 49 – via Internet Archive. 'He's shrewd, all right,' declared Samuel Resnic, mayor of Holyoke, Mass. 'But he's a fellow who rose by circumstances, that's all. He has big problems in that Communist system. I suspect the people in Russia envy us tremendously. Their leaders know they have to perpetuate the Communist system, though, for self-preservation.'

"Khrushchev Will Not Get Holyoke Bid; Mayor Resnic Denies Invitation Given Red Premier". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. August 13, 1959. p. 42. It appeared Wednesday night that no formal invitation has been extended to Soviet Premier Khrushchev nor will one be offered to visit this city during his tour of the United States. Announcement has been made by Mayor Resnic that he will not invite the Red leader to come here. Over the week end a story was published...to the effect that Mayor Resnic and Jacob L. Barowsky, local industrialist, had invited Khrushchev to come to this city, but since then several protests have been voiced...Apparently the association of the mayor with the incident resulted from the possibility of consulting the State Department to determine if it would be advisable to extend such an invitation.

"Aldermen Renege On City Invitation To Soviet Premier". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. September 2, 1959. p. 36. The Gavin order stated that the invitation to have Khrushchev visit Holyoke, reportedly extended by Mayor Resnic but later denied by him...

"Hits Holyoke Mayor's Bid to Top Red; Alderman Labels Invitation to Khrushchev as 'Greatest Insult'". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. August 12, 1959. p. 21. An invitation to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to visit this city by Mayor Samuel Resnic was blasted by Alderman Joseph C. Gavin tuesdy night as 'the greatest insult to the city of Holyoke in its entire history.'

unclear to what degree the matter had been merely disussed or if it had been announced by the mayor's office, in his obituary the purported invitation was still mentioned[5]

remarks on Khrushchev, economy

https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A12AE9C35A497B0E8%40GB3NEWS-12ED3BB41CA77E57%402437354-12ECD653B4959D71%4031-12ECD653B4959D71%40?h=3&fname=&lname=&fullname=&rgfromDate=&rgtoDate=&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=%22William%20Whiting%20Lodge%22%20%22Resnic%22&kwexc=&sid=ugyrctsahzdmjurvxwfzeupucvsncsww_wma-gateway010_1633696225586




1961 election "Seven Western Mass. Cities Holding Elections Today; Mayoral Contests Claim Spotlight in Most Communities; Council and School Board Posts Also At Stake; Turnout of 52,454 Forecast Here". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 7, 1961. p. 1. Holyoke Race- The Holyoke election will be watched closely, as Mayor Samuel Resnic goes against state Rep. Stephen D. Chmura, who ran ahead of the mayor in last month's preliminary.

Cunningham, Bill (December 7, 1956). "People, Who Care, Revive Holyoke; C of C Hops from Bottom Close to Top in Standing". Boston Herald. p. 57. while president of the aldermen, part of the dozen or so figures who reorganized the Chamber of Commerce, expanding membership, removing perpetuity of directors, 1954


Personal life[edit]

Samuel Resnic was born in the Russian Empire on March 1, 1899, spending his childhood years there before his family immigrated to the United States in 1907. After attending Boston University, he attended Northeastern University where he received his law degree in 1928.[3] The following year he moved to Holyoke to start his own practice.[5] While the exact year of their marriage is unavailable, around this time Resnic had married his wife Theresa "Babe" Hendel; the couple had two sons, Burton and Harold.

Prior to his involvement in city politics Resnic served on a number of local bodies, being a member of the public service committee of the Holyoke Lions Club in the early 1930s, and

married before 1933

"Jewish War Veterans Form Holyoke Post; 25 Eligible in Holyoke With Others in Nearby Towns— 3000 Members in Nation". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. July 11, 1940. p. 6. The work in stimulating membership in the local [27th] post is in the hands of Thomas Epstein, Samuel Levinson, Atty Sam Resnic and Saul Firestone.

YMHA - part of history pageant, gave a history and overview activities of the YMHA "Hebrew Organizations Demonstrate Activity; Several Club[s] Participate in Pageant Showing Work of Y.M.-Y.W.H.A.". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. March 19, 1931. p. 3.

