Mount Tom Paper Company (1866-1870)

 The mid 1800s marked the infancy of Holyoke’s Paper industry. The Parson’s Paper Company was the town’s first, founded in 1853 and was located along the Connecticut River near the Holyoke dam. There was a building to the north of the Parson’s plant, which was used as a grist mill. What follows is the story of the Mount Tom Paper Company, which acquired the property during the early days of paper-making in Holyoke.

It was in late 1866 that the Mount Tom Paper Company was formed. The company held its organizational meeting on December 5, 1866 and elected Edwin Chase of Holyoke as its President and George E. Lamb of South Hadley Falls as Treasurer. Other Directors included: C.L. Frink of Holyoke, W. Felton of Brattleboro, Vermont, Moses Goldthwait and H. A. Chase, both of Holyoke. The company was authorized to raise $40,000 in capital.

The company purchased land and a former grist mill site from the Holyoke Water Power Co. for $40,000 on December 15, 1866. It appears from newspaper accounts that the mill would initially operate in the grist mill. Another much later account stated that the Mt. Tom Paper Company built a new mill in 1867. I searched, but could not confirm this finding. An 1871 account, posted below, shows that the Mount Tom Paper Company was operating in the former grist mill, at least for part of its manufacturing operations.

The company planned to start operations in March 1867 after alterations to the former grist mill and the installation of equipment were completed. The company was formed to manufacture Manila paper. 

In January 1868, the company added colored tissue paper to its production. At the time, there were only one or two other companies in the United States producing this commodity.

In January 1870, Moses Goldthwait purchased the interest of three of the owners, Messrs. E. Chase, G. Lamb and W. Felton.

The plant and real estate were sold for $45,000 to Messrs. Felton and H.A. Chase in April 1870, and the company was renamed Felton & Company, manufacturers of Manila paper. The tissue line was discontinued by the newly formed enterprise. This marked the end of the short existence of the Mount Tom Paper Company. 

Citations:

Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.

Combined Map of Holyoke & Chicopee, 1870, Beers, Ellis & Soule, New York City, New York

Map of Hampden County, Massachusetts, 1855, H. A. Haley, Publisher, Boston, Massachusetts

1867 Plant of the Mount Tom Paper Company

The 1855 Map shows the grist mill, which was purchased 

by the Mt. Tom Paper Company, along with additional land from the 

Holyoke Water Power Co. on December 15, 1866.

An 1870 View shows the Mt. Tom Paper Co.'s mill location.

(DeDecember 281866) Plan of Land Identifying Lot No. 1, including a former grist mill building

purchased by the Mount Tom Paper Company 

from the Holyoke Water Power Co. 

(View the copy of the 1866 recorded deed at the end of this presentation)

Addendum: December 15, 1866, Deed conveying Holyoke Water Power Company 

land, including a former grist mill building and 2 mill powers

to the Mount Tom Paper Company