The multiple uses of cement-based products were growing the business in the early 20th century. The Samuel Snell cement works had established a fine reputation for making superior products that would last many years,
In addition to its signature paper mill drainer stones and concrete sewer and water pipes, the company manufactured well pipes, wall coping, decorative urns, artificial stone vases, floor tiles and burial vaults. He had produced over 100 burial vaults over the last quarter century.
In November 1904, at the age of 76, Samuel Snell sold his business to James J. Delaney, owner of the Holyoke Halter Company and Sanitary Matting Company.
Mr. Snell died on May 30, 1911. In 1915, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church dedicated a new stained glass window over the church’s main entrance in memory of Samuel Snell. Mr. Snell had dedicated years of service and financial aid to St. Paul’s. It is said that he watched closely as every stone was laid in the construction of the church. The church was built in 1904 and dedicated in 1905.
The company moved forward, producing quality products worthy of the Samuel Snell name. The company was designated as an agent for the Akron Sewer Pipe Company. In 1923, the company, through Agnes Delaney, the wife of the late James Delaney, acquired real estate on Pine Street. The property was formerly the Whiting wood yard and, more recently, the Herder Coal Company. The Samuel Snell Co. relocated to 98 Pine Street between Hampden and Dwight Streets.
Many of Holyoke’s sewer pipe projects were awarded to the Samuel Snell Company through the Board of Public Works bidding process.
In May 1946, the business was sold to John D. Kuc & Sons. The Kuc concern planned to construct a new building on land adjacent and north of the Snell factory. The factory would produce concrete products and burial vaults.
The additional 28-foot-by-100-foot parcel was purchased from the Holyoke Water Power Co. and had been used as a community garden for Ward 4 residents. Once the new building was completed, the Snell wooden building was razed, and the vacated land was used to store sewer and water pipes.
John Kuc’s sons, Theodore and Rudolph, were associated with the business. The family business had been operating as boiler setters from their location at 62 Main Street, which they intended to keep. The Kuc concern kept the Samuel Snell Company name intact into 1955, then reverted to using their own name and conducted a masonry business. By that time, the Samuel Snell Company had amassed 80 years of service to residents, industry and municipalities.
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
Massachusetts Cultural Resource and Information System, Secretary of State’s Office, Boston, Massachusetts.
1911 Richards Atlas of the City of Holyoke, Massachusetts
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