JCC founding president http://www.ajcarchives.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1941_1942_8_DirectoriesLists.pdf American Jewish Year Book (PDF). Jewish Publication Society. 1941. p. 614 – via American Jewish Committee Archives. Holyoke - Jewish Community Council, org. 1940, (f), 378 Maple St. Samuel Resnic, Pres.; Rabbi A. A. Lasker, Ex. Dir.

American Jewish Year Book - Thirty-Seventh Annual Report (PDF) (Report). The American Jewish Committee. 1944. p. 556. resigned from AJC general committee in 1945

William Whiting Lodge? http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=MassachusettsYear1959

was member in the 1930s "Descriptive catalogue of the Museum of Natural History and Art of the Holyoke Public Library". Holyoke Public Library; Holyoke Vocational School Printing Department. 1936.

Alderman[edit]

Mayor[edit]

"The Big Changes in U.S." U.S. News & World Report. Vol. XLVI, no. 19. May 11, 1959. p. 55 – via Internet Archive. Some of the old New England mill towns, such as Holyoke, Mass., are fighting to reverse the flight of industry from the bleak mill buildings. Said Mayor Samuel Resnic: 'We're over the period of runaway industry here. We've filled a million square feet of empty floor space in the past two years. We're using the old mill buildings as sort of incubators where industries can get started and then move into our new industrial park later. Some day in the foreseeable future, through our urban redevelopment authority, we hope to tear down some of the old mill buildings and give this town a face-lifting.' plans to move more business to industrial park

part of a municipal initiative to support slow auto sales, "Business: Selling from City Hall". Time. Time, Inc. April 7, 1961. Mayor Samuel Resnic of Holyoke, Mass., wrote that 'we are planning to purchase $50,000 worth of motor vehicle equipment for our public works department, six trucks for our water department, six cruisers for our police department and a police patrol wagon.'

https://archive.org/details/economygrocerystopandshopannualreports/stopandshop1962/page/18/mode/2up?q=%22Holyoke%22 McNulty Park (later dedicated), given by Stop and Shop during admin

Whiting Farms Road "Land Damages Results Expected To Be Amicable". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. October 6, 1961. p. 50. -damages consulted with William Whiting III (son of William F. Whiting) only after the completion of the road

"Charges Flung By Candidates In Mayor Race; Four Aspirants Make Views Known at Jaycee Rally". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. September 28, 1961. p. 3. during his 1961 campaign, the mayor faced mounting criticism from rival Representative Stephen T. Chmura, who posited that the mayor had a conflict of interest in his connection as a founding member of the Regional Business Development Corporation which had bought 65 acres from the city, and for which Whiting Farms Road had been constructed for, noting, the mayor was the city's largest individual taxpayer, however his only non-corporate property was his own home

ultimately with the completion of I-91 and construction of the Holyoke Mall and other commercial properties, the road would be seen as a lasting positive legacy for the mayor within a decade of its completion[6]

"Cautious Optimism Is How Holyoke Enters '63, Industrial Concern Noted". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. January 13, 1963. p. 36E. loss of White & Wyckoff in 1963 with a purchase from Dayton, Ohio's Western Stationery and Tablet; however during administration saw opening of the Springdale Instrual Park by the Holyoke Water Power Company, where firms like Acme Chain and Lestoil opened plants. as well as a $1 million dollar Presntiss Wire Mill of H. K. Porter Co., in West Holyoke Industrial Park, developed by the mayor's Regional Business Development Corp.; new high school was already in the works, expected to be completed in 1964. awaiting a boost from the construction of I-91 which had been laid out, Resnic closed his term as "cautiously optimistic"

-Resnic countered $300,000 of new sewer construction had been done in Ward 3

"Chmura Tags Mayor Resnic as 'Bungler'; Cites Rte. 91 'Meddling' As Progress Bllock to Highway". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. February 20, 1961. p. 4. criticism included delays to I-91 plans in order to incorporate a Lower Westfield Road interchange, today the exit at Ingleside for the Holyoke Mall

