Moving into factory space vacated by a failed major company was a common theme with new mid-20th-century start-ups in Holyoke. This is the story of Hadley Mills, Inc., which leased 34,000 square feet of space in the former Farr Alpaca Company building on Bigelow Street.
Hadley Mills specialized in manufacturing rayon for women's blouses and lingerie. Rayon, made from synthetic fibers, was intended to imitate silk. Once the rayon rolls were produced, they were shipped to dyers. Leaving the dye-houses, the fabric was sent to companies in Connecticut and Pennsylvania associated with Hadley Mills to produce the garments. Some of the clothing was sold locally in Holyoke department stores.
During World War II, the company produced khaki cloth, made from cotton and mohair, which was used to produce military neckties.
Hadley Mills, Incorporated began operations in Holyoke in October 1939, following the cessation of operations by the Farr Alpaca Company and the sale of its assets. Isidore Schneider was the principal officer of the new company. His family also had a controlling interest in the business.
Although production took place in Holyoke, the management offices were situated in New York City.
Leo Schlessinger was appointed plant manager in 1945. He was previously the plant superintendent of Farr Alpaca from 1936 to 1939, and had left Holyoke for a similar position in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He had extensive experience working in silk mills in Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts since his arrival from Vienna, Austria, in 1907.
By 1946, the company produced 76,000 yards of rayon per week and employed 63 people across two shifts. Hadley Mills operated 216 looms. The company hoped to acquire more machinery and floor space to further expand production.
In June 1951, 12 years after its founding, Hadley Mills Inc. announced its relocation to Taylorsville, South Carolina. The company had built a new plant there in 1949 and was consolidating operations at this location, which offered expansion capacity. Employees were offered an opportunity to retain their positions at the new location; none chose to move with the company.
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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