>^ S 1098 ^6 C6 >py 1 OlflnnKttrut Halbp Btstnrtral Bamty Springfield, MassacAuseUs EXERCISES IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNVEILING OF THE DAVID AMES TABLET MAY i8, 1917 vi^ i.ocA:rED A GIFT TO THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY FROM THE GREAT GRAND-DAUGHTER OF DAVID AMES MRS. OSCAR B. IRELAND THE HOUSE BUILT BY DAVID AMES, JR. LOCATED ON AMES HILL, MAPLE STREET AND NOW OCCUPIED BY MISS MARY AMES AND MRS. OSCAR B. IRELAND ^ ^ ^^^ Descendants of DAVID AMES Representing Four Generations Miss Mary Ames Mrs. O. B. Ireland Gordon Ireland Frederick Ireland Elizabeth Ireland SPOT WHERE THE BOULDER WITH TABLET WILL BE LOCATED CORNER MAPLE AND MILL STREETS UNVEILING OF THE DAVID AMES TABLET FRIDAY MAY 18, 1917 at 2:30 o'clock P. M. MAnocANY Room Auditorium program Introductory Remarks By W. F. Adams, President of the Society. President of the Day Charles W. Bosworth. Invocation By Rev. A. P. Reccord, Minister of Church of Unity. Address of Welcome and thanks to the Donor on behalf of the Citizens of Springfield Hon. Frank E. Stacy, Mayor. Presentation of the Tablet to the Connecticut Valley Historical Society By Gordon Ireland of New Yorlc City, of the Fourth generation in lineal descent from David Ames. Unveiling of the Tablet By Frederick Ireland of the Fifth generation in lineal descent from David Ames. Acceptance of the Tablet in behalf of the Connecticut Valley Historical Society By Charles Goodrich Whiting. The first papermaker in the Connecticut Valley and the art of paper- making in the early days and some comparisons of later days By George B. Holbrook. THE FIRST PAPERMAKER IN THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY And the Art of Papermaking in the Early Days AND Some Comparisons of Later Days By George B. Holbrook To me has fallen the pleasant task of focushig your attention for a few minutes on some facts concerning the first papermaker in the Connecticut Valley and the art of papermaking in the early days. The age of papyrus and parchment, after a history of some thou- sands of years, came practically to an end during the i6th century. After this, hand-made paper was most successfully produced in Spain, followed by Holland, England, France and America. The first paper made in this country of which we have record was made in Pennsylvania in 1690 by a German papermaker in partnership with a master printer. David Ames, whose memory we justly honor to-day, built better than he knew when he established the first successful paper mill in this part of New England. For when we consider the enormous benefits that have come to the Connecticut Valley through the development of the great industry of papermaking, it certainly is a fitting thing to recognize the foresight and energy that led David Ames to establish and later, through his sons, to carry on for many years the manufacture and distribution of paper. The history of papermaking from the earliest times is a fascinating study, and the contemplation of the tremendous role played by paper, and its allied art of printing, as a potential factor in the development of modern civilization is well worth while. We cannot take the time, however, to trace in detail the origin and evolution of paper as we know it. Life of David Ames David Ames was born in West Bridgewater, Mass., on February 2, 1760. His father was one of the first iron manufacturers of New England and was the proprietor of a successful nail and slitting mill. In early life David Ames engaged at Bridgewater in the manufacture of shovels and guns and supplied the American army with these articles. During the Revolutionary war he held a commission in the militia, and was occasionally called into service. In 1794, on account of his services and his knowledge of the manufacture of arms, he was appointed by President Washington to establish and superintend a national armory at Springfield. The first musket was made at the new armory under his supervision in 1795, and the works turned out 245 muskets the first year, about 40 men being employed. David Ames had married Rebecca, the daughter of Major Johnson, at Bridgewater in 1781, and they became the parents of nine chil- dren. His wife and two children accompanied him to Springfield, — one, a daughter, Mary, and the other a son, David, Jr. Two sons were born in Springfield at their home on the armory grounds — Galen Ames in 1796 and John Ames in 1800. It is not necessary for me to describe to this audience the Spring- field of those early days. The little town of 2300 inhabitants was characterized then, as now, by a progressive spirit and a proper estimate of the value of industry and education. David Ames recognized the advantages of making his permanent home in this community, and in 1802 he resigned his position with the govern- ment in order to give all his time to building up the papermaking industrv. Early Paper Mills Springfield had attempted to have a paper mill during the time of the Revolution. Proprietors of the iron works on Mill River con- ceived the idea and received from the town a grant of lands and privileges. For some reason, however, this grant was soon after rescinded and the mill was not built. But in 1786 Samuel Babcock owned a mill