"Action Looms on Land Sale for Industry; Aldermen Would Speed Transfer of Property of City Home". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. July 22, 1959. p. 37. sale of land in 1959; part of broader effort to shore up new employment amidst what what was to be a beginning of the city's worst decline to date. despite these efforts, from 1955 to 1975, Holyoke saw a decline of 50% in manufacturing jobs[7]


Electoral history[edit]

1957 Holyoke, Massachusetts mayoral election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Samuel Resnic 9,900 47.74%
Nonpartisan Paul L. Brougham 5,153 24.85%
Nonpartisan Norman L. Stepno 2,879 13.88%
Nonpartisan Ralph J. Thompson 2,807 13.53%
Total votes 20,739 100.00%

The first mayoral primary held in Holyoke

1959 Holyoke, Massachusetts mayoral primary[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Samuel Resnic 4,946 48.77%
Nonpartisan Joseph C. Gavin 2,662 26.25%
Nonpartisan Joseph Jubinville, Jr. 2,532 24.98%
Total votes 10,140 100.00%
1959 Holyoke, Massachusetts mayoral election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Samuel Resnic 11,810 59.35%
Nonpartisan Joseph C. Gavin 8,088 40.65%
Total votes 19,898 100.00%
1961 Holyoke, Massachusetts mayoral primary[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Stephen T. Chmura 5,786 41.99%
Nonpartisan Samuel Resnic 5,166 37.49%
Nonpartisan Roland E. Carmel 2,527 18.34%
Nonpartisan Joseph G. Gomez 300 2.18%
Total votes 13,779 100.00%
1961 Holyoke, Massachusetts mayoral election[12][a]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Samuel Resnic 11,472 51.43%
Nonpartisan Stephen T. Chmura 10,832 48.57%
Total votes 22,304 100.00%

Business career[edit]

"Names in the News". Rubber Age. Vol. XC, no. 2. Penton Business Media, Inc. November 1961. p. 298. Samuel Resnic, mayor of Holyoke, Mass., has been elected a director of the Acme-Hamilton Manufacturing Corp., New York, N. Y.

member of board of directors of Boston Garden for some duration in the 1960s[14]

"Marcus Printing Co. Purchases Building". Springfield Daily News. Springfield, Mass. October 21, 1969. p. 4. Marcus Printing Co. of 206 Appleton St. was reported to have purchased the Skinner Building on Appleton between Bigelow Street and the first level canal. Atty. Burton Resnic represents the former owner, Atty. Samuel Resnic...Originally located in 109 Main St. [Marcus Printing] moved to the Skinner Mills building in 1963 Bought silk mill following its closure, first sold in 1961 by the Skinners to Indian Head Mills, then shuttered in 1963. sold to marcus in 1969

"Shopping Mart at Site Of Rail Station Reported". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. August 3, 1961. p. 45. The Marjorie R Development Corp. of Holyoke, owner of the former Boston and Maine passenger station here, has plans to sell the property for a downtown shopping mart...according to papers of incorporation filed with the secretary of state, [the corporation] is headed by Burton Resnic, son of Mayor Samuel Resnic of Holyoke, as president. George N. Beauregard of Holyoke, law partner of Mayor Resnic and a special justice of the Holyoke District Court, is listed as clerk and treasurer, and directors are Mayor Resnic and Abraham Saltman, public works commissioner for the city of Holyoke. Mayor Resnic and Saltman also are reported to be officers or directors of the R and S Corp. which purchased the Holyoke railroad station from Manos and has turned it into a warehouse.

"Demolition Starts On Section of Bond Street". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. February 16, 1963. p. 33. Demolition started last week on buildings on Bond St., off Appleton St., in Holyoke where the Grossman Lumber Co. recently was located...The property is owned by Mayor Samuel Resnic who has said in the past that he has no immediate plans for the land

"Hotel Is Closed Pending Repairs Of Fire Damage". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. December 25, 1962. p. 42. Until repairs can be made the Hotel Essex will be temporarily closed. The High St. building was damaged by fire early Sunday morning. Mayor Samuel Resnic, a principal officer of the corporation owning the hotel, said Monday that the exact amount of damage ot the eight-story structure has not been fully determined. Fire damage was confined to the northeast portions of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eight floors, but the water damage throughout the building was extensive...The closing of the hotel leaves the city without a major hotel operating.

