Hitchcock Press, located in The Paper City: Holyoke, Massachusetts

When the 157 mile long Lake Hitchcock’s water receded some 15,000 years ago, its rich alluvial soils formed the Connecticut River Valley.

In the mid 1800’s at the site where the river dropped 57 feet, Holyoke was the first planned industrial city in the United States. A dam, the largest in the world at the time, and three levels of canals were built; they provided water power for its 50 factories. The community evolved to fulfill the needs of the manufacturing center, complete with boarding houses to shelter the mill workers. All types of products were manufactured but the major product of its mills was fine quality paper. At one time 25 paper mills operated in the city; Holyoke was called “The Paper City of the World.”

The peripheral needs of the mills included letterpress printing, publishing and paper converting. Hitchcock Press, then known as the Wisly Printing Co., printed many items for the paper mills. Some of the items were finely designed package labels. While letterpress was its prominent printing method, Wisly Printing did a significant amount of printing with hand engraved lithostones using direct and offset litho to produce intricately designed lithographed labels.

The paper mills no longer operate in Holyoke, the dam now produces hydroelectric power, and the mills are occupied by various businesses. But much of today’s products continue to be paper related; specialty papers, paper converting, printing, and publishing make up a significant part of the city’s manufacturing base.

Hitchcock Press is proud to be part of Holyoke’s rich heritage.

DIRECTIONS

Points North
Take I-91 S towards Holyoke/Springfield.
Take Exit 17 towards Holyoke/S. Hadley.
Turn slightly left onto Easthampton Rd.
Stay straight to go onto Dwight St.
Dwight ends at Main St.
Turn right onto Main St.
Hanover St. is 1.2 miles on left.

Points South
From I-91 N, merge onto I-391 N towards Holyoke.
Take Exit 5, the Main St. Holyoke exit.
Turn left onto Main Street.
Proceed for 1/10 mile.
Turn left onto Hanover St.

Points East or West
From the Mass Turnpike, (I-90) take Exit 4, the US 5/Riverdale St. exit towards W. Springfield.
Merge onto US-5 N via the exit on the left towards Holyoke.
Bear slightly right onto Main St.
Follow Main St. for 1.8 miles.
Turn right onto Hanover St.

Hitchcock Press
8 Hanover St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Phone: 413-538-8811
FAX: 413-533-1107
Email: infitchcockpress.com

For more information or a price quote please use the form below to contact us.