List of mills in Holyoke, Massachusetts

When it was first established under the guise of the Hadley Falls Company, the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts was conceived as a production center for textiles. Despite protests of the company during the formation of the Parsons Paper Company, that a pulp and paper venture was a poor use of space and unprofitable, by 1885 the city was the largest producer of paper goods in the United States.^[1] Before 1920 the city was the home to numerous paper mills, producing 80% of the writing paper used in the United States, as well as having the largest silk, and alpaca wool mills in the world.^[2][3] The city was also home to the largest paper millwright firm in the United States, D. H. & A. B. Tower, which would design at least 25 such mills in Holyoke alone.^[4] While many were lost to fire, redevelopment, and salvaging, today a number of mills have been redeveloped. Despite determinations of eligibility by the Massachusetts Historical Commission as part of the Holyoke Canal System,^[5] as of 2023, no mill properties in the city had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[6]

Mills lining the canals in the early 20th century

Extant

	Name	Image	Built	Location	NRHP Listing	Notes/Use
1	American Pad and Paper			88 Winter Street		First standalone factory of Ampad.
2	Beebe & Holbrook Mills		c. 1871^[7]	380 Dwight Street		Designed by Ashley B. Tower. Partially razed by fire, power turbine house still operates for Holyoke Gas & Electric. Most recently occupied by The Canal Gallery.
3	Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates Mill No. 4		1923	63 Jackson Street		Initially constructed as a cotton warp processing mill for Farr Alpaca, designed by Samuel M. Green Co. Bought by Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates in 1939, subsequently Berkshire Hathaway, and later used by American Pad and Paper in 1980s.^[8]
4	Buchanan & Bolt Building/Holyoke Wire Works		c. 1901	60 Appleton Street		Wire drawing and weaving factory, later used by Sinclair Co. Wire Cloth, today occupied by Russell-Zuhl Petrified Wood.
5	Chemical Paper Manufacturing Company		1880	210–240 South Water Street		Produced fine writing paper, funded by Newton Brothers, design by D. H. & A. B. Tower. Present-day manufacturing plant of Hazen Paper Company.
6	Clinton Silk Mill		c. 1865	58 North Canal Street		Part of the American Thread Company,^[9] later used by Clinton Silk Mills after 1933, produced silk goods for the Allies during World War II, looms sold to Bedford Weaving in Virginia. Building used by Hadley Printing since 1976.^[10]
7	Crocker-McElwain Paper No. 1		c. 1885^[11]	102 Cabot Street		Originally the Holyoke Water Power Company Building, constructed for start-up companies, massive fire in 1890, towers since-removed. Produced fine writing paper, became part of American Writing Paper Company system. Was also music plant of Thaddeus Cahill's telharmonium.^[12] Part of present-day manufacturing plant of FLN-Mar Rubber & Plastics.
8	D. MacKintosh & Sons/The Wherehouse			109 Lyman Street		Originally a cotton mill, it was later used as a factory by Jim Prentice and The Electric Game Company.^[13] Today used by The Wherehouse and partially extant section for shops/storage.
9	Eureka Blank Book		1890, 1910	108–110 Winter Street		110 Winter Street built in 1890, expanded into 108 Winter in 1910. Used by a builder, now known as Eureka Lab Book, until 2017; presently owned by a holding company.^[14]^[15]
10	Farr Alpaca Company Building #7		c. 1915^[16]	101 Cabot Street		Converted to condominiums, circa 1988.
11	Farr Alpaca Company Building #8		c. 1915^[17]	108 Cabot Street		Contains Winter Palace Theatre and Ballroom; top floor occupied by the presently-defunct Paper City Brewery.
12	Franklin Paper Mill		c. 1867^[18]	150 Middle Water Street		Originally a Newton Bros. development, now home to United Paper Box (Uni-Pac).
13	General Electric Building		c. 1930	60 Jackson Street		Initially developed by Farr Alpaca as a mill and offices (unknown building number), and retail shop. Acquired by General Electric as wire production line after 1939 liquidation, Northeast Wire by 1966, presently used by G & G Restaurant Equipment.^[19]