"Resnic Assumes Ownership of Hotel Essex". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. June 2, 1956. p. 42. Ownership of the Hotel Essex passed into the hands of Samuel Resnic, president of the Board of Aldermen, his wife and their son, today when final papers were signed with James P. Kelly who operated the hotel for many years...Resnic was authorized by the Licensing Board to serve as temporary manger for a period of not more than 30 days

"Buyers of Essex Hotel File Stock Transfer Petition". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. May 9, 1956. p. 43. The board received an opinion from the city solicitor regarding the proposed hotel sale that there is no legal obstacle against Resnic's being associated with two corporations holding all-alcoholic licenses in the event the hotel sale is completed. Resnic is one of the major stockholders in the Log Cabin on Easthampton Rd.

"Open House Set Tuesday at Hotel for the Elderly". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. March 13, 1960. p. 16. Something new in the way of housing for the elderly will come here Tuesday with an open house at Hotel Essex where rooms on the top 3 floors of the High St. hotel have been converted for use by the elderly...Mayor Samuel Resnic, members of Board of Aldermen and other city officials are expected to be on hand...This is the first housign for the elderly of this type here and will provide space for elderly persons in need of quarters who have been unable to locate in either of the city's two housing projects for the elderly, the Minnie R. Dwight Village on Chestnut St. or the Edwin A. Seibel apartments at Hampden and Nonotuck Sts.

Development of Bemis Heights and Resnic Drive "Water Board Airs Charge of Discrimination; Bemis Says He Is Paying For Excavation Agency Doing for Others". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. May 3, 1961. p. 41. The complaint was expressed in a letter from Clarence A. Bemis, developer of Bemis Heights...in one case at least, the commissioners pointed out, the equipment doing excavation work on Resnic Dr., according to a picture displayed by Bemis, was a backhoe of the Department of Public Works.

"Aldermen Defeat Order On $150,000 Bond Issue; Measure to Finance Sewer Construction Loses in 7-3 Vote of Board". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. September 7, 1960. p. 38. The aldermen were told that in addition to the Blueberry Hill job the sums of $20,688 for the Bemis Heights development, $20,000 for Resnic Dr., and $4000 for the Theroux project were included in the plans for which the bond was being sought.

"Mayor Is at Top Of Assessor List". Times Record News. Wichita Falls, TX. November 11, 1959. p. 2 – via AP. Mayor Samuel Resnic is somewhat of a conservative when it comes to spending tax dollars. He treats public money like it was his own- and why not? The assessors' list of the biggest taxpayers came out Tuesday, and Resnic's name as at the top for individuals.

Hotel Essex "Hotel Essex Sale Nearly Complete". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. October 20, 1963. p. 8. The sale of the Hotel Essex at 400 High St. was confirmed Saturday by Mayor Samuel Resnic...The hotel has been closed for the past several months following a fire which did considerable interior damage. The closing left the city without a major uptown hotel. The former Roger Smith Hotel has been closed since 1960.

"[Advertisement for] Auction Sales...The land and building at 400 High St., Holyoke, Mass. (Known as the Hotel Essex)". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. May 24, 1965. p. 26.

"Hotel Essex Soon to Become Apt. Building". Springfield Daily News. Springfield, Mass. December 20, 1969. p. 3. Mortgages totaling $500,000 have been given to the General Investment Corp. of Hartford, Conn., by the Hartford National Bank and Trust Co...Charles N. Paliocha is president of GIC which is now in the process of remodeling the former Hotel Essex on High Street here into luxury apartments. The mortgage funds cover the building and cost of extensive renovations

Legacy[edit]

Mayor Resnic and his wife Babe Resnic present an honorary plaque to Boston Mayor John F. Collins, the third recipient of the Holyoke Saint Patrick's Day Parade's "Outstanding American of Irish Descent" award, 1960[15]

