Oscar Beauchemin

Oscar Beauchemin
Portrait of Beauchemin, c. 1938
Bornc. 1876
Quebec
DiedJanuary 15, 1938(1938-01-15) (aged 62)[1][2]
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery[1]
Holyoke, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Known forArchitect
Notable workValley Arena[3]
J.R. Smith Block
Holyoke Transportation Center
Springdale Main Street
The Parkside
Paquette Block
Guenther Block
SpouseMaria 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]

  1. ^ a b c d "Oscar Beauchemin, Architect, Dead". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. January 16, 1938. p. 4A.
  2. ^ "BEAUCHEMIN". Springfield Republican. January 17, 1938. p. 4. In Holyoke, the 15th, Oscar Beauchemin of 87 Pearl street. Funeral from the home Tuesday morning at 8:15, solemn high mass of requiem in Holyoke Cross church at 9. Burial in Calvary cemetery, John B. Shea service
  3. ^ "Deaths- Orcar Beauchemin [sic]; Well Known Architect and Designer Dies at Pearl St. Home; Was Member of Bowling Team That Established World's Record 25 Years Ago". Holyoke Transcript-Telegram. January 17, 1938. p. 10. In drawing the plans for the Valley Arena, Mr. Beauchemin remodeled the old gas holder, formerly the property of the Municipal Gas & Electric department, into a perfect indoor sports center. Regarded as one of the most model boxing plants in the country the building was praised by Jack Dempsey, former world's heavyweight champion, on a recent visit here as one of the finest he had ever seen.
  4. ^ a b c Alcorn, W. M.; Shirley, P. E. (1910). Holyoke, Past and Present Progress and Prosperity; Historical and Industrial Notes. W.M. Alcorn Souvenir Association. p. 41. OCLC 50033673.
  5. ^ 1910 US Census, Voter Lists; identified by location and wife, Maria E Beauchemin
  6. ^ "Oscar Beauchemin". Engineering News-record. Vol. 120. McGraw-Hill. 1938. p. 313. Oscar Beauchemin, who was connected with the engineering department of the City of Holyoke, Mass., died Jan. 8.
  7. ^ "Home City Men in Lead by Few Pins". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. January 31, 1913. p. 19. Splendid shooting by Cecil Spalding marked the first half of the $50 purse match in which Spalding and Oscar Beauchemin are pitted against Ed Morrill and George Plumadore of Springfield