Lowe Paper Machinery Corporation

Throughout the journey of writing this blog, there have been businesses that have stayed in operation for over a century. There were other concerns that, due to unfortunate circumstances, failed within a short period. This is a story of the latter, the Lowe Paper Machinery Corporation.

John C. Lowe was the corporation's principal. Fairfield Whiting was the Treasurer.

On March 5, 1950, the Lowe Paper Machinery Corporation began operating in the Holyoke Gas & Electric Building on Jackson Street near Main Street. The firm was an engineering and design company that developed improved mechanical equipment for the paper-making industry to produce higher-grade, higher-quality paper.

Once the design concepts were finalized, manufacturing was carried out by three Holyoke companies. These included the Holyoke Machine Company, J & W Jolly Inc., and the Walsh Holyoke Boiler Works. The final assembly was performed by Walsh Holyoke Boiler Works.

The company's main product was the vertical beater and washer, which beat, washed, bleached, and refined rag pulp more efficiently than the long-used horizontal beaters. Another machine extracted the wax from the paper, so the paper could be reused.

Cellulose Fibers Inc, located at 45 Jackson Street, placed an order for 4 of the vertical beaters and washers. The machines sold for $40,000 to $60,000 each and weighed from 20 to 40 tons.

Representatives of paper companies from as far as the midwestern United States and Canada visited the Lowe concern, interested in purchasing its products. Mr. Lowe envisioned sales in the millions of dollars annually, providing work for over 100 people in the three machine shops.

On January 4, 1951, John Lowe was named president of the new Holyoke Paper & Pulp Corporation, which operated out of North Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Two days prior, Roland A. Packard was named assistant to the president and consulting engineer of the Lowe Paper Machinery Corporation. He had previously been the executive vice president of the Holyoke Machine Company.

In March 1951, operations ceased at the Lowe Paper Machinery Corporation. Mr. Lowe attempted to obtain additional financing to keep the business viable, but indications were that these efforts were unsuccessful. The business had closed a little over one year after its opening.

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

Spanish Villa

The first half of the 20th century marked the growth of many dining and night club establishments in Holyoke. Live music would be played for diners' entertainment. Some of these night spots were written about in this blog, including Toto's in Smith's Ferry and the Shea Avodire at 47 High Street. The Roger Smith Hotel's Indian Garden, the Valley Arena's Circus Lounge, and the Hotel Essex also come to mind. The venues were also available for wedding receptions, anniversary parties, and other banquets.

One of the prominent ones that I wanted to learn more about, likely because of its intriguing name, was the Spanish Villa. The Spanish Villa was so-named because it was decorated and furnished to evoke a Spanish air.

The Spanish Villa was a restaurant and entertainment event spot located within the Hotel Monat. The hotel was located at 2-4 Main Street at the Mosher Street underpass leading into the Flats. In 1934, Joseph Weisenberg, a previous owner of the real estate, arranged with its current owner, Aimee Blanchette, to operate the Spanish Villa restaurant and nightclub.

The grand opening occurred on July 18, 1934, and featured an "All Girl Orchestra" with Eddie Lane, a pianist and song impersonator. The business was initially open Thursday through Saturday for dining and dancing. 

In October 1934, the venue was expanded, and booths were added to enlarge the dance area. Beauty and dance contests were held with prizes awarded to the winners. In May 1935, Mr. Weisenberg redorated the facility and installed a new bar.

Mr. Wesenberg left the club in 1936. He later opened a restaurant and nightspot on Main Street in Springfield called the Spanish Villa Restaurant and Marion Cafe. That establishment opened in 1938.

Entertainment at the Holyoke establishment continued through the 1930s and into the 1940s, during World War II. The house band was called the Spanish Villa Orchestra, and many other bands performed as well.

After further renovations in 1940, the business was called the New Spanish Villa. In 1941, there was entertainment 6 nights a week. The club introduced Sound Pictures, where patrons could sing along following the bouncing ball, timing the melody with the lyrics. There were also films of musical and comedic acts to entertain the audience.

On May 29, 1944, a fire that started in the building's basement and was confined there caused $10,000 in damage. Fortunately, most of the hotel's 38 residents were at work at the time. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.

On May 19, 1947, Aimee (Blanchette) Realty Corporation leased the building and contents to a new ownership group. The 15-year lease gave the lessee the option to purchase the building for $60,000 within 2 years of the lease's execution. There is little to report after 1951, except for a brief attempt to revive the name Spanish Villa. City Directories no longer listed the Spanish Villa after 1944, the year of the fire; however, the Hotel Monat name lived on.

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