History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 121

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 121

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The officers of the company are Broughton Alvord, Presi- dent ; J. C. Parsons, Agent ; and J. S. McElwain, Treasurer.

THE WHITING PAPER COMPANY,

The largest paper-manufactory in the world is located in Aberdeen, Scotland, and has a capacity of producing twelve tons per day. The next largest is the Whiting Paper Com- pany, of this city, with a capacity of nearly eleven tons per day. The promoter of this vast establishment, William Whit- ing, made his first appearance in connection with the paper business in 1858, as clerk in the Holyoke Paper Company. His first attempt at paper-manufacturing was in connection with the Hampden company, which he organized while still with the Holyoke. When the old Holyoke company disposed of its establishment Mr. Whiting ceased his connection with it, and, having sold his interest in the Hampden, in 1865 he organized the Whiting Paper Company, with L. L. Brown and E. F. Jenks, with a capital of $100,000. The present capital is about $1,200,000.

The " No. 1," or old mill, with which this company begun, is 280 feet long, 45 feet wide, and has three wings, all being three stories high, with an attic. The attic and third stories are used entirely for drying paper. Two hundred feet

920

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

are set aside on the second floor for a rag-room, where are em- ployed about 110 persons. The business office as well as Mr. Whiting's private otlice is also on this floor. A portion of

WHITING PAPER CO

CAR

WHITING MILL NO. 1, HOLYOKE.

the first floor is devoted to the engines, of which there are two 1500-pound .washers and four 1200-pound engines. In one of the wings are two 62-inch Fourdrinier machines, each driven by an upright steam-engine. In another wing are two rotary bleach-boilers of 5000 pounds' capacity each. On the lower or ground-floor are situated the finishing- and plating-rooms. Here are two plating- and other machines, and work on this floor requires the services of about 80 persons,

The business of the Whiting company soon assumed such gigantic proportions that the No. 1 mill was found insuffi- cient, and so another immense structure, known as Whiting No. 2, was begun on Dwight Street, near Race. The new mill, which was built in 1871, is 200 feet long, 60 feet wide, and five stories high. The roof is of the mansard pattern, and at the side is a square tower, 85 feet high. There are in addition two capacious wings and a boiler-house, con- taining the four 60 horse-power boilers, which supply the es- tablishment with steam. The vast area of the two upper stories affords ample room for drying purposes. The third floor, furnished with the latest modern machinery, is devoted half to a rag-room, with 150 hands, and half to finishing.

WHITING MILL NO. 2, HOLYOKE.

There is also a finishing-room occupying half the second floor, the other half containing the engines, of which there are ten, of 1000 pounds' capacity each. In the wings are the machine- rooms, with one 72-inch and one 62-inch Fourdrinier machines, and the bleach-room, with two rotary bleach-boilers of 7000 and 6000 pounds' capacity respectively.

This, company manufactures all kind of fine writing- and envelope-papers ; employs 500 persons.

The company consists of L. L. Brown, C. C. Jeneks, and William Whiting, the latter of whom is agent.

THE HOLYOKE PAPER COMPANY,

This company was organized in 1857, having a mill with a daily capacity of one ton, and Mr. D. M. Butterfield as agent ; the original building erected by it was the second paper-mill built in Holyoke.

In 1860, Stephen Holman, now treasurer of the Holyoke Machine Company, became agent, which post he held until 1865. About this time the management passed into the hands of O. H. Greenleaf, Esq., of Springfield, who has since con- ducted the mills and enlarged them to their present capacity of seven tons a day.

The buildings of the company are situated on Main Street, near the foot of the second-level canal. The buildings cover a little over one acre of ground, and are divided as follows : the rag-room occupies parts of two floors in the main building, and contains four dusters, which have a daily capacity of ten tons. In the story under the dusters are three rotary boilers, of a daily capacity of nine tons. The engine-room, 208 by 54 feet, contains 8 washing- and 12 beating-engines, of a ca- pacity of 500 pounds each. The machine-room, 72 by 90 feet,

HOLYOKE PAPER COMPANY MILL, HOLYOKE.

situated in a wing off the main building, contains one 72-inch and two 62-inch Fourdrinier machines, for making plain and flat bond-papers. These papers received the gold medal at the Paris Exposition of 1878.

