As with many companies in the various industries in Holyoke, the business cycle ranged from extreme highs to precipitous drops in demand and production. Circumstances, including many relating to national policies and the economy, were out of the control of the factory owner. This installment of the Livingston Worsted Mills highlights the final chapter of the Stursberg history, spanning over 100 years in Holyoke.
The year 1955 found the mill operating with 360 employees on three shifts, six days a week, as the company was bustling, filling orders. These were no longer the war years of the 1940s when employment topped 1,000. There was more conservatism in hiring additional employees during busy times, as peak seasons could soon change to down times, resulting in the discharge of employees.
Julius Hermann Stursberg was willing to help out other companies that faced unforeseen events. Such was the case in 1955 when flood waters ravaged the Somerville Manufacturing Co. mill in Somersville, CT, and the Ellis Mills in Monson, MA. Although the Holyoke mill was quite busy, the damaged woolen goods of both mills were cleaned and dried at the Livingston Mills to help out fellow textile manufacturers.
The Holyoke Transcript interviewed Herbert Stursberg, the Livingston's Treasurer and uncle of Julius Stursberg, at his New York City office. At the time, the plant had about 700 employees, two-thirds of whom were aged 60 or older. The message he delivered was his family's generational pride in the quality of their products. He mentioned that the local plant produces "a top quality product" and "southern labor can't touch our work." In the past, I recall another Stursberg family member wondering why consumers would purchase the worsted wool products from England when the best were made in Holyoke. At the time of the interview, he indicated that Livingston was one of the very few worsted wool manufacturers surviving in the entire country.
The Livingston Mills enjoyed a brisk business throughout the late 1950s. The plant was operating five days a week, with the weaving department running three shifts and the rest of the mill two shifts.
In January of 1957, the Livingston Mills sold the 30,000 square-foot building on the north side of South Street to Craftmount Co. This transaction included only a portion of its holdings on the north side of South Street.
In 1959, Herbert Stursberg died at the age of 68. He was instrumental throughout the history of Livingston Worsted Mills, as its Treasurer and Director.
Julius H. Stursberg remained President, and his cousin Eugene W. Mason Jr.'s corporate position changed from Vice-President to Treasurer in 1960. The newly elected Vice-President was Arthur J. LaHait of South Hadley, who was connected with Livingston for 25 years as its comptroller.
In 1962, the company employed 280 workers. A five-story freight elevator was installed in the plant. In 1963, demand increased for woolen items, which were making a comeback. Employment increased to 345 workers.
The early 1960s resurgence would be short-lived. Imports were flooding the market with well-made goods that cost half as much as Livingston's to produce, mainly due to the disparity in labor costs between the U.S. and Japan. Many textile companies throughout the nation were also impacted.
In August 1964, Julius Stursberg announced the Livingston Worsted Mills would close. The company could not compete any longer with the unrestricted flow of imports. 60 employees were remaining in the 34,000 square-foot plant.
The following month, the real estate and equipment were sold to the Frank G.W. McKittrick Co. of Lowell, MA. Several companies leased portions of the space over time, including Kruger Tissue Mills and Scott Graphics.
The building has been sold several times since being acquired by Frank G. W. McKittrick Co. As of 2025, the mill complex remains.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Holyoke - Chicopee A Perspective, Ella Merkel Dicarlo, Publisher Transcript-Telegram, Holyoke, Massachusetts, 1982
Registry of Deeds, Hampden County, Springfield, Massachusetts
Photo Courtesy of Holyoke, MA, Assessors' Office
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