When discussing the most prominent silk mill in Holyoke in the 19th and 20th centuries, William J. Skinner Mills comes to mind. However, other companies, including the Clinton Silk Mills, Holyoke Silk Hosiery Co., and Goetz Silk Manufacturing Co., operated during this time. Today's entry provides the timeline of the Goetz Silk Manufacturing Co.
David Goetz was born in Lyons, France in 1844. His father was a silk manufacturer in what was one of the leading silk centers in the world. He received training in silk weaving and the manufacturing process. From 1862 to 1870, he worked at his own business with two looms for silk production.
In 1870, he emigrated from France to the United States and took a position at a silk manufacturer in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1878, he relocated for employment in Holyoke at William Skinner's invitation.
David Goetz was appointed head of the weaving department at William Skinner & Sons. At the time, the company was small, operating with four looms. By 1892, the Skinner Company had 213 looms that could produce 700,000 yards of silk fabric annually. During those fourteen years, Mr. Goetz oversaw the weaving department and contributed significantly to the plant's successful development.
Mr. Goetz began planning his own mill. In 1892, the equipment necessary for producing silk began arriving.
The Goetz Silk Manufacturing Company was formed on May 1, 1893. It operated at the Holyoke Water Power Company building on Cabot Street, which at the time provided mill space for start-up businesses. David Goetz was the company President, and Samuel McQuade was its Treasurer. The company manufactured silk lining and serges.
Samuel McQuade, originally from Dudley, had operated a clothing store at 135 High Street and later in the Marble Building.
David Goetz retired from the business in 1905 and died in 1919 at his long-time home, 130 Main Street, South Hadley.
The company continued to see success and soon outgrew its space. The search for land to build his factory began in 1903. In late 1909, the company purchased land from Holyoke Water Power Company bounded by South Canal, South Summer, and Jackson St.
In 1910, there were rumors the company would move to Springfield, however, this was denied and did not materialize.
On April 12, 1911, Casper Ranger Construction received the contract to build the plant along Jackson Street. After some delays, the factory building with three stories covering the land along Jackson St., from So. Canal to So. Summer St. began operations.
An expansion of the mill along So. Summer Street occurred in 1919.
In 1925, Samuel McQuade died. The business had not operated for several months before his death.
The building went into foreclosure and was owned by the mortgagee banks, including the Holyoke National Bank, Holyoke Savings Bank, and several New York parties.
The McCallum Hosiery Company of Northampton purchased the business and planned to hire its workers displaced from a closed operation in Providence, Rhode Island.
Sources of news articles and information:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates are shown.
Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories.
Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts.
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