The finishing-room, 232 by 50 feet, contains 13 tive-roll sheet calenders and 2 platers, 4 trimming and 4 hydraulic presses, 8 ruling-machines, and all other necessary machinery for the finishing of fine papers, both ruled and Hat. The balance of the building is occupied by size-room, boiler- house, and lofts for drying purposes. The stock-house, 48 by 110 feet, two stories, is located ahout 100 feet from the mill. The power comes from 8 turbine wheels of about 500 horse- power. The steam for heating and drying purposes is made by 5 large boilers. The drainers for storing the pulp while bleaching are in the basement under the engines.

The Holyoke company has a special railway track, which extends the length of its buildings. Its machinery is of the latest improved models, and altogether it is one of the most complete manufactories in existence. It has a daily capacity of 7 tons of tub-sized and loft-dried writing-papers. Among its specialties are the celebrated American linen papers, both flat and folded, and banker's parchment ruled.

THE CROCKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

The building known as the Crocker Mill, No. 1, was erected in 1870, by D. Il. and J. C. Newton, and was intended for the manufacture of collar-paper only. In 1871 it was pur- chased by the Crocker Manufacturing Company, which was organized with a capital of $60,000, with S. S. Crocker as

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HISTORY OF HAMPDEN COUNTY.

president, and D. P. Crocker as agent and treasurer. The new company added new calenders, super-calenders, and a new machine, and continued the manufacture of collar-paper and engine-sized flat eard, bristol, etc. The No. 1 mill, which is a T-shaped building, is arranged as follows: on the upper floor is located the office and repair- and rag-room, also store- room and the engine-room, with 10 450-pound engines, and in another room is the machinery for dusting and threshing. The lower floor contains a fine 76-inch Fourdrinier and a cylinder-machine. This company in 1878 also purchased the old Albion Mill, which is a spacious structure two and a half stories high, and is devoted to the manufacture of book, news, and colored medium papers. The Albion is known as the Crocker Manufacturing Company's No. 2 Mill. In the attic are located 2 tbreshers, and the next or second story is used as a rag-room, and contains 2 of Daniels' cutters and another duster. Seven engines, one of them a Jourdan, are on the lower floor, and prepare the pulp used in this mill, which is afterward run over a 62-inch Fourdrinier machine. The same floor also contains 1 rotary bleach, and a set of super-ealenders, 2 cutters, a trimmer, and other machinery.

This company engages largely in the manufacture of a peculiarly-colored and ornamental paper, under a patented process which it owns. This paper is used for safety tiekets and other purposes. Capacity of No. 1 Mill, 4 tons per day, and of No. 2, 2 tons per day. Daniel P. Crocker is treasurer and agent. Capital increased to $90,000 in 1879.

THE HADLEY FALLS PAPER COMPANY

is an offshoot of the Carew Manufacturing Company, located at Hadley Falls, just across the river. The establishment eon- sists of a four-story brick building, with a two-story wing on the side next the river, and is entered by bridges from the bank of the first-level canal. The mill has four 300-pound and one 500-pound engines, and a 62-inch eylinder machine ; makes manilla paper ; capacity, 4000 pounds per day.

HOLYOKE MANILLA MILL.

This establishment, after various vicissitudes as a manilla- and tissue-mill, was organized by the present proprietors, Messrs. Robertson & Black, on a new basis in 1875. The mill consists of a building two stories high, with an attie and two wings. The upper story of the main building is occupied by the rope-cutter, and the ground floor by the three 500-pound engines. The wing on the west side contains a good 62-inch cylinder machine, while the 3-ton rotary bleach, and two 42- feet steam-boilers oceupy the other. Capacity, 2500 pounds per day.

