Looking east on Stockbridge Street toward Main Street in Springfield, around 1938-1939. Image courtesy of the Springfield Preservation Trust.
Stockbridge Street in 2023:
Like many other places in downtown Springfield, Stockbridge Street was once lined with three story brick commercial blocks, much like the ones seen in the 1930s view of the street. This style appeared throughout the downtown area in the first half of the 19th century, when Springfield began growing into a major commercial and industrial center. Early views of Court Square, Main Street, and other areas in downtown all feature plenty of examples of these buildings, but today only a few are left. In the immediate downtown area, the last two are the Byers Block on Court Square, and the Guenther & Handel’s Block in this scene.
The Guenther & Handel’s Block was built in 1845, and as the 1930s photo shows, it was part of a row of similar buildings. For many years, the ground floor was a grocery store and delicatessen, and in 1913 was sold to Emil Guenther and Richard Handel, who ran a grocery store under their names. By the time the first photo was taken, both men had died, but the business was run by the family until 1972. Today, all of the other mid-19th century buildings on the street are gone, and Guenther & Handel’s Block is wedged between an ornate early 20th century apartment building and a drab, nondescript late 20th century commercial building.
I have not found much on the store by the name of Guenther and Handel. It was a German delicatessen, where one could buy mainly German foods, cheeses and meats. The upstairs kitchen made prepared foods to sell downstairs- German potato salad, pasta salads and more. There was a woman, Annie, who made doughnuts and crullers fresh every day. I should know- my grandmother headed the kitchen for many years after emigrating from Germany, and I spent a great deal of my childhood there.
Oh! The deli certainly had the most delicious foods but especially their potato salad!
For many years most of our family celebrations were topped off with a spread from their Deli. We will be celebration our 60th wedding anniversary soon and I would give anything to be able to make some or have some made. would you have the recipe???
That would be the BIGGEST gift we could dream of. God bless you and your family.
Do you happen To have the recipe for their German potato salad? It was the best I’ve ever had and I’ve never tasted a German potato salad like that one since
I do have the recipe. Ray Guenther taught me how to make it,along with all the other salads.
Hi Nicholas…. I can’t believe I came across this post. My wife worked across the street from the deli and we would often eat there…and ALWAYS have the potato salad. The best German potato salad I ever had. By chance… are you willing to share this recipe??
Paul
Hi Nicholas,
I would be interested in the recipe if you would be able to share…
Thank you
Rich
Hi Nicholas,
I am Richard Handel’s great-granddaughter. His son, Harry was my grandfather and I have fond memories of him bringing me to his deli when I was a child. I was always given a lollipop on my way out. I do remember the women upstairs laughing and chatting away as they stuffed sausages or whatever they were doing. I’m afraid I only had eyes for the imported cookies and black licorice, and as a child, never appreciated the smelly German cheeses and cold cuts we always had in our fridge. Now that I am all grown up with children and grandchildren, I would love to share some of the salad recipes with them. Would you please share them with me? It’s so special to be connected to those who came before us.
I finely found you, I am 78 years old and my mom and dad would take me to guenther and handel’s to buy their german potato salad please send me a copy of their recipe , please share I cannot thank you enough
I would certainly love to have the recipe. The memories of the store and the taste of the potato salad were out of this world. I believe the potato salad and its recipe survived at another store called The Deli in East Longmeadow but has since also gone out of business. I would appreciate if you could be so kind and forward this recipe to me.
Just ran across this story and would love to have the German potatoe salad recipie if available. It brings back fond memories of my mom and dad and the family going there.
Just ran across this story and would love to have the German potatoe salad recipie if available. It brings back fond memories of my mom and dad and the family going there. Best salad I have ever tasted! Would you be willing to share ? Thank you.
If there is any way you could share the recipe for the potato salad it would be greatly appreciated. I used to go to the Deli in Eastlongmeadow often and always got the potato salad, it’s the best I’ve ever had.
As a child I have fond memories of many hours spent at the TurnVerein on Round Hill, and my parents shopping at Guenther und Handels for wursts and Magaziners bakery for fresh rye bread. As a condiderer (baker) from Germany, his patronizing these businesses was quite a compliment. He baked at Forbes and Wallace and later at Lederers Hansel and Gretzky bakery on Sumner Ave.
I loved their cold celery salad. I loved it as a child. I’ve tried to duplicate it but couldn’t.
Thanks
So much
I walk by there all the time. They are re-habbing the street soon. Many memories of their potato salad and pickled watermelon rind and other stuff! Long time ago. Was a real treat to go there in the 60″s