The Wauregan Mill was made by James Newton in 1869.
Associated Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies
DIAGRAM from 1914
Sanborn map analysis:
Wauregan Mill
Connecticut River Paper Mill
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.
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.
They are called the Bemis in 1870.
Then they were the Union Paper Mill.
Then a part of Riverside.
Lastly, the United Folding Box Mill.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1949 map they are the United Folding Box Mill
Connecticut River Pulp 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.
Sanborn 1884 map – in 1889 it is no longer there
Albion Paper Mill
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.
Sanborn map analysis:
Dickinson Paper Mill
Warner photograph.
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.
Sanborn map analysis:
Sanborn 1949 map – owned by the Holyoke Gas and Electric
Sanborn 1956 map – owned by the Holyoke Gas and Electric
Massachusetts Screw Company
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
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)
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 1949 map plus there is a site 2 buildings away to the north
American Pad
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
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.
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.