The story of the naming of Mt. Holyoke is told as follows:


"The morning dawned on the double group,
Facing each other on opposite shores,
Where years ago with a mighty swoop
The waters parted the mountain doors."

"Let us christen the mountains!" said Holyoke in glee,
"Let us christen the mountains!" said Thomas again,
"This mountain for you, and that mountain for me,"
And their trusty fellows responded "Amen!"

Then Holyoke buried his palm in the stream,
And tossed the pure spray toward the mountain brow
And said, while it shone in the sun's fierce beam,
"Fair mountain, thou art Mt. Holyoke now!"


How much of this rhythmic legend is true and how much imaginary is
uncertain; but it is quite probable that in the course of this survey
Holyoke's name was given to the mountain, of which Holyoke city is a
namesake.

[Illustration: THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.]

The town so originated and named grew gradually until the breaking out
of the civil war, but its most rapid growth has been since 1865. In 1857
the water-power and property were purchased by a company which organized