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.
LINK to my Patreon pay per view video on this mill.
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
LINK to go to my Patreon pay per view video.
William Skinner started the Unquomonk Mill in Williamsburg. He came to Holyoke in 1874 after the Mill River flood of that year.
1884
1889
1895
1905
1956
1949
mill 3 – 1915
How Silk is Made (external Youtube link – not my video)
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1949 map – map B – map C
Sanborn 1956 map – map B – map C
also called the Robertson and Black Mill
The Holyoke Manila Mill is from 1875. The Robertson brothers were the owners. It was at the juncture between the second and third canal. Their main product was manila folders.
Sanborn 1884 map – NOT
Sanborn 1889 map – does not extend to that area
Sanborn 1895 map – NOT there
Henry Seymour (FINDAGRAVE) started Seymour Cutlery in 1878. Their main product was scissors. Notice that their salesroom is in New York City. The company had his brother Robert (FINDAGRAVE) as helper. (At that location in the early 1870s was Warner File.)
Japanned and japanning means that the handle is with black lacquer.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1915 map it is gone and Farr Alpaca is in the area
