Many paper companies operated in Holyoke for significant periods. Some companies also found success in Holyoke and relocated to other parts of the Connecticut River Valley, where they continued to operate successfully. This is the story of one of these paper-making businesses, the Esleeck Paper Company.
Augustine Washington (A. W.) Esleeck was born on March 28, 1848, in Galveston, Texas, the son of John Read and Ruth (Perry) Esleeck. His father was a building contractor, and the family moved to areas where there were business opportunities. When A. W. Esleeck was an infant, his family moved to New York. He first worked at a shoe and boot shop in New York City.
In June 1871, he moved to Holyoke, worked as a bookkeeper for the Valley Paper Company, and later served as company treasurer for 10 years. In 1888, he purchased an interest in the Beebe & Holbrook mill and served as the company treasurer under a 10-year contract.
In late 1898, through the Monadnock Paper Company of Holyoke, he purchased the Nonotuck Paper Company (ref. blog Sept. 23, 2026). This included Nonotuck's No. 1 mill, along with machinery, land, and water power. The mill was producing 12 tons of paper daily. A. W. Esleeck had partnered with J. K. and A. T. Judd in this venture. The business reincorporated as the A. W. Esleeck Paper Company.
Doane and Williams built an addition to the mill to accommodate a new 80-inch paper machine, replacing the 72-inch machine in operation.
In 1899, the Esleeck Paper Company joined the American Writing Paper Corporation combine, along with many other Holyoke paper mills. J. K. Judd left the company to focus on the Judd Paper Company.
In June 1900, Mr. Esleeck purchased the Marshall Paper Company in Turners Falls, MA, for $80,000. Production started later that year, as the plant needed new machinery and equipment, including a 120-inch paper maker, dryers, revolving reels, calendars, and cutters. The company incorporated as the Esleeck Paper Company.
After 36 years of living in Holyoke, much of which was spent at 183 Northampton Street, Mr. Esleeck and his family moved to Greenfield in 1906. He had served Holyoke well as a 14-year school committee member and as President of the Y.M.C.A.
The business proved very successful in Turners Falls, and remained in the family until 1980. In January 2006, the Esleeck Mfg. Co., producers of fine cotton-fiber business papers, was sold to the Southworth Company of Agawam, MA.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Greenfield (Massachusetts) Recorder; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Genealogy Records and Price & Lee, Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
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