Since 1863, several owners had operated the New York Woolen Mill with varying degrees of success. Edward Delabarre and A. T. Stewart Co. come to mind as some of the longer-term businesses. This installment features the Connor Bros, New York Woolen Mill, successor to A.T. Stewart & Co.
Although the company's name was Connor Brothers, only James Connor was identified throughout the news clippings as the business principal.
The Conor Brothers had their start in the late 1860s working for Theodore Leonard's woolen mill in Greenfield, MA. In the early 1870s, the company was established in Holyoke. They were successful at the location across the first-level canal from the company's future home at Bigelow and Cabot Streets. D. H. and J. C. Newton were building a new plant for the company at the northwest corner of this intersection.
In February 1876, the new plant, leased from the Newtons, was in operation. The plant was producing satinets, woolen shoddies, and cassimeres. In May 1876, a fire caused considerable damage to the mill. It wasn't until February of the following year that the company settled with all of its creditors.
In 1882, a new engine room was completed in a new building constructed and owned by the Holyoke Water Power Company. The building housed a Hartford Automatic Cut-Off engine, and a similar machine was installed in the Connor Brothers-New York Woolen Mill at Main and South Streets.
The company's second location at 649 Main Street was leased from Holyoke Water Power in April 1882. Holyoke Water Power had purchased the building in March 1882 from the estate of the late Alexander T. Stewart. The mill was vacant from 1880 to 1882, after A. T Stewart & Company, New York Woolen Mill, ceased operating.
The company continued to successfully operate into the late 1890s. Economic times were turbulent. The non-union workers went on strike twice in 1897 and 1898, seeking a reduction in overtime hours, and after a promise of pay restoration did not occur. Fire struck the shoddy mill at Bigelow and Cabot in 1899, causing considerable damage. A longer strike by the 150 employees occurred in 1900. The financial situation of the company was becoming perilous as creditors were filing attachments, which totalled $52,000 in May 1901.
In July 1901, the company was in bankruptcy, listing $436 thousand in liabilities and $323 thousand in assets. There were over 200 creditors in Holyoke alone, many due unpaid wages.
The stock in trade of the company went on a liquidation sale to the public at the Edward L. Connor store at 494 High Street in October 1901.
In 1903, the Holyoke Water Power Company sold the mill at 649 Main Street to Day and John Chadwick of the Holyoke Plush Company. The mill had been vacant for two years.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; Boston (Massachusetts) Globe; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription), Price & Lee City Directories, Holyoke, Massachusetts.
No comments:
Post a Comment