JEFFERSON MILLS, INC. history

In 1858, manufacturing was continued by William Howe and Theron E. Hall who formed a partnership and engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods.

Howe removed from Jefferson to Holden Center in 1889, where he built the large house next east of the stores and filling station on the corner of Reservoir and Main Streets.

December 8, 1892, fire destroyed the "Lower mill" and badly damaged the "Upper mill," with a total loss of $150,000.

In 1893, the Jefferson Manufacturing Company purchased the real estate of the Holden Mills.

"In 1906, upon the death of Martin V. B. Jefferson, the company was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts with William H. Coe, Treasurer, and Jefferson W. Coe, President.

Jefferson Smurfit, the son of a shipyard worker, was born in Sunderland, in northeast England, in 1909.

"In 1920, Jefferson W. Coe died from influenza so prevalent at that time, and was succeeded by his brother Robert H. Coe who had returned from overseas duty in France.

"In 1923, it was decided to concentrate all activities in one plant and the machinery and office of the company at the lower plant at the junction of Princeton and Quinapoxet Streets was moved to the Eagle Lake plant on Main Street in the westerly part of the village.

In 1926, a new brick addition was added to the Eagle Lake plant and many improvements made to the existing property.

In 1929, William H. Coe died at his home in Worcester.

He acquired full control of the Dublin box-making factory in 1938 and poured more of his energies into that business, giving up his tailor's shops and moving permanently to Dublin.

"The homes and tenement properties owned by the company were sold by public auction in 1940.

In 1941, the machinery and equipment were sold by auction bringing an approximate total of some $200,000, and at this writing the buildings are still standing though vacant."

By 1950, his Dublin factory was five times its initial size and producing eight times the original turnover.

In 1964 Jefferson Smurfit & Sons Ltd. became a public company quoted on the Dublin Stock Exchange.

After completing his training he ran a corrugated box factory with another brother, Alan, in his father's hometown, St Helen's, returning to his father's company in 1966 as joint managing director with Jefferson Jr.

In 1969 he was appointed deputy chairman just as the company began to look seriously at acquisitions beyond the United Kingdom.

In 1970 the company doubled its size with the purchase of the Hely Group of companies, which were involved in radio and television distribution, educational and office supplies, and packaging.

In 1970 the company doubled its size with the purchase of the Hely Group of companies, which were involved in radio and television distribution, educational and office supplies, and packaging. It acquired the British carton making and printing company W. J. Noble and Sons in 1972.

It increased this initial investment to 100 percent in 1977.

In 1979, it paid US $13 million for a 27 percent share of the Alton Box Board Company.

In 1983 shares in the American wing of the group, the Jefferson Smurfit Corporation, were floated on the market, generating US $46 million for further investment.

Jefferson Smurfit Jr. left the group in 1984, because of ill health, and his two younger brothers were appointed joint deputy chairmen.

The second half of 1987 was a difficult time for the Smurfit family.

In 1988, Dublin marked its millennium as a city, and Jefferson Smurfit Group, with its strong ties to the Irish capital, played a part in the celebrations by donating the Anna Livia Fountain in memory of Jefferson Smurfit Sr.

By 1989, Smurfit Latin America had substantially more than 20 percent of the paper and board market in Venezuela and Colombia.