The demise of the Germania Woolen Mills gave rise to a reorganized venture named the Livingston Woolen Mills. The new business remained in the Stursberg family, operated by Hermann Stursberg's grandson, Herbert J., and Herbert's nephews, Laird and Julius H. Stursberg.
The corporate reorganization from Germania Mills to Livingston Worsted Mills was completed in 1934, and the new leadership team was in place. Julius H. Stursberg, who resided in South Hadley, MA, managed the company locally with assistance provided by his brother, Laird Stursberg. They were the grandsons of the founder of Germania Mills, the late Hermann N. Stursberg. The corporate Treasurer was their uncle, Herbert Stursberg, a financier who resided in New York City.
One hundred employees were called back to work in March 1934 in the combing and spinning department.
In 1934, the entire operation moved to the south side of Jackson Street, and the equipment of the Livingston Division of the former Germania Mills was moved from Washington, Rhode Island, and consolidated with the Holyoke operation. This added weaving and finishing work, which were the following production steps after combing and spinning.
The real estate bounding the factory at Race, Berkshire, Hancock Streets, and the Holyoke & Westfield Railroad was transferred from Germania Mills to Livingston Worsted Mills Inc. in May 1934.
Stursberg & Co. Inc. was the new sales agency of the Livingston Worsted Mills. Offices were located at 51 Madison Avenue in New York City.
With all that was involved in the transition, this was an efficient process intended to promptly resume production and sales of goods. By December 1934, the company had 450 employees and was operating two shifts.
On the east side, atop the factory building, a yellow sign on a black background was painted: Livingston Worsted Mills Inc.
In 1935, Cornwall Mills Inc. was operating in the one modern building that Livingston Worsted Mills kept on the north side of South Street.
A 10% pay raise was given to the 750 employees of the company in 1936. The company continued to grow. The following year, another 10% pay increase went to the now 846 employees. The plant was running at full capacity.
Group life insurance was offered to employees who shared the premium cost with the employer. The coverage would provide a $500 death benefit and Visiting Nurse care, as needed, along with brochures providing information on better health. The first insurance claim was paid in 1938.
Livingston leased 20 82-inch looms from Farr Alpaca in 1939. The looms were set up in a portion of the plant occupied by Cornwall Mills Inc. This was the former storehouse of Germania Mills on the north side of South Street.
From the purchase of materials to the sales of goods, Livingston was an entirely domestic operation, with neither imports nor exports. Wool was purchased from Texas. The main reason for being country-centric was the work done for the U. S. Government. Contracts specified that domestically sourced materials were required in producing fleece.
In July 1939, employment topped 900 people, an all-time high. 8 months later, the company invested in twelve Crompton-Knowles high-speed looms. The twenty looms leased from Farr-Alpaca were returned, and the twelve new looms were installed in the former storeroom on the north side of South Street.
The continued growth of Livingston Worsted Mills during World War II and the post-war years follows in the next installments.
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
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