While writing about the history of the Holyoke Machine Company, a short-lived enterprise that produced dishwashers, I saw that the plant at 720 Main Street was sold in 1925 to Holyoke Company, Inc. I thought this an odd and nondescript name for a business and decided to research it further.
Notably, this has evolved into a six-part series for a business that, through several corporate transitions, has continued to operate in the area for more than 115 years (as of 2026). Here's the story of the Holyoke Company, Inc.
The roots of Holyoke Company, Inc. trace to Holyoke Covered Wire Company, a subsidiary of George W. Prentiss Wire Company. Prentiss Wire produced braided wire and established a subsidiary responsible for applying a covering to the wire for electrical, millinery, and floral uses.
The Holyoke Covered Wire Co. was situated in the former Prentiss mill at 415 Dwight Street in 1910. Shortly thereafter, the two companies moved to Front Street near Dwight Street. Prentiss Wire owned the property on Dwight and Front streets, where several shops were located on the Dwight Street side. The shops were vacated and demolished, and a factory addition was constructed. Both companies were then addressed at 439 Dwight Street.
The President of the Holyoke Covered Wire Company was Robert K. Morton, the Treasurer, William A. Prentiss, and Vice-President, Harold T. Smethurst. All were associated with Prentiss Wire. W.R. Marshall was appointed the plant Superintendent.
In 1916, William Burns, a High Street shoe dealer, sold the manufacturing and marketing rights to his abdominal support to the Holyoke Covered Wire Company. Mr. Burns had applied for and received a patent on January 6, 1916.
In 1920, Robert K. Morton resigned from the George W. Prentiss Wire Company and purchased the Holyoke Covered Wire Company, renaming it Holyoke Company, Inc. The plant would remain in its present location under the supervision of W.R. Marshall. Mr. Morton would relocate from Holyoke to New York City and was a part of a newly formed firm, the Brewster-Morton Corporation.
Major changes are forthcoming and will be revealed in part 2 of this series.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
1911 Richard's Atlas of Holyoke, Massachusetts
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