14	George R. Dickinson Company		1882	81 Sargeant Street		Design by D. H. & A. B. Tower. Part of present-day manufacturing plant of FLN-Mar Rubber & Plastics.
15	Goetz Silk Mill		1911, 1919	642 South Summer Street		Built by Casper Ranger Construction Co., announced in 1909, delays from carpenters strike; expansion engineered by Charles T. Main. Original building adjacent to Jackson Street, expansion adjacent to South Summer. Today used by Valley Green, Inc., a seed company.^[20]
16	Hadley Thread Company Mills		1863^[21]	56 Canal Street		Part of the American Thread Company, later used by Graham Manufacturing, Conklin Office Furniture; purchased in June 2019 by Trulieve Cannabis Corporation.^[22]
17	Hampden Glazed Paper and Card Company		1882	100 Water Street		Design by D. H. & A. B. Tower, was last Holyoke mill still in use by the founding business, the Hampden Paper Company, until September 2020.
18	Japanese Tissue Mills/Perkins Mill		c. 1899^[23]	12 Crescent Street^[9]		Founded by the B. F. Perkins Company in 1899 as Japanese Tissue Mills.^[24] Later known as the American Tissue Mills after 1920; company defunct about 1953 at which time mill was paper converting plant, now used as warehouse.^[25]
19	Judd Paper Company		1923	92 Race Street		Designed by George P. B. Alderman, originally home of paper converter. Redeveloped in 2012 as entertainment venue, restaurant, and coworkshop, Gateway City Arts.
20	Livingston Worsted Mills		1934	11 Berkshire Street		Built for consolidation of Germania Mills' worsted wool division move from Rhode Island. Germania name was dropped around time of building's construction as spinning division was liquidated.^[26] Following closure of Livingston, briefly used by Kruger Tissue Paper following Livingston's closure, 1964-1966.^[27] Today known as the SulCo Warehouse Building.
21	Lyman Mills		c. 1854^[28]	4 Open Square Way		Originally processing cotton for textiles, it is the only mill in the city built to the original plans of the Hadley Falls Company^[29] Now known as Open Square.
22	Massasoit Paper Mill		1873^[30]	380R Dwight Street		Also known as Massasoit Division of American Writing Paper Company. Westerly wings razed after 1957; restored in 2019 for retail use by Canna Provisions.^[31]
23	Merrick Thread Mill, No. 2			195 Appleton Street		Partial mill and office; half of complex burned down in October 1993.
24	Newton Paper Company Mill			200 South Water Street		Newton Bros. development; partially extant, heavily altered as Sonoco paper recycling plant
25	Norman Paper Company Mill		1892	5-13 Appleton Street		Produced fine writing paper, design by D. H. & A. B. Tower
26	Prentiss Wire Mill/Holyoke Die Cut Card Building		c. 1911, 1917	439 Dwight Street		Originally built by the George W. Prentiss Wire Company with back 4-story section appearing on maps in 1911;^[9] 5-story front built in 1917.^[32] Prentiss built new facility in Homestead Avenue in 1962,^[33] by 1965 was occupied by Holyoke Die Cut Card Co. which owned the building until 2001.^[34]^[35]
27	RenCo Building		1920	728 Main Street		Built about 1920 by the New England Tire & Rubber Company,^[36] and bought out by Reynolds Manufacturing Co. (RenCo.) in 1928, a converter and producer of notebooks and steno pads.^[37]^[38] Sold by RenCo in 1994 and subdivided, acquired by Holyoke Public Schools for supplies and office use in 2007.
28	Riverside Mill No. 2		1867^[39]	1 Cabot Street		Originally independent paper firm. Merged into American Writing Paper Company system, eventual home of National Blank Book. Presently used by Specialty Loose Leaf.
29	Valley Mill			4 Valley Mill Road		Produced fine writing paper as the Valley Paper Company, presently used as offices of Western Mass Elder Care
30	The Wauregan		1879^[40]	420 Dwight Street		Newton Bros. development, subsequently part of American Writing Paper Company system; presently used by Holyoke Creative Arts Center, and as workshops.
31	Whiting Paper No. 1			28 Gatehouse Road		Partially extant, part of series of 3 original mills used by Whiting Paper. Now owned by James Curran and the Wherehouse.

