After the demise of Germania Mills on the north side of South Street, space was available for start-up businesses. In 1935, Cornwall Mills leased space from Livingston Worsted Mills, the Stursberg family's successor to Germania Mills.
Cornwall Mills, Inc. arrived in Holyoke with little fanfare. It was a small firm with about 10 workers engaged in the manufacture of worsted clothing. It leased space in one of the more recent additions of the former Germania company at the corner of Race and South streets.
The president and treasurer of the company was Howard W. Pierce, who resided at 196 Oak Street.
In 1947, the company announced its intention to relocate to the municipal Gas & Electric building at the corner of Race and Jackson streets. The former Holyoke Paper Company used the building as its power station.
The Gas & Electric Department would make the necessary renovations to the building on behalf of Cornwall Mills. The Casper Ranger Construction Company was awarded the $23,800 contract to perform the work, and another $7,000 was set aside for subcontract work. The mill space was 10,000 square feet.
In early 1950, the Cornwall Mills moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. No information was found in news articles or other online sources regarding the company or its relocation. It did not appear to be a subsidiary of a larger concern. No classified ads seeking employment were discovered in Cincinnati after early 1953.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
