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.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1915 map as the Ford Auger Bit Co
Sanborn 1949 map – weave shed for Farr Alpaca
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)
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 1949 map plus there is a site 2 buildings away to the north
Thomas Holley made the American Pad Company in 1884 in Holyoke. They started small as a processer of waster paper.
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
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
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.
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
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.
Sanborn map analysis:
The Massasoit was a maker of extra fine paper and fine paper. One of the owners was an Edward C Rogers who lived in Springfield.
Sanborn map analysis
Sanborn 1949 map as the Holyoke Water Power Co
Sanborn 1956 map as the Holyoke Water Power Co