Demolished

	Name	Image	Built	Destroyed	Location	NRHP Listing	Notes/Use
1	Albion Paper Mill		1869	2018	16 Water Street		One of the earliest known designs of David H. Tower.
2	Baker-Vawter Company		1885	2005	686 Main Street		Built as the eastern manufacturing branch of the Baker-Vawter Company, a loose-leaf binding and systems company, later used by Pratt & Austin and numerous other businesses.^[41]
3	Deane Steam Works			2019	37 Appleton Street		Later became the Holyoke works of the Worthington Corporation.
4	Farr Alpaca Company Building #2		c. 1894	After 1955	68 Jackson Street		Now Sullivan Metals Co. Inc. offices.
5	Farr Alpaca Company Main Building		c. 1905	Before 2007	Bigelow Street		Later used by Pioneer Valley Finishing; part of larger complex, not to be confused with building razed in 2011 for MGHPCC.^[42]
6	Germania Woolen Mills		1863	1934	Race and South Streets		Operated under a different name for first two years, name dropped in 1934 as spinning and combing division was liquidated,^[26] weaving and finishing continued at Livingston Worsted Mills until business closed altogether in 1965.^[43]
7	Holyoke Envelope Company		c. 1889	After 1957	Water Street and Main Street		After 1898 referred to as the United States Envelope Company, Holyoke Division. Later home of Polep Brothers.
8	Keating Wheel Company		c. 1895^[44]	After 1957	30 Dwight Street		Later used by Eureka Blank Book.^[45] Foundation visible immediately north of Edaron Shipping dock on Canal Street, used as parking.
9	Linden Mill		1892	c. 1979^[46]	55 Jackson Street		Subsequently part of the American Writing Paper Company. In production under the Brown Company as late as 1968.^[47]
10	National Blank Book/J. G. Shaw Building		1898^[48]	After 1978	Water Street and Canal Street		Was located in lot immediately between railroad tracks, Hampden Paper loading docks, and Water Street.
11	New York Woolen Mill (Connor Bros.)		1864^[49]	Before 1957	649 Main Street		Sold to A.T. Stewart & Co. of New York in 1870, and then Connor Brothers before 1883, which operated until a 1901 bankruptcy.^[50] Holyoke Plush Company operated out of there by 1911.
12	Old Smith Cotton Mill		c. 1820	Before 1884	Gatehouse and Hadley Mill Road		Initially a wool fulling mill built by Chapin family, converted to cotton mill by Edward Smith.^[51] Replaced by expansion of Parsons No. 1.^[52]^: 55
13	Parsons Paper No. 1		c. 1852	After 1957	Gatehouse and Hadley Mill Road		Originally a flour mill, converted to paper in 1853, expanded several times. Later became part of American Writing Paper Company system.^[53]
14	Parsons Paper No. 2		1888	2008	80 Sargeant Street		Last paper producer in Holyoke, active until 2005, razed by arson in 2008^[54]
15	Riverside Mill No. 1		c. 1867	Before 1957	120 Middle Water Street		Replaced by warehouse and parking lot.^[9]
16	Syms & Dudley Mill		1881^[55]	c. 2011	22–24 Water Street		Later expanded to have two towers, bought out by Nonotuck Paper Company which had its original mill immediately adjacent; designed by Ashley B. Tower.
17	Whiting Paper No. 2		1873^[39]	1964	383 Dwight Street		Razed by fire in apparent arson in 1964.^[56]
18	William Skinner and Sons Mill			1980			Expanded several times; touted as largest silk mill in the world by 1922.^[3]
19	Winona Paper Company Mill No. 2		1880	c. 2014	26 Water Street		Designed by D. H. & A. B. Tower.^[57] Also known as the Geo. C. Gill Mill after 1891; later part of the American Writing Paper Company. sold to the Brown Company in 1963.^[58]

See also

• Holyoke Canal System
• Holyoke Dam
• List of mills in Fall River, Massachusetts
• List of mills in New Bedford, Massachusetts
• List of mills in Oldham

