The formation of the American Writing Paper Company (AWPCo) resulted in the loss of significant autonomy for many of Holyoke's paper mills. Decision-making control over important production and business matters rested largely with the combine's central office. The once-independent mills were losing key personnel to other companies or to retirement, many of whom had been employed for years in managerial or factory leadership positions.
The renamed Nonotuck Paper Co. division of American Writing Paper Company was not an exception. In early 1900, H. Dwight Bradburn, Nonotuck's plant superintendent since its inception, resigned and moved to Hartford, CT. He was a key investor when the Nonotuck Paper Company was formed 20 years prior. In early 1902, the glazing department superintendent, Napoleon Lajoie, resigned after 17 years in the position.
In March 1903, the officers and owners of the former Nonotuck Paper Company petitioned for dissolution of the 23-year firm. The owners of the 50 shares issued were:
12 shares, William H. Heywood
12 shares, H. Dwight Bradburn
6 shares, Henry E. McElwain
1 share, R. C. Chapin
In 1909, AWPCo contracted to build a 3,500-horsepower central coal-fired steam plant on property adjacent to its Nonotuck mill. The plant would supply steam to three AWPCo divisions, Nonotuck Paper, George C. Gill Paper (formerly Winona Paper), and Mt. Tom Paper (formerly Esleeck Paper).
The general construction contract was awarded to Daniel O'Connell Sons. The structural steel was supplied by Eastern Bridge & Structural from Worcester. Other contractors included Babcock & Wilcox for the boilers and Murphy Iron Works from Detroit, which supplied the Automatic Furnaces. The smoke flue work was performed by Holyoke Steam Boiler Works.
Of note, the Alphonse Custodis Construction Company of New York was selected to build the chimney using its special brick, and when completed, it was the tallest chimney in the city. The chimney rose 130 feet, 15 feet taller than the Lyman Mills chimney, which had been Holyoke's tallest. 4 gounded copper cables and plates were installed as protection against lightning strikes.
As an aside, the chimney contractor had previously constructed the world's tallest chimney for a smelting company in Great Falls, Montana. That chimney stood 506 feet.
In 1916, P. J. Kennedy & Co. was awarded the contract to build a 2-story 60- by 80-foot addition to the Nonotuck mill. David McCormick & Son supplied the cut stone for the $25,000 project.
In 1934, AWPCo, through the work of a Springfield private detective agency, discovered the theft of more than 50,000 pounds of paper valued at approximately $5,000. The theft had occurred over 18 months and involved the company's platform foreman, a railroad conductor, and a trucker. The trucker was involved in hauling the paper away to another Holyoke paper company. The B&M conductor was the middleman who brokered the sale of the stolen paper to the large and unnamed Holyoke paper mill. The paper mill that purchased the stolen goods then resold the paper back to the AWPCo.
In 1935, the Nonotuck division operated an entire year, 185,000 hours, without a single accident. This contrasted sharply with the late 19th century, when many significant worker injuries were reported in newspaper articles. The company's insurance premiums were reduced as a result of its 1935 safety record.
The final chapter explores the final years of the Nonotuck division of the AWPCo, and its successors, Brown Co. and Robert Belsky.
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 Richards Atlas of Holyoke, Massachusetts
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