Henry Dickinson started the Connecticut River Paper Mill in 1870 on the Third Level Canal. They are a maker of fine paper with one type being No. 1 High Grade. They were called the Connecticut River Paper Company from the 1870s to the 1890s.
1890
The Purcell Envelope Company which formed in 1894 is a maker of United States stamped envelopes. They in 1896 joined with the Connecticut River Paper Mill.
The Connecticut River Pulp Mill is a Newton family company. It is from 1876 and lasted to 1886. It was located on the Second Level Canal near the Massasoit. Floors are 1, 2, or 4 high. Work is separated by area. When it closed it moved to the Chemical Mill and to Readsboro Vermont.
Daniel Newton made the Albion Paper Mill in 1869. They make book paper. Designed by David Tower. The mill has 12 mill power running 18 1000 pound engines.
The Dickinson Paper Mill was built in 1882 between the first and second canals. George Dickinson was the owner. The architect was David and Ashley Tower. Note the tower facing the canal. Henry the son of George took over later in life.
James Newton started the Massachusetts Screw Company in 1873 at the Holyoke Water Power Mill. They made wooden screws and many other products. They would move their operations to along the Second Level Canal.
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.
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.
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.
Springfield Blanket Co., Inc Holyoke, Mass
Item is from Springfield Blanket Co., Inc Holyoke, Mass and is a gift to the HPT from Patty Fuller.
The mill was organized May 2 1870 and incorporated Dec of 1919. There was also a Springfield Blanket Company in Winchendon. When there was a fire at that mill in 1873, the production was raised at the Holyoke mill. The partnership was with J O Blanding who died in 1875. FINDAGRAVE 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. The only reason that the Springfield Blanket Company was called that is that Warren Wilkinson had his house in Springfield in 1870 and they needed a name that would be known around the country and Springfield had that.
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.