THE EXCELSIOR MILL.

This establishment is situated on the third-level eanal. The mill was built in 1872, by D. H. & J. C. Newton, and was

EXCELSIOR PAPER MILLS, HOLYOKE. purchased of them by J. B. Warren and R. C. Dickinson, April 1, 1873. Jan. 1, 1874, J. B. Warren sold his interest to 116

George R. Dickinson and A. N. Mayo, of Springfield, who, with R. C. Dickinson, are the present proprietors, R. C. Dick- inson being the treasurer and sole manager of the business.

The building, which has a fine location on the bend of the river, is somewhat T-shaped, and has three additions on the side next the river. The main building, which runs parallel with the river, is three stories and a basement high. The two upper floors, which contain two Daniels rag-cutters and two dusters, are used as rag-rooms. The ground floor is the en- gine-room, and is furnished with four 800-pound engines. The two steam-boilers and the 3-ton rotary bleach-boiler are in the additions on the side opposite the main wing. The mill has also one 64-inch Fourdrinier ; manufactures book and press paper ; eapaeity, two tons per day.

THE RIVERSIDE PAPER COMPANY

was first organized in August, 1866, with Charles O. Chapin as president. The mill was built in 1867, and the company began work. It did not long remain in the organizers' pos- session, but changed hands several times, and at one period William Whiting was agent. About 1871 the present com- pany purchased the mill, and began to run it with $150,000 as capital. L. J. Powers, the well-known Springfield en- velope-manufacturer, acted as president, and J. H. Appleton as treasurer and agent. The former subsequently retired from his position, and J. Il. Appleton is now both president and treasurer.

The mill in its present state consists of a long main build- ing and two wings or L's, both of the latter being on the northeast side. The attic and next story are devoted to dry- ing purposes. Part of the next floor contains the engines, of which there are seven, and the other part, in which there are seven sheet-calenders, is used as a finishing-room. The base- ment contains the water-wheels, which were supplied by the Holyoke Machine Company, and are four in number,-one 66-inch American, one 40-ineh Risdon, and one 25-inch Amer- iean turbine, and one 15-inch Hercules. One of the L's eon- tains a rag-room and one 72-inch Fourdrinier machine. In the other L is also a rag-room, with two dusters and a 4-ton rotary bleach-boiler. The two 4-feet steam-boilers are in a small addition on the end of the main building. The mill has also an 80-inch Fourdrinier, with all the modern improve- ments. Manufactures fine writing-paper. Capacity, three tons per day. In addition to the other machinery, there are five ruling-machines in the mill. The specialty of the Riv- erside Company is fine writing-paper. Capacity, two and a half tons per day.

THE CONNECTICUT RIVER PULP-MILL, NEWTON BROTHIERS, PROPRIETORS.

This, which is the only one of the kind in Holyoke, is de- voted entirely to the manufacture of wood-pulp, and has a present capacity of four and a half tons per diem. The mill was started in August, 1876, with two washing-engines, a rotary boiler, a rotary bleach-boiler, and two turbines. ln September of the same year, additions were made in the shape of furnaces for reelaiming the soda; these were followed by other additions, such as bleach-tubs, tanks, and another wet- machine. In the spring of 1877 the rotary broke, and was replaced by a Dixon digester. On Dec. 1, 1877, a fire broke out in the mill, which threatened to be serious, and which was only extinguished after a loss of 83500. The principal machinery now in the buildings consists of two steam-boilers, two Dixon's digesters, 7 by 18 feet, several soda-furnaces, two washing-engines, 60 by 60, 30 feet long ; and a cutting-ma- chine or chipper, which euts up a cord of wood in fifteen minutes. The premises are on the edge of the canal, and are built of brick, two stories high. This establishment mann- factures chemical spruce- and poplar-wood pulp. Capacity, two tons per day.

