In the past, living room chairs and couches were constructed to last, featuring hardwood frames, durable springs, and high-quality foam and fabrics. When the material wore, seats sagged, or a refreshing look was desired, there was an option other than the purchase of an expensive new set of furniture. Highland Upholstery was a leader in the field of handcrafted upholstery.
Highland Upholstery opened in 1947 at 904 Hampden Street. The owners were listed in the Holyoke City Directory as George Davidson and Abraham Stone. The company offered free pickup and delivery, a 10-day turnaround time for the work, budget terms, and a 10-year guarantee.
In 1951 or 1952, the concern moved to 1646 Northampton Street. The workspace increased to 4,000 square feet. In 1955, the company expanded to 9,000 square feet by renting the space formerly occupied by the Lighthouse Restaurant at 1642-1644 Northampton St. The restaurant was located at the corner of St. James Ave.
By this time, Highland had ten employees and a third owner, Martin Cohen, who was the company's salesman. Mr. Cohen would soon be the owner of the company along with his brother Harry (Cohen) Chandler.
On May 13, 1960, the business was incorporated with Mr. Chandler as President, Mr. Cohen as Treasurer, and Gloria Cohen as Secretary. The business had moved to 420 Dwight Street in the former Wauregan Paper Co. building. The paper-making company, along with the nearby Massasoit and Beebe-Holbrook Paper Companies, had all been owned under the umbrella of the American Writing Paper Co.
In December 1944, Holyoke Water Power purchased the mill complex from the American Writing Company and initiated an incubator program, which involved several small businesses operating within the complex.
Holyoke Water Power sold the complex to the principals of Highland, who stated they would sell part of the holdings to Martin Jaffe of Paul Martin Rubber. Details had not been worked out at the time.
The eleven companies operating in the mill complex would be unaffected by the transaction and include:
Clinton Precision Reticle Co. (a related entity of the Clinton Silk Mill)
Highland Upholstery Co.
Holyoke Electrotype Co.
Marvellum Co.
Package Converting Co.
Paul Martin Rubber Co.
F. Howard Quirk Inc.
Vogform Tool & Die Co.
American Planetarium Corp.
Highland was unique in its presentation of its newspaper advertising. It did show finished products and materials. However, the primary focus was placed on the expertise and vast experience of individual employees, as they worked on their craft.
In the 1970s, the company expanded its services to include carpeting, custom-made draperies, and slipcovers. The company built a commercial sales side, with work performed for various colleges, financial institutions, and federal agencies, including the submarine base in Groton, Connecticut. Highland was the largest upholstery company in Western Massachusetts.
On December 20, 1990, the company announced it would be closing after serving 43 years in business.
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Morning-Union; publication dates and pages are shown.
Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts, Holyoke Public Library.
MACRIS: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System Search Results - MACRIS
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