there, making newspaper. Another mill had also been established on Mill River prior to 1788, probably by Eleazer Wright, and it is believed that this is the mill that was purchased by David Ames in 1800. This mill was the regulation small affair, having two vats and two rag engines, each of 120 pounds capacity. The machinery was mostly of wood, and power was derived from an undershot wheel. It is interesting to know something of the labor conditions of these early days. In a description of the Thomas mill established near Worcester in 1794, similar in equipment to that of the mill purchased by David Ames, we read that the vats were usually run 15 hours each day; that 10 men and 11 girls were em- ployed, and that from 1200 to 1400 pounds of paper were turned out weekly. The skilled engineer, who managed the plant, received about ^3 a week; vatman and coucher, or pressman, $3.50, each. without board; ordinary workmen and girls, 75 cents a week; boys, 60 cents a week each, with their board in addition. These were the wages that generally prevailed in all the mills at this time and later. During the first 20 years of the Ames mill the development of the manufacture was rapid and was characterized by the same energy and distinguished ability that has always been shown by the family originating at West Bridgewater and including in its membership such names as Oakes Ames, Ex-Governor Oliver Ames, and Frederick Ames. David Ames was a good citizen, as well as a good paper manufac- turer. He was known as a man of sound judgment and great busi- ness activity, and was generously disposed to give both publicly and privately for the benefit and improvement of the town. One of his gifts was $600 to the fund for the purchase of the land now Court Square. He was evidently fond of music, as it is said he was the owner (1810) of the first piano brought into Springfield. The Ames' Inventions The eldest son, David, Jr., and the youngest son, John, were early associated with their father in his paper mill. While the first was a good papermaker, it is to the second son, John, that we owe the improvements that have changed the business from a hand- made to a machine-made process. John Ames received the first patent for a cylinder machine May 14, 1822 — 95 years ago last Monday. Other practical inventions of his were a trimming knife, a pulp dresser, a cutting machine and a drying machine, also calen- ders for finishing the paper. He originated the idea of running a continuous sheet of paper through the sizing instead of dipping each sheet as had been the custom. In 1828 the two sons bought the father's interest and the firm became D. & J. Ames. Besides the original mill at Springfield, the firm bought a mill at Suffield, Ct., one at Chicopee Falls and another at Northampton, formerly owned by the Clarks. The firm also built a 12-engine mill at South Hadley Falls. At this time it has been estimated that the Ames family produced one-half of the paper used in the country, and it is gen- erally conceded that to the genius of John Ames a greater share of credit is due for inventions improving the art than to any other man. The Springfield Republican, on January 21, 1832, speaking of the improvements at D. & J. Ames' paper mill remarks: ''If the im- provements in the manufacture of paper and in the art of printing proceed as they have in the last 10 years, we may expect to see a machine which will receive rags at one end and deliver the books all printed and bound at the other." The value of the product of the Ames' mills at this time was said to be about ^150,000 a year, and the number of reams pro- duced to be about 39,000. The profits of later years were very large and encouraged the proprietors to invest in outside speculations, in Canadian lumber and in coal lands in Pennsylvania. They met disaster at about this time, which caused their failure in 1857 — 10 years after the death of David Ames, Sr. It is said that every one of their mills has since been destroyed by fire. But notwithstanding failure of the firm of D. & J. Ames, the Ames family will always have a high place among the promoters of the paper industry, for ability and enterprise, and for the men they educated and gave to the industry to carry it on step by step to greater importance. We may truthfully say that all the paper mills within a radius of 15 miles from Springfield grew directly or indirectly from the pioneer mill inaugurated by David Ames in 1800. Early Processes of Manufacture In the simple process of making paper by hand in the early days, rags, the principal material used after being thoroughly cleaned and dusted, were moistened and piled together in a damp place, where they were left to decay for 20 days or more. During this time the perishable portion, such as vegetable gluten, was fermented or de- cayed to such an extent that the rags could be boiled and washed and finally beaten to a smooth pulp by the use of mallets. In the early days, before the discovery of the use of chemical agents to remove the coloring matter from the rags, the shade of the paper was determined largely by the color of the rags used. When it was discovered that chemicals such as lime and chlorine would dissolve the coloring matter from