Today Resnic is remembered for his development of what eventually became the Holyoke Mall and the industrial area today located by Whitney Avenue. Indeed he would live long enough after his mayoralty to see Whiting Farms Road, opponents once dubbing it the "Road to Nowhere", become a major thoroughfare. Although some of his land speculations would ultimately see this area supplant the former commerce and industry of downtown, this trend continued both prior to and after Resnic's tenure.[16] Resnic is better remembered for a second road today, his namesake Resnic Boulevard, which was dedicated posthumously in June 1993, in part to improve emergency responses from the more easily confused Ross Avenue name it had for decades prior.[17]

Serving as mayor during the first regular Holyoke Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Resnic is also remembered for presiding over the first shamrocks to be painted on public streets, and began the traditional mayor's reception, held annually prior to the parade. Receiving the Citizenship Award in 1968 for his contributions to the annual event, he marched in every parade prior to a stroke in 1985.[5]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Final count unavailable, margin between candidates shrunk to about 450 following months of auditing.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/804243 https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/804303
  2. ^ "[Ad] Republicans and Independents for Governor's Council Nominate Bruce Crane". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. September 14, 1952. p. 18. Samuel Resnic, Holyoke
  3. ^ a b "Boston+and+Maine"+"Samuel+Resnic"&dq="Boston+and+Maine"+"Samuel+Resnic"&printsec=frontcover Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Vol. II. Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Inc. 1969.
  4. ^ "Holyoke - The Paper City Offers Converting Opportunities". Southern Pulp and Paper Manufacturer. Vol. XVIII, no. 1. E. H. Abernethy Publishing Company. 1955. p. 30. Samuel Resnic, attorney and largest individual tax payer in Holyoke
  5. ^ a b c d "Samuel Resnic, former Holyoke mayor". Springfield Union-News. Springfield, Mass. November 25, 1988. p. 35.
  6. ^ "$20-Million Mall Proves Value of 'Road to Nowhere'". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. September 2, 1972. p. 20.
  7. ^ Moriarty, Jo-Ann (July 24, 1983). "Holyoke's Hispanics span economic spectrum". The Republican. Springfield, Mass. p. B-1.
  8. ^ "Resnic, Brougham Win Holyoke Mayoral Tilts; Former Elected to Full Two-Year Term, Latter to Serve Until Jan. 1". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 6, 1957. pp. 1, 17.
    • "Election Day Lineup In Holyoke". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 1, 1957. p. 32.
  9. ^ "Resnic and Gavin Win Holyoke Mayoral Test; Jubinville Third in First Preliminary Election; Total of 10,426 Votes cast". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. October 7, 1959. pp. 1, 4.
  10. ^ "Resnic Swept In As Mayor in Holyoke Vote; Re-elected by Plurality of 3722; Meunier Wins Alderman Post". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 4, 1959. p. 1.
  11. ^ "Chmura Tops Field For Holyoke Mayor; Resnic Also Names". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. October 11, 1961. p. 1.
  12. ^ "Resnic, Haughey, Florini Mayoral Contest Victors; Holyoke Returns Incumbent by 630 Votes; Chmura May Ask for Recount". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 8, 1961. p. 1.
  13. ^ "Dibble Close Winner In Holyoke Election". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 6, 1963. p. 4. This is the second very close election here in a row since in 1961 Mayor Resnic just edged out State Rep. Stephen T. Chmura by about 450 votes.
    • "Chmura Says Registrars Failed to Heed 4 Petitions". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. December 11, 1961. p. 5. The recount as completed by the Board of Registrars of Voters and later certified by the aldermen, showed Mayor Samuel Resnic was re-elected for a two-year term over Chmura by 552 votes...Chmura listed the following recount requests which were not complied with: certification of the vote was made before the absentee ballots, applications and envelopes were completely examined; over 50 deceased persons were classified on the official voting list as voting...
  14. ^ "Board Votes to Save Garden, Meets With Mayor Nov. 9". Boston Record American. Boston. October 30, 1965. p. 20.
  15. ^ "Hub Mayor Collins Gets Parade's Third Citation". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. March 21, 1960. p. 1.
  16. ^ Goddu, Charles (December 9, 1969). "'Road to Nowhere' Yields Big Results". Springfield Daily News. Springfield, Mass. p. 2.
  17. ^ "Approved Name Changes". Springfield Union-News. Springfield, Mass. June 4, 1993.

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