Uncategorized – Page 86 – Historical Tours of Greater Holyoke

Farr Alpaca Mill

The Farr Alpaca Mill was started in 1873 by Hubert Farr. It was a Canadian company before that. It is mostly located between the first and second canals. They are a producer of alpaca wool. The alpacas of Peru were the source of the wool fabric. They also made serges.

The company would last in production until 1939.

Inside mill 3 is a company theater which is now called the Winter Palace.

Read Wikipedia about Farr Alpaca.

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 map and map B and Mosher and Bowers Buildings which would later be Farr Alpaca structures – also a storage site

Sanborn 1889 mill 1 map A and map B and mill 2 (not there yet)

Sanborn 1895 map for mill 1 and mill 2 and mill 3 (as HWP buildings)

Sanborn 1915 map (for mill 1) and Sanborn 1915 map (for mill 2) and mill 3

Sanborn 1949 map mill 1 and mill 2 (here is General Electric) and mill 3 (now Hart Top)

Sanborn 1956 map

National Blank Book

The National Blank Book Company is integral to the history of Holyoke. James Towne and his sons grew the company from a small New York City firm in 1843 into the world leader in blank books. In 1881 Edward Towne moved the mill from NYC to Holyoke.

In 1898 they erected their own mill on the Second Level Canal at the juncture with Riverside Station. From 1906 to 1930 it was enlarged 5 different times.

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 1889 and 1895 all show the site is empty but National Blank Book is in the city since they are at the Cabot Street Mill with other small developing firms.

Sanborn 1889 map

Sanborn 1915 map

Sanborn 1949 map plus there is a site 2 buildings away to the north

Sanborn 1956 map

American Pad

Thomas Holley made the American Pad Company in 1884 in Holyoke. They started small as a processer of waster paper.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 9662802-Copy-1024x672.jpg — 1950

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 map – near start of Main Street

Sanborn 1889 map – Whiting Street Building on Main Street

Sanborn 1895 map – Whiting Street Building on Main Street

Sanborn 1915 map – NE corner of Appleton and Winter Streets

Sanborn 1949 map – NE corner of Appleton and Winter Streets

Sanborn 1956 map – NE corner of Appleton and Winter Streets

Springfield Blanket Mill

Warren Wilkinson built the Springfield Blanket Company on the Third Level Canal. They are a horse blanket firm. They made a million blankets a year at peak. The mill was organized May 2 1870 and incorporated Dec of 1919. When Warren died in 1892 his nephew Edward Wilkinson took over. The land that Warren Wilkinson owned in the southern part of Holyoke was taken over by the Catholic bishop of Springfield and turned into Brightside.

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1949 map shows an empty lot

Horses were very important in Holyoke like the rest of the country. Below is a horseshoer ad in the city directory.

Newton Paper

Moses Newton built up the Newton Paper Mill in 1873. He is one of the four Newton brothers of Holyoke.

His son Herbert Newton was also president for many years.

Types of paper that they made are the Medal and Elephant Brands.

Sanborn map analysis:

Hampden Glaze Paper Mill

George Fowler built the Hampden Glaze Paper and Card Company in 1880 between the Second Level Canal and the river. It has been in the family for all these many years – that is, five generations of Fowlers. George Fowler made his home in Springfield.

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1884 map – just off the map

Sanborn 1889 map – just off the map

Sanborn 1895 map – just off the map

Sanborn 1915 map

Sanborn 1949 map

Sanborn 1956 map

Norman Paper Mill

The Norman Paper Mill was built between the Second Level Canal and the Connecticut River. It is from 1891. It is still there but no longer used for paper production.

This mill was one of many designed by the Tower Brothers.

PICTURE – PICTURE

Sanborn map analysis:

Sanborn 1915 map and all prior maps show nothing since all is empty

Sanborn 1949 map now part of Holyoke Water Power

Sanborn 1956 map now part of Holyoke Water Power

Franklin Mill

James Newton started the Franklin Mill in 1866 on the third canal. They made fine paper. It would soon thereafter pass into the ownership of James Ramage who lived at 233 Walnut Street.