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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

THE NEWTON PAPER COMPANY.

A copartnership, of Moses Newton and James Ramage, in the fall of 1873, built Mill No. 1, for the manufacture of build- ing paper. In May, 1875, a stock company was organized, with James Ramage, President; Moses Newton, Treasurer ;

NEWTON PAPER COMPANY MILLS, HOLYOKE.

George A. Clark, Secretary, and built Mill No. 2, for the manu- facture of duplex papers, carpet, felt, and manilla papers. In the winter of 1879 two wings to No. 2 were built, containing four 800 horse-power engines and one four-cylinder 62-inch machine.

No. 1 contains two engines of 800 horse-power each, and one 40-inch four-cylinder machine, with nine 3-feet dryers. No. 2 contains eight 800 horse-power engines, one four-cylin- der machine, 52 inches wide; eight dryers, 3 feet in diameter ; and one machine of four cylinders, twelve 3-feet dryers, two large rotary bleachers, etc. Capacity, 20,000 pounds each twenty-four hours.

This establishment manufactures patent corrugated carpet lining, building paper, straw-boards; bogus, and manilla wrapping-papers. Employs 50 men. Capital, $125,000. Jas. Ramage, President; Moses Newton, Treasurer ; George A. Clark, Secretary.

THE FRANKLIN PAPER COMPANY.

The mill belonging to this company was built in 1866 by the present owners, who were then as now respectively president and treasurer of the company, the nominal capital being fixed at $60,000. The building is three stories in height. In the upper story is a rag-room, with a thrasher, duster, and Stur- devant blower. The north end of the next floor is occupied by the engine-room, which contains eight 450-pound and one Jourdan engines. The south end is used as a finishing-room, and has two of the Holyoke Machine Company's web super- calenders, the trimming presses, and two llammond cutters. The 62-inch Fourdrinier is in a wing on the north side of the mill. Another addition in the rear contains a 3-ton bleach- boiler and one 4-foot steam boiler. The company formerly manufactured great quantities of collar paper, and at one time used for its cloth-lined paper 1,000,000 yards of muslin annually. Since 1876 the mill has manufactured fine book, writing, and envelope paper, white, tinted, and colors ; em- ploys sixty presses ; capacity, three tons per day. Calvin Taft, President ; Jas. H. Newton, Treasurer and Agent.

THE UNION PAPER-MANUFACTURING COMPANY

was organized in 1870, with a capital of $200,000, by Henry and Edwin Dickinson and J. E. Taylor, formerly of the firm Greenleaf & Taylor, Springfield. The company purchased the property of the Bemis Paper Company at Holyoke, and began with D. D. Warren as president and J. E. Taylor as treasurer, and the Messrs. Dickinson as agents. The buildings were found to be too small for the business of the new com- pany, and large additions both in machinery and buildings were made.

The main building of the mill is 200 feet long and three stories high, not including the basement and attic. The two upper rooms are used as rag-rooms, and contain one 6-feet and two 42-feet Holyoke dusters. The engine-room is on the south end of the room, beneath the rag-rooms, and contains ten engines of 600 pounds' capacity each. The north end is used as a finishing-room, and is furnished with several sheet calenders and two trimming presses, and the lofts of that portion of the building are used for the drying of papers. There is one L built at right angles to the main building. The north half L, which is three stories and an attic high, contains three drying lofts, occupying the upper stories ; the lower floor, being devoted to finishing, packing, and the offices, is occupied by the machines, -two Fourdriniers, 62 and 72 inch respectively. In an addition on the river side are the two 3-ton bleach boilers and the three 43-feet steam boilers. There are on the premises two smaller buildings entirely sepa- arate from the main mill ; one of these is used as a repair-shop, while the other, on a siding of the Connecticut River Rail- road, receives the stock.

