The engineers at Wrap-King (C&K Packaging Corp.) continued their inventive work into the late 1950s. In late 1959, the company released a new machine, which was a variation of its Model “L” for packaging lettuce. The machine would be installed at the harvesting center, so that vegetables could be packaged immediately after being picked from the fields. It was stated that products would retain their rich vitamin and iron content, much of which had previously been lost during transport to wrapping centers.
Also at year’s end, a news article indicated that Wrap-King was considering expansion, but the location was not divulged by the General Manager, William Anthony. The company held an option to acquire 12 acres of land in the area.
Two months later, in February 1960, Wrap-King officials announced the company would be relocating outside of Holyoke. The lack of available, expansive industrial land for further growth was cited as a reason. The company indicated that it did not want to leave Holyoke and had searched for alternative locations in Holyoke for some time without success.
There were discussions about a new industrial park being developed around Lower Westfield Road, but this was not imminent and had drawbacks the company wasn’t willing to endure. Attempts by Mayor Samuel Resnic to keep the plant in the city were unsuccessful.
10 days later, on February 27, 1960, unionized workers went out on strike for increased pay and benefits. It was a protracted work stoppage lasting 102 days, when a new contract was executed on June 7, 1960.
In August 1960, the company announced it was relocating to a 46-acre tract in Agawam, where it would construct a 55,000-square-foot plant and employ 200 to 300 employees. Its present Holyoke site was 4 and a third acres with a 25,000-square-foot plant and 140 employees.
In late November 1960, Lestoil purchased the Wrap-King factory, effective on July 1, 1961. Lestoil planned to convert the facility to manufacture plastic bottles for its products.
Wrap-King completed its move to Agawam in July 1961, and many of its employees remained with the company at its new location.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
1959 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Holyoke, Massachusetts