the tissue, clear white paper could be made and one factor as to quality and cost was removed. When the fibers had been separated by this tedious process, they were placed in a vat, with a proper admixture of water to form a soft, slightly cohering mass of pulp. Then for forming the pulp into sheets, the papermaker used a fine wire screen — called the "mold," oblong in shape and supported by a light frame under- neath. Above this was placed a shallow frame known as the deckel, which was to control the size of the sheet. Dipping the mold into the mass of wet pulp, the operator filled it to the top of the deckel frame; then as the water drained through the wire cloth, the oper- ator moved the mold back and forth, giving a constant, even and gentle motion to the mass of pulp. (Here the wire used, determined whether the sheet was to be wove, laid or watermarked.) When the pulp had been properly drained and matted together, it was passed on to the "coucher," who turned the moist sheet upon a sheet of felt stretched on a board. Over this first layer of pulp was placed another sheet of felt, then another mold full of pulp and so on until a pile was accumulated several quires in thickness. The layers were then heavily pressed, squeezing out the water, when the sheets of felt were removed and pressure applied the second time. The sheets of paper on being taken out were hung over poles to dry. After this the paper was "sized" by dipping in a solution made of hide clippings, then the sheets were pressed again and for a second time hung up to dry. If a smoother surface was required, it was obtained by passing the paper between metal rollers. Hand- made paper is still made to a limited extent in America and to a greater extent in England. All Bank of England notes are printed on hand-made paper, two notes to a sheet, so that three edges of every note are rough. Working under the old method, it took three men a day to mold, press and dry or finish 4000 small sheets of paper, while the process from beginning to end required about three months. Contrast this with the modern methods by which the tree in the forest is cut down and made into the great newspaper ready for the reader in 24-hours' time. From the small beginning of papermaking by hand, the business has grown in volume and importance to its present position among the great industries of America. It is hardly necessary to mention the great development during the last 75 years in the process of making paper by machinery, as we, in this vicinity, are more or less familiar with it: The Dutch engine, the Fourdrinier and cylinder machines, the calenders, ruling and plating machines, system of sizing, drying, etc., all of which are used to complete the paper ready for market. Papermakers of the Valley Permit me to digress here for a moment to mention the names of some who were prominent followers and who profited in the develop- ment of the paper industry by David Ames and his sons. Joseph Carew was one of the first men to engage in papermaking in the Connecticut Valley near Holyoke. In 1830 he had charge of the paper mill in South Hadley Falls, owned by Howard & Lathrop — competitors of the celebrated Ames. In 1848 he organized the Carew manufacturing company and built their mill at South Hadley Falls. He managed their business successfully during the remainder of a long and honorable life. Joseph C. Parsons began the papermaking business in Holyoke with the Parsons Paper Company in 1850. Mr. Parsons was a prac- tical papermaker, having had experience first with D. & J. Ames and then with the Eagle Paper Company of Suffield, Ct. He was a very capable business manager and built up a profitable trade for his company. He produced the first paper used by the United States government in the making of stamped envelopes. The second papermaking concern in Holyoke was the Holyoke Paper Company, whose mill was built in 1857. Orrick H. Greenleaf, an esteemed citizen of Springfield, was the controlling owner, and the results of his management were always satisfactory to his asso- ciate stockholders. He died in 1896. The Whiting Paper Company was organized in Holyoke in 1864 by William Whiting. Mr. Whiting was first connected with the Holyoke Paper Company, and then with the Hampden Paper Co., before organizing the corporation that bears his name. He built a second large mill in Holyoke in 1870, and soon thereafter acquired the mills of the Collins Manufacturing Company in North Wilbraham. The production of these three mills in loft-dried writing paper exceeded in volume that of any competitor then doing business in this country. Others among the older manufacturers of paper in this valley deserving mention are Wells and John Southworth. These men owned and successfully managed the mill of the Southworth Com- pany in Mittineague and the Hampshire Paper Company in South Hadley Falls. Chapin & Gould were proprietors of a mill in Russell and began the making of a high grade of writing paper in 1861. Charles O. Chapin and Mr. Gould are remembered as much be- loved and highly esteemed citizens of Springfield. George L. Wright, who enjoyed the title of "mayor of Mitti- neague," organized the Agawam Paper Company in the early '6o's. He was a producer