This company manufactures fine writing and collar paper. Capacity, three tons per day. D. D. Warren is President of the company; H. Dickinson, Agent and Treasurer; E. Dickinson, Selling Agent.

THE ALBION PAPER COMPANY.

The establishment owned by this company is wholly a Holyoke enterprise, everything about it being either pre- pared or supplied hy Holyoke firms, except a few Southern

ALBION

PAPER CO.

ALBION PAPER COMPANY MILLS, HOLYOKE.

pine beams and the Fourdrinier machine. It was built by D. II. & J. C. Newton, Mr. D. H. Tower being the engineer. The mill was completed in February, 1878, and consists of two substantial brick buildings two and a half stories high, joined in the centre by a wing. In the basement of the huild- ing is the repair-shop, and on the next floor are two 9-roll web super-calenders of 36-inch face and two 72-inch Ham- mond cutters, and on the upper floor is a Cranston cutter and some minor machinery. The basement of the rear mill is occupied by the driving machinery and drainers. The engines are located on the first floor, and consist of two 1000-pound washing-engines, with rolls 44 by 48 inches, and three heat- ing-engines of 1000 pounds' capacity each. These are furnished with Bradbury & Russell's patent rolls, and in addition a Jourdan engine. The bleach boiler, also located on this floor, has a capacity of between four and five tons. On the upper floor are two Daniels cutters and a Holyoke and a railroad duster. The thresher is in the attic. The central wing con- tains the Fourdrinier, a fine 84-inch machine with all the latest improvements. The building has two elevators, and

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HISTORY OF IIAMPDEN COUNTY.

the steam required is supplied by two tubular boilers 4} by 15 feet. The company manufacture book paper and engine-sized flat paper. Capacity of mill, two tons per day.

The present year an addition is being made, which will double the capacity of the mill. The new mill will contain eight engines, one Jourdan, and two bleach boilers of capacity of five tons each. The new buildings are the same size as the old mill. They are brick, 184 feet-main building-includ- ing bleach-room. The centre is 104 feet ; front, 89 feet. Be- tween the two mills is a tower 16 by 20 feet, 50 feet high, with French roof. In the rear is a tower for stairs and elevator ; all the elevators are furnished with safety hatchways. The mill has Daniels cutters. The machine is a Rice, Barton & Fales, 86-inch, two 9-rods, each super-calenders, and three Ilammond cutters. Manufactures machine and super-calender book-paper. Capacity per day, five tons. Both mills em- ploy 150 persons.

THE OLD ALBION MILL.

The history of this enterprise would not be complete without a mention of what is known as the " Old Albion." The Albion Company was formed in 1869, and purchased the mill formerly belonging to the Hampden Company, and began the manufac- ture of collar paper. Continued on this grade until 1874, when they began making super-calender paper. In 1877 it was sold to D. H. & J. C. Newton, who erected the present mills of the Albion Company. The present officers of the company are Calvin Taft, President ; Edward C. Taft, Treas- urer ; and A. H. Page, Clerk.

THE WAUREGAN PAPER COMPANY.

This new and complete mill, called the " Wauregan," is owned by Mr. James H. Newton, and was built in 1879. It is a large brick building located on Dwight Street. The finishing- rooms are 45 by 82 feet, machine-room 30 by 120 feet, engine- room 46 by 114 feet, size-room 25 by 36 feet, rag boiler build- ing 20 by 33 feet, stock-house 25 by 80 feet.

WAUREGAN PAPER MILLS, HOLYOKE.

The first floor is occupied by the finishing-rooms and of- fices. Here are three web calenders, three stock-cutters, one trimmer, and salting tables. On the second floor are salt- ing tables, store-rooms and offices for rental. The machine- room has an 84-inch Fourdrinier, warranted to run smooth and true at the rate of 200 feet per minute. Here also are ten 3-feet dryers and one stock calender. The en- gine-room contains wire drawers, shafting, etc. There are six rag-engines of 1000 tons' capacity each, and two Jourdans. On the next floor are the rag-rooms, where are dusters, two rag-cutters, salting tables, etc. The attic is devoted to storage and rag whipping, and contains a Sturdevant blower. Ca- pacity, five tons per day of fine book, envelope, and writing paper, white and tinted. Employ 100 persons. Five mill- powers, equal to 325 horse-power.

