Over the course of writing about all things Holyoke, many different industries have been identified. This will be one more to add to the variety of business concerns that created Holyoke’s industrial mosaic: the Samuel Snell Company, cement works.
“Write me down as a man who never wore a necktie.” - Samuel Snell
The story of Samuel Snell, son of John and Elizabeth Snell, began on May 4, 1828, in Cornwall, England. At the age of 6, the Snell family emigrated to the United States, settling in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Samuel arrived in the yet-to-be-formed town of Holyoke in 1848, at a time when many hoped to harness water power and establish their businesses.
In 1850, he found work as a carpenter and later as a ferryman, transporting people across the Connecticut River. Mr. Snell lived his entire life in Holyoke except 1862-1866, when he returned to his native land. When he returned to the U.S., he resumed his carpentry work. In the early 1870s, he was a foreman for Wilson & Flagg Builders.
The turning point in what would be his long-time business pursuit occurred in 1875. At the time, he opened his own business, Samuel Snell & Company, manufacturer of cement pipes. His place of business was on Mechanic Street, as shown on the street atlas below. In the 1880s, he partnered with John Jarisch to produce drain and sewer pipes. The partnership lasted a short time, and Mr. Snell then operated as a sole proprietor, supplying the growing city with its underground infrastructure.
He was long a supporter of the Episcopal Church, and instrumental in its move from the southeast corner of Suffolk and Maple Streets to its Appleton Street at Linden location. He was known for carrying his bill book and receipts in his hat when he conducted business.
He was awarded a patent for the drainer stones he invented, which were sold to paper mills in Holyoke, the eastern United States and Canada.
Some of the many projects awarded and completed by the Samuel Snell Concrete Works include the following (Holyoke, unless otherwise noted):
1883 Winona Paper Company - patent drainer stones
1883 Glattilter Paper Mills, PA - Klary paper mill drainer bottoms
1884 Southwick Paper Co., Mittineague, MA - 400 patent drainer bottoms
1884 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - Stepping stones and walks for two church entrances
1884 L. B. White, Fairfield Ave. - Street Fountain
1885 City of Holyoke - one-year Sewer Pipe Contract
1887 Albion Paper Co. - 2,000 patent drainer stones
1887 Agawam Paper Co., Agawam, MA - 4,100 patent drainer stones
1889 New Parsons Paper Mill - 7,000 patent drainer stones
1890 Maritime Chemical Paper Co., Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada - patent drainer stones
1891 2 Paper Mills, New Hampshire - patent drainer stones
1891 Howland Falls Paper Co., Passadumkeag, Maine - 14,000 patent drainer stones
1892 Norman Paper Co. - patent drainer stones
1892 2 Mills, Reading, PA and Kaukauna, WI - patent drainer stones
1892 Mt. Holly Paper Co., Mt. Holly Springs, PA - 500 patent drainer stones
1897 Rolland Paper Co., St. Jerome, Canada - patent drainer stones
The breadth of the distribution area for Mr. Snell’s in-demand concrete products was a testament to the quality of the company’s work.
In the 1880s, he introduced new concrete products, including fire-proof chimney flue linings, paving blocks in three colors and lawn urns. The urns were produced in several segments for easier portability. He built a street fountain at the request of L. B. White for placement on Fairfield Avenue.
In 1887, ground was broken for his new home at the corner of Beacon Ave and Nonotuck Street. The home would be a replica of one that existed in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was displayed in Scientific American magazine. E. A. Ellsworth, architect and city engineer, developed the plans for the home, which would be brick on the lower half and wood on the upper half, with the wooden portion installed by Doane & Williams. A map below shows the location of Samuel Snell’s home at 23 Beacon Ave.
The beginning of the 20th century marked changes in Samuel Snell & Company’s business, which will be explored in the concluding chapter.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
1911 Richard’s Atlas of the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts
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