References

1. • "Eight Paper Towns". The Inland Printer. Vol. II, no. 10. Chicago. July 1885.
   • Green, Constance McLaughlin (1939). Holyoke, Massachusetts; A case history of the industrial revolution in America. Yale Historical Publications. Vol. XXXIV. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 37.
2. Root, Joshua L. (Fall 2009). (PDF). Historic Journal of Massachusetts. 37 (2): 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-24.
3. "Who's Who in the Silk Industry–William Skinner". Silk. Vol. XV, no. 3. Silk Publishing Company. March 1922. p. 44. One building alone is 1000 feet long—the largest silk mill, under one roof, in the world
4. "Emory Alexander Ellsworth". Journal of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers. III (8): 480. October 1916. In 1879 Mr. Ellsworth left the firm of Davis & Ellsworth to become principal assistant and head draftsman for D. H. & A. B. Tower, of Holyoke, who were the largest firm of paper mill architects in the country at that time, and who designed no less than twenty paper mills in the city of Holyoke alone
5. HLY.W - The Flats/South Holyoke (Report). Massachusetts Historical Commission. p. 3 – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS). The Holyoke Canal System National Register district should be expanded to include buildings within The Flats and South Holyoke that relate to the canal and industrial history of the area. The expanded district meets Criteria A and C for listing on the Register and areas of significance include architecture, community planning and development, and industry
6. "National Register Information System 2015-06-26 at the Wayback Machine". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 28, 2020.
7. "HLY.62" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
8. "Railroad Agreeable to the Plan; Grants Farr Alpaca company Rights to Building of Retaining wall". Springfield Daily News. Springfield, Mass. October 6, 1922. p. 21. The land is needed for the construction of the wall as a part of the work in erection of the new factory now being built by the Farr Alpaca company.
   • "Berkshire Associates Said Eyeing Farr Plant; Big Corporation Unofficially Reported Negotiating for Cotton Division". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. August 5, 1939. p. 8.
9. Richards, Harold H (1911). Richards Standard Atlas of the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts. Springfield, Mass.: Richards Map Company.
10. "HLY.5" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
11. "HLY.73" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
12. Weidenaar, Reynold (1995). "II. Holyoke". Magic Music from the Telharmonium. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. pp. 50–92. ISBN 9780810826922.
13. Sears, Jacqueline (2015). Legendary Locals of Holyoke. Arcadia Publishing. p. 123.
14. Kinney, Jim (January 15, 2019). . The Republican. Springfield, Mass. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019.
15. (PDF) (Report). Pioneer Valley Planning Commission; City of Holyoke. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2017.
16. "HLY.1451" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
17. "HLY.74" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
18. "HLY.22" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
19. "[Advertisement for Fabric Specialty Co.]". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. October 22, 1939. p. 39. Notice! The Farr Alpaca Co. has leased the store and fixtures to the Fabric Specialty Co... under the management of Miss L. Mittler (former mgr. of Farr Store)
    • "Wire Firm Gets Building Permit". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. June 30, 1966. p. 66.
    • "[Wanted Ad for General Electric Co.]". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. March 27, 1946. p. 17.
20. • "Massachusetts, Holyoke". The American Architect. Vol. XCVI. November 17, 1909. p. 10. Goetz Silk Company will erect mill on South Canal Street
    • "Clatter of the Looms". Silk. New York: McCready Publishing Company. 1910. p. 77. Ground has been broken for the new mill structure which is to be erected for the Goetz Silk Mfg. Co., Holyoke, Mass. The building which it is expected will be finished in about three months, will be 250 x 50 feet, three stories in height, and will house the entire interests of the concern.
    • "Mill News--Continued". Textile World Journal. March 29, 1919. p. 55. Holyoke, Mass. Plans have been filed for a new mill building to cost approximately $100,000 for the Goetz Silk Manufacturing Co. The building will be a two-story mill adjacent to their plant at Jackson and South Summer streets. The building will have a frontage of 56 feet and will be 147 feet deep. It is to be a throwing mill. Bids have been asked for and contracts will be awarded shortly. Charles T. Main is the mill engineer in charge.
    • "Holyoke". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. April 20, 1911. p. 16. The mill building in Holyoke which early in the year looked as if it would be noticeable by its absence is beginning to come forward and already Contractor Casper Ranger has secured contracts for over $200,000 in this line of building in Holyoke. The new Skinner silk mill, the Goetz silk mill and the new power plant for the Crock division of the American writing paper company...
    • "All Holyoke Carpenters Out; Big Building Projects Seriously Hampered". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. May 18, 1911. p. 12. It was said also on the best of authority that the construction of the new Goetz Silk mill in South Holyoke...will be delayed indefinitely
21. "HLY.6" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
22. Kinney, Jim (June 25, 2019). . The Republican. Springfield, Mass. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019.
23. "Benjamin F. Perkins Dies After an Operation". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. October 26, 1900. p. 4. The firm began on Railroad street, where it increased till last year, when it was compelled to seek new quarters. The firm had just settled in its new mill on Crescent street.