THE BEEBE & HOLBROOK PAPER COMPANY.

The fine writing-paper mill belonging to this company was built in 1871-72, by the Hampden Paper Company, organized

for the purpose by Mr. Jared Beebe, who was the principal stockholder. After running about a year the balance of the capital stock was purchased by Beebe & Holbrook, who con- tinued the business till the death of Mr. Beebe, in July, 1876; the present corporation having been formed Jan. 1, 1878, with G. B. Holbrook president and treasurer. The main building is 50 by 130 feet, three stories and basement. The first floor is used for offices, repair-shop, and plating-room, the latter containing two heavy plating-machines. On the second floor are the finishing- and engine-rooms; in the latter are two 750- pound washers, one 600-pound, and three 500-pound beaters. The upper floors are used for drying lofts and storage. There are two wings attached to the main building, one of which, 30 by 90 feet, two stories high, bas on the upper floor a 76-inch Fourdrinier machine, the lower floor being used for the prep- aration of animal sizing. Another wing contains the bleach- room, with a three and one-half ton rotary boiler, and above it is a rag-duster. Connected with this wing is the rag depart- ment, with the dusters in the attic. The third floor is the rag- room proper, the rest of the wing being used for storage.

The product of this establishment consists largely of special- ties in the finest grades of white and tinted wedding folios and linen papers, also choice lines of flat and ruled writing-papers. Capacity, two and one-half tons per day.

MASSASOIT PAPER-MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

The Massasoit inill is owned by the Massasoit Paper-Manu- facturing Company, having a capital of $300,000. The mill is four stories and attic, and is built of brick. The basement floor is used for storage in the eastern part, and for drainers in the western. The first floor is used for the office, store- room, size-room, etc., etc. There is also on this floor a large Holyoke Machine Company's plater, which does splendid work. The eastern portion of the second floor is used as the finishing-room, and contains six calenders, one Cranston trimming-knife, two hydraulic presses, five ruling-machines, and the stamper. The western part of the second floor is used for the engine-room, and contains eight engines,-three washing and five beating. Adjoining the engine-room is found the machine-room, in an L, in which is a fine 79-inch Fourdrinier machine. From this machine can be run three tons of finished paper per day. The production of the mill on thin and thick finished papers is two and one-half tons. The third floor (eastern part) is used for storage, and the western part for a rag-room; the fourth floor and attie for the drying-rooms.

This is one of the most complete mills in Holyoke, and as fine paper can be made here as any manufactured in the coun- try or imported. The agent and treasurer of this company, E. C. Rogers, bas introduced into the market several brands of very choice linen papers, among these the "erown Leg- horn," "imperial parchment," and " Lyons parchment, silk finish."

J. W. ARNOLD & Co .- Organized in 1878. Manufacturers of manilla paper. Capacity, one and a half tons per day.

ROBERTSON, BLACK & Co .- Organized Jan. 1, 1875. Cap- ital $35,000. Manufacturers of manilla papers. Product, one and a quarter tons per day.

THE MERRICK THREAD COMPANY

dates its origin from July, 1865. It was the outgrowth of a partnership with Timothy Merrick, Austin Merrick, and Or- igen Hall as partners, under the firm-name of Merrick, Bro. & Co., located at Mansfield, Conn., and engaged in the busi- ness of spooling three-cord cotton thread. The business of the firm grew so rapidly that in 1864 it became necessary for them to seek for some other location affording the requisite facilities, especially in the matter of water-power, to enable them to en- large their business and make provision for manufacturing the better quality of six-cord thread that the use of the sewing-

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 121

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896