Holyoke Fabrics Company continued to invest in updating its equipment to modern and efficient standards. In 1946, the company spent $125,000 on updating the plant. The replaced equipment would either be scrapped or sold to overseas markets.
In 1947, the company embarked on a $100,000 expansion. 24 modern broadlooms were being brought in from the defunct Slater Mills in Pawtucket, R. I. The machinery had the capacity to produce 20,000 yards of interlinings weekly. This was nearly double the previous equipment's capacity.
The factory would also be segmented into three divisions: rayons, interlinings, and yarns. This would involve a great deal of equipment reorganization within the floor space. In December 1947, the company was seeking an additional 15,000 square feet of mill space in Holyoke.
In 1949, Felix Brawer sold his interest in Holyoke Mills Inc., the third-floor business in the "D Shed." The buyers were his cousins, Milton and Oscar Brawer. Holyoke Mills was one of the first occupants of the former Farr Alpaca property and employed 135 workers in the rayon business.
In 1950, Holyoke Fabrics advertised its mill store as open to the public. The factory store sold mill ends, samples, and remnants, including upholstery and drapery fabrics and mohairs.
1951 was a rather significant year in the company's history. Holyoke Fabrics sold its interlinings division, its largest sector, to Holyoke Textiles Manufacturing Company, Incorporated of New York. 4 members of the Scher family were corporate principals. As part of the transaction, Holyoke Fabrics would retain its yarns, draperies, and upholstery cloth divisions and would need to vacate its 66,000-square-foot plant at Cabot and Bigelow streets.
Unable to find a suitable space in Holyoke, Mr. Brawer moved the upholstery cloth division to the former Spalding mill at 7 Springfield Street in Chicopee. If he could not find acceptable mill space in Holyoke, the remainder of the company would have to relocate to another community.
A significant decline in work orders impacted the materials industry in 1952. Holyoke Fabrics Inc., now based in Chicopee, reduced its workforce from 60 to 30.
On January 28, 1955, a collaborative announcement was made by Felix Brawer of Holyoke Fabrics Inc., George V. Wallace, President of Hadley Falls Trust Company, and Robert E. Barrett, Jr., of the Holyoke Water Power Company, regarding plans to build a new factory in Holyoke.
Further details will be provided in the third and final chapter of this story.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
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