History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, 1879.

The Holyoke Paper Company.

Holyoke Paper Company Mill

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 conducted 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, or a capacity of 500 pounds each. The machine-room, 72 by 90 feet, 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, 323 by 50 feet, contains 13 five-roll sheet calendars 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 flat. 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 about 100 feet from the mill. The power comes from 8 turbine wheels of about 500 horsepower. 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 celebrate American linen papers, both flat and folded, and banker's parchment ruled.





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