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HCC’s story begins in 1946. It started as the city-sponsored
Holyoke Junior College, a fledgling institution that lacked many of
the resources traditionally associated with colleges. The school,
however, flourished thanks to the perseverance of its small but dedicated
staff. Dr. George Frost, the school's founder, and Ellen Lynch, his
secretary, were the only full-time employees until 1958, sharing a
tiny office in a former cloak room in the Holyoke High School building.
Together they scavenged chalk, erasers, and pencils for the part-time
faculty, who taught classes in the borrowed quarters during the evenings.
Innovation was, and continues to be, a cornerstone of the College's
pursuit of excellence.
When Holyoke Community College's newly renovated campus burned to
the ground on a bitterly cold day in January of 1968, it was the resourcefulness
and innovative spirit of the College and community that enabled students
to resume their studies in temporary facilities within a matter of
days. Later, flooding the governor's office with hundreds of letters
and phone calls, the community and College joined forces to insist
that the school be rebuilt in Holyoke.
Today, Holyoke Community College is housed on a multi-million-dollar,
165-acre campus, and is equipped with the latest state-of-the art
technology in specialized learning facilities. The school serves over
9,000 students, and provides a variety of recreational and cultural
activities, from sports programs to music festivals, for students
and community members alike. The College's strongest assets continue
to be an innovative spirit, a sincere concern for students, and a
commitment to strive for even greater success. These are the values
which have a created a tradition of excellence spanning almost six
decades, and which are enabling Holyoke Community College to meet
the challenges of the new millennium. |
