The American Writing Paper Co. (AWPCo) continued to struggle during its final quarter-century of operation. The company had undergone bankruptcy reorganizations in 1923 and 1937 and continued to move forward.
In 1945, Francis A. Gillespie, who resided at 101 Elm Street, was named plant Superintendent. One year later, Mr. Gillespie was replaced by Edward T. McQuillan of Carlton Street. Mr. McQuillan, who graduated from Holy Rosary High School, worked at AWPCo for many years, most recently as Assistant Superintendent in the Crocker division.
In mid-1952, the AWPCo headquarters was moved to a former company repair and storage shop that was refurbished for general office use. The building was located between the Nonotuck and Mt. Tom division mills. The company indicated the reason for the move was to reduce expenses and centralize its operations. The AWPCo offices had been in the Flatiron Building since 1900.
At the time, only 6 of the 17 Holyoke divisions of AWPCo remained. They were the Linden, Albion, Mt. Tom, Crocker, Gill, and Nonotuck. The Linden division, located on Jackson Street, was the only one not situated with the other 5, which were located east of the County Bridge leading to South Hadley.
In 1956, Mr. McQuillan was promoted to general Superintendent of all AWPCo mills. Two years later, in December 1958, he was named Vice President of AWPCo when Charles L. Kirkpatrick of South Hadley was named President. Mr. Kirkpatrick succeeded Edward Reid, who died the month before.
AWPCo had been up for sale for some time. On December 29, 1962, AWPCo sold its remaining 6 divisions to the Brown Company, netting shareholders $33 per share, more than the $28 per share offered by Writco, a newly formed corporation.
By 1969, only 4 former AWPCo companies remained: Albion, Crocker, Gill, and Nonotuck.
In 1978, Holyoke businessman Robert E. Belsky, the former President of the Romar Paper Company, purchased the Eagle-A Linweave division of Brown Company. At the time, only one of the original AWPCo divisions remained operating: the Nonotuck division, with its 2 paper-making machines and 150 workers.
On October 6, 1989, the Linweave plant closed its doors, and 110 employees lost their jobs; the last of the American Writing Paper Company divisions ceased to exist.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
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