The Riverside Paper Company.
Was first organized in August, 1866, with Charles O. Chapin as president. The mill was built in 1867, and the company began work. It did not long remain in the organizers' possession, but changed hands several times, and at one period William Whiting was agent. About 1871 the present company purchased the mill, and began to run it with $150,000 as capital. L.J. Powers, the well-known Springfield envelope-manufacturer, acted as president, and J.H. Appleton as treasurer and agent. The former is subsequently retired from his position, and J.H. Appleton is now both president and treasurer.
The mill in its present state consists of a long main building and two wings or L's, both of the latter being on the northeast side. The attic and next story are devoted to drying purposes. Part of the next floor contains the engines, of which there are seven, and the other part, in which there are seven sheet-calendars, is used as a finishing room. the basement contains the water-wheels, which were supplied by the Holyoke Machine Company, and are four in number,—one 60-inch American, one 40-inch Risdon, and one 25-inch American turbine, and one 15-inch Hercules. One of the L's contains a rag-room and one 72-inch Fourdrinier machine. In the other L is also a rag room, with two dusters and a 4-ton rotary bleach-boiler. The two 4-feet steam-boilers are in a small addition on the end of the main building. The mill has also an 80-inch Fourdrinier, with all the modern improvements. Manufactures fine writing-paper. Capacity, three tons per day. In addition to the other machinery, there are five ruling-machines in the mill. The specialty of the Riverside Company is fine writing-paper. Capacity, two and a half tons per day.
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