Trout Run Chronolgy

Click here to read the comments of Bryan Reed, Machine Superintendent at the Hamilton Mill
of Miquon, PA, from September 1994 to September 1995, the contributor of the following chronology.

Weyerhaeuser Company -Paper Division - Miquon, Pennsylvania
Spotlighting Historical Highlights

1856	Founding of company by William C. Hamilton and Edwin R. Cope. Mill included one 62" fourdrinier paper machine and necessary power plant, rag cookers and stock preparation equipment.
1875	Company became W. C. Hamilton & Son. Two fourdrinier paper machines, 62" and 64" . Capacity 6,000 lb. in 24 hours.
1884	Company became W. C. Hamilton & Sons. Three fourdrinier paper machines, 62", 64" and 84".
1888	Passing of founder W. C. Hamilton. Three sons carried on the business as a partnership. Now producing book, and writing papers.
1891	A fourth paper machine added. Four machines, 62", 64", 80" and 84". Production 30,000 lb. in 24 hours.
1892	Built soda pulp mill. Paper production now 40,000 lb. in 24 hours.
1897	Addition of a 112" fourdrinier with elimination of the 64" paper machine leaving four paper machines, 62", 80"' 84" and 112". Paper production 50,000 lb. per day, book, and writing paper.
1906	Edwin Hamilton left the company leaving Charles L. and Wilbur F. as owners and operators. Ledger paper now made along with book, writing and specialty.
1910	The original 62" paper machine was replaced and the 112" paper machine was widened. Now have four paper machines, 78", 86"' 100", and 116". Paper production now 65,000 lb in 24 hours. Six rotary soda pulp digesters producing 30,000 lb. soda fibre per day..
1915	W. C. Hamilton & Sons was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with Charles L. Hamilton as president. Wilbur F. Hamilton as Vice-President and Treasurer. Russell D. Hamilton (son of Wilbur) as Secretary.
1919	Freas B. Snyder became President having purchased controlling interest from the Hamilton family. Charles L. Hamilton was Vice-President.
1922	Samuel L Hammer became President with Charles L. Hamilton as Vice-President and C. C. Norris, Jr. as Secretary. Electrification of beater room completed.
1924	Howard W. Taylor purchased control and became president. Mr. Taylor has been in the paper industry for many years and had recently been Vice-President and General Manager of the Dill & Collins Company.
1925	Machine room drives electrified. Paper production increased to 90,000 lb. per day.
1928	Hugo H. Hanson joined the company