of first-class writing paper. Zenas Crane was the pioneer paper manufacturer in the Berk- shires. He built the first mill in Dalton in 1801, and was superin- tendent and manager on a salary of $9 per week. His management was of a character that brought great prosperity to Dalton — the Crane paper always being of very superior quality. It is an honor to the name that for many years past the United States govern- ment has awarded the contract for all the special paper used in making our greenbacks and banking currency and the government bonds to the Messrs. Crane. Byron Weston of Dalton was a successful manufacturer of the best grades of ledger account book paper and with the L. L. Brown Paper Company of Adams — this class of paper was largely con- trolled by them in this country for many years. A number of the younger men who followed these pioneers have continued up to the present time as successful manufacturers of the various grades of paper. We gladly give the preference, however, to all who paved the way to success for those that followed. Some comparison between the production of paper a century ago and the present time may be of interest as pointing to the advan- tage that has come to our people in the use of paper for business purposes and, better still, in the facilities it has given us for accumu- lating knowledge. The census of 1810 shows a production of hand- made paper in 16 of our states valued at $1,689,718, The census of 1914, made by our department of commerce shows the production of all kinds of paper, by 714 establishments (probably more than 1000 large mills), located in nearly every state in the Union, but largely in the eastern and central states, in 1914, with a conservative addition for 1915 and 1916 to be as shown in the accompanying table. Table Showing Production of Paper Tons Newspaper 2,230,626 Book, coated cover, etc 934,979 Wrapping 881,799 Writing 247,728 Tissue 121,598 Building and roofing 243,908 Wood and straw board 291 ,843 Card board 83,010 Hanging 96,52? Blotting 14,157 Miscellaneous 130,459 By paper box raaiicrd and others 5,276,634 For growth in 1915 and 1916 add 15% 791,495 6,068,129 There was used in the making: Wood pulp of which 6.4% was imported 3,427,545 Waste papers 1 ,577,845 Rags 371,346 Straw 309,345 Rope and bugging 121,230 Average Value per lb. $83,937,936 1.9 c 42. % 73.499.514 1.4 c 18.1 % 49.372,753 2.8 c 16. % 34,054,918 6.9SC 4-8 % ii.S3S.720 4.8 c 2.3 % 9.475.733 2. c 4-7 % 8,498,012 1.45c S-6 % 5,376,434 3-5 c 1.7 % 4,488,910 2.4 c 1-9 % 1,457,897 5- c .03% 9,890,641 3.8 c 2.6 % 2,767,407 100.00% 294.3S5.875 2.8 c 44.153,381 338,509,256 . 65% 30% 7% 6% 2% 5,807,311 Add 15% 871,096 6,678,407 It is said that the butterfly gave silk to the world, but to the wasp credit must be given for leading to the discovery that paper could be made from wood fiber. One Gottfried Keller, a German papermaker, returning from his work one evening in 1840, accidentally stepped on something that attracted his attention. He stooped and picked up what proved to be an abandoned nest of a queen wasp. The crushed nest was soft and pliable, and yet tough in texture. Keller was puzzled, as this seemed to him a very paper-like substance. He experimented, using a grindstone and hot water to reduce spruce wood to a fiber condi- tion, with the result that, adding only a small proportion of rag fiber, he produced paper that was pronounced very desirable for all printing purposes. Following this the wood fiber industry in Ger- many developed rapidly. The first paper made in this country of all wood fiber was pro- duced in March, 1867, — and then was introduced the era of cheap and abundant news service, the multiplied supply of periodicals and books and the enormously increased numbers of the reading public. It is now a question whether the growth of pulp-wood trees in our own and the Canadian forests is keeping up (plus what pulp we can import) with our increasing requirements, and, if not, to what can we turn for a substitute material. In recognizing this most satisfying growth and the fact that the paper industry has brought no little prosperity to the people of this beautiful Connecticut Valley, we do not forget that we owe much to the sagacity, energy and public spirit of the pioneer papermaker, David Ames. A. C. Hastings^ Holyoke W. N. Caldwell Clifton A. Crocker Horace A. Moses Edward P. Bagg, Holyoke (Eummttt^f an JIttmtatton Frederick Harris Miss Mary Ames Alfred Leeds Mrs. Samuel Bowles Sherinan Bozules Mrs. Solomon B. Griffin (^ammXXn o« 2Ioratto« Stanhope E. Blunt Andrew J. Flanagan Mrs. 0. B. Ireland Charles E. Ladd Henry C. Haile J. Stewart Kirkham Herbert R. Wolcott Eerrptiou Qlommtttp? Robert 0. Morris Rev. J. H. Lockwood 0. S. Greenleaf Richard Hooker Charles H. B arrows Mrs. Alfred Leeds Mrs. Edzvard S. Brewer, Longmeadow Mrs. A. A. Packard Mrs. D. P. Cole Charles A. Frazer E. A. Hall T. F. Dzvight A. H. Watson Dr. Appleton Morgan, New York Nehemiah Hawkins, New York LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 018 456 228 5 • THE AMERICAN WR]Ilgi:MERe. This program is printed on " Eagle A " Berkshire Text, White, Laid Finish, 25 x 38 - 80 lb. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 018 456 228 5 *