Image courtesy of PeoplesBank.

PeoplesBank has restored and renovated the Hildreth House in Holyoke as its newest branch. Built in the 1880s and converted into the Yankee Pedlar Inn in the 1940s, the building has been named the Pedlar Banking Center to honor its history.

“It was a phenomenal opportunity for us to make a statement about who we are and our commitment to Holyoke,” Tom Senecal, president and CEO of PeoplesBank, said in a statement. “When it became clear that we had the opportunity to preserve it, it became something that we focused on not only for the bank but the community and our customers as well. We added the newest and best banking technology here, so it blends some of the old and the new.”

PeoplesBank restored the Hildreth House to close to its original Queen Anne style by removing many of the alterations and renovations that have occurred since the home’s construction in 1882. One 20th century touch that was retained and rebuilt was the wraparound porch, an iconic part of the Yankee Pedlar and other homes on Northampton Street. A community room inside will be available at no cost to nonprofit organizations. A new addition behind the Hildreth House provides space for the bank lobby, service counter and support offices, as well as the drive-through canopy.

The renovation and addition used an environmentally-friendly design, including a high-efficiency HVAC system, low-flow water fixtures and rainwater runoff mitigation. The exterior wall allows for two-way flow of air vapor, leading to a cleaner environment. PeoplesBank has three LEED-certified offices.

PeoplesBank also installed VideoBanker interactive teller machines at this location. The ITMs will be available from the drive-through lanes, allowing customers extended service hours and the ability to perform almost all transactions available inside a banking center. The ITMs will allow bank associates, housed at a central location, to remotely serve customers via a two-way video and audio connection and other enhanced machine capabilities. The Pedlar Banking Center will be the first PeoplesBank branch to use this technology, which will subsequently be rolled out to other locations.