The era of papermaking and paper-processing plants in Holyoke during the mid-1800s featured many success stories. However, there were companies that, despite their best efforts, failed to gain traction and were short-lived. One of the businesses that caught my attention when reviewing the early City Directories was the J. J. Merwin & Co, the subject of this chapter.
James Jones Merwin was born in Milford, CT, on March 18, 1837. After his marriage to Mary (Hodge) Merwin in 1865, he moved north to Windsor, CT, where he entered the paper industry with his father-in-law, George W. Hodge. The partnership dissolved in 1867 when Mr. Hodge died.
An opportunity to operate his own business in Holyoke arose in 1870, and Mr. Merwin leased the mill on Race Street, formerly used by the Holyoke Manila Mill. The mill was named J. J. Merwin & Co. The company had little more success in producing Manila paper than its predecessor. The business failed in early 1873, shortly after having purchased the plant.
Subsequently, Robertson, Black & Co., later renamed Robertson & Black Company, purchased the business in 1875. In 1881, four brothers from Hinsdale, NH, purchased the business and renamed it Robertson Brothers. The brothers relocated the Manila paper business to Hinsdale, NH, the following year. The Holyoke mill buildings were put up for auction on December 16, 1882. The successful bidder was required, as a condition of purchase, to remove or raze the structures by February 1, 1883.
Mr. Merwin went on to own a cookware store on Dwight Street for several years. The store's inventory was sold to H. A. Carter in October 1877 for $1,600. James J. Merwin returned to the Windsor area, sold insurance, was an undertaker, and was a justice of the peace.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; Hartford (Connecticut) Courant; Boston (Massachusetts) Globe; The Morning Democrat (Davenport, Iowa); publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
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