24. "To Make Japanese Napkins". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. August 14, 1899. p. 6. The firm of B. F. Perkins & Co. which bought the Pearl City paper mill at South Hadley a few months ago, has been running since January 1 on Japanese paper napkins. The success of in this line has been so encouraging that a company has been formed under the name of the Japanese tissue mills, to continue this line of manufacture. The new company is capitalized at $27,000 and has a capacity of 200,000 napkins a day, with a force of 8 or 10 men employed. The company will make a specialty of napkins in which the designs are flowers instead of figures, and the coloring is more brilliant and attractive. The company is the first one to be incorporated in the East, most of the companies making this class of goods being located in the West.
25. "Reorganization of Holyoke Co. in Court Today; Trustee to Submit Proposal Turning Tissue Mills Over to Worcester Interests". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 30, 1953. p. 5.
26. "Employment for 150 Expected by Spring; Germania Mills Will Bring Livingston Division From R. I. to Holyoke". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. January 17, 1934. p. 11.
27. "Kruger Mills Notifies Help of Shutdown". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. March 30, 1966. p. 53.
28. Green, Constance McLaughlin (1939). Holyoke, Massachusetts; A case history of the industrial revolution in America. Yale Historical Publications. Vol. XXXIV. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 37–39.
29. (PDF) (Report). Massachusetts Historical Commission. 1982. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2015.
30. (PDF) (Report). Springfield, Mass.: Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2010.
31. . Canna Provisions. October 3, 2019. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019.
32. "New and Enlarged Shops - Metal Working - New England States". American Machinist. Vol. XLVI, no. 26. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. June 28, 1917. p. 78.
33. "Prentiss Wire Dedicates New Plant Facility; Is First Firm to Locate in Industry Park at Homestead Ave". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. November 9, 1962. p. 46.
34. Parcel 022-01-007, Holyoke Assessor's Database
35. "Experienced printing pressman". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. April 7, 1963. p. 75. Holyoke Die Cut Card Co., 541 Main St., Holyoke
    • "Experienced Die Cutting Pressman". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. April 30, 1965. p. 46. Holyoke Die Cut Card Co. Inc. 439 Dwight St., Holyoke
36. "New England". The Iron Age. New York. July 29, 1920. p. 305.
37. Johnson, Clifton (ed.). "Wellington George Reynolds". Hampden County, 1636-1936 - Individual and Family Records. Vol. III. p. 151.
38. "Reynolds, Wellington George". The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. J. T. White. 1944. p. 200. Reynolds entered business for himself in Holyoke in 1922, purchasing the business of M. J. Losty & Sons, school supplies manufacturers...
39. Valente, AJ (2010). "II—Holyoke, City of Industry". Rag Paper Manufacture in the United States, 1801–1900. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 144. ISBN 9780786459971.
40. "HLY.67" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
41. "HLY.82" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
42. "HLY.72" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
43. • Gerhard Wiesinger (2004). "Translating Gymnastics Into Economic and Political Power: The Rise and Decline of the German Turnverein in Holyoke, Massachusetts, 1871–1910". In Annette R. Hofmann (ed.). Turnen and Sport. New York, München, Berlin: Waxmann Münster. pp. 121–146.
    • "Worsted Plant In Holyoke to End Operations; Livingston Mills Head Attributes Closing to Japanese Imports". Springfield Union. Springfield, Mass. August 28, 1964. p. 5.
44. The New England Business Directory and Gazetteer. Vol. XVII. Boston: Sampson, Murdock, & Co. 1896. p. 485.
45. A Directory of Massachusetts Manufactures: Classified by Industry. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Company. 1913. p. 4.
46. Parcel 018-01-004, Holyoke Assessor's Database
47. (PDF) (Report). Brown Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2019 – via McGill University.
48. "HLY.25" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
49. Holyoke To-day. Holyoke, Mass.: J. Eveleth Griffith. 1887.
50. Massachusetts Reports: Decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court. Vol. CXCIII. 1907. pp. 31–33. From a date earleir than October 12, 1883, to June 18, 1901, James Connor of Holyoke was engaged in the manufacture of woollen cloth and shoddy in two mills in that city known as the New York Mill and the Bigelow Street Mill...Connor continued to use the property as such lessee until his bankruptcy in 1901.
51. Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts. 1896. p. 337.
52. Barrett, Robert E. (PDF). Holyoke, Mass. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-12 – via Holyoke Gas & Electric.
53. Green, Constance McLaughlin (1939). Holyoke, Massachusetts; A case history of the industrial revolution in America. Yale Historical Publications. Vol. XXXIV. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 35–37.
54. DeForge, Jeanette (August 28, 2008). . The Republican. Springfield, Mass. Archived from the original on November 29, 2019.
55. • "HLY.12" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).
    • "Holyoke Notes; The Water-Power—Musical Matters—The New Buildings—The Syms & Dudley Paper Company—The Agricultural Fair". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. September 12, 1880. p. 3.
56. "Eighth Holyoke Arson Victim Near Death; Hunt Continues". Boston Herald. Boston. November 16, 1964. p. 3. An abandoned five-story once owned by the Whiting Paper Co., burned practically to the ground early this year, causing an estimated $250,000 damage
57. "Paper Mill Building, and Paper Mill Designers, Architects, and Builders". The Paper World. Vol. XXIV, no. 3. Springfield, Mass. March 1892. pp. 1–4.
58. "HLY.13" – via Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS).

External links

• CT River: Holyoke Mills, WWLP 20 News, July 28, 2015