[Illustration: OPERA HOUSE.]

The building growth of the city has kept pace with the manufacturing.
Where a few years ago were acres of woodland, swamps or brambly
pastures, are now well-graded streets lined with pleasant houses. Hills
have been leveled, ponds and ravines filled and made into valuable real
estate. From the highlands in the western part of the city, there are
river and mountain views of surpassing beauty. Gradually the building
centre is moving westward and many charming homes have been created on
the suburban streets. The old stage-road which led from Springfield to
Northampton is now a wide, well-graded highway with handsome villas
surrounded by spacious grounds. Here are the fine residences of
Treasurer R.B. Johnson of the Holyoke Savings Bank, G.W. Prentiss of the
wire-mills, Westover, the residence of E.J. Pomeroy, Lawnfield, the
house of R.M. Fairfield, "The Knolls" the fine residence of Mr. C.H.
Heywood, and on the higest point of all is Rus-in-Urbe, the lookout
point of Mr. Foster Wilson. Farther south on the same street are the
residencies of Mr. Timothy Merrick, Donald Mackintosh, Oscar Ely, John
Cleary and others. The residence streets of Ward six are pleasant with
shade trees, blooming gardens and lovely houses. From the most sightly
eminence of the ward, the house of William Skinner of the silk-mill
overlooks the city. A central and pleasant square encloses the home of
W.A. Chase, the agent of the Water Power Company, and houses with all
the appointments of elegance and luxury are owned by Messrs. Whiting,
Dillon, Farr, Metcalf, Mackintosh, W.A. Prentiss Clark, E.W. Chapin,
Ramage, Newton, Corser and many others. Fairmount Square is a new
section just opened for good residences. In the southerly part of the
city is the farm of Congressman Wm. Whiting with its herds of beautiful
Jerseys, and on the Springfield road is the model Brightside farm, the