A great place to take a midweek tour into a slice (or a
page) right out of history.
The Papermaking
Museum
40 Pioneer Street, Dalton, Massachusetts (about 1/2 hour for the 1896 House)
(413) 684-7780
This structure represents the oldest paper factory (c.
1844) in continuous operation at one site, and outstandingly documents the
early development of the American paper industry through the 19th and into the
20th century.
The museum, first opened in the autumn of 1930, it is on the
National Register of Historic Places, National Register Number: 83004376. The
one-story building is situated on the banks of the Housatonic River
The museum is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.,
free of charge, from early June through mid-October.
Some interesting
facts about Crane & Co.
Crane and Co. has been making fine paper for over 200 years
and is now in its seventh generation of being owned and operated by the Crane
family.
Papers made by Stephen Crane were used to print patriotic
newspapers and broadsides leading up to and during the war, and were even
engraved for Colonial Currency by Paul Revere. Revere even pastured his horses at the
Liberty Paper Mill, just in case he needed to make a midnight ride…
Franklin and Eleanor conducted the affairs of a nation on
Crane paper.
The Queen Mum announced the celebration of her 100th
birthday on Crane paper.
Paul Revere engraved banknotes for the Colony of
Massachusetts Bay on Crane paper to help finance the American Revolution.
As early as 1806, local and regional banks began printing
currency on Zenas Crane's fine cotton papers. This was quickly followed by
official government proclamations, permanent public records and stocks and
bonds.
In the mid 1800s. Crane’s began making 100% cotton
stationary. Soon after that, it was discovered that trees could be made into
paper. Crane stayed with what they thought and currently still use what they
think the best material to make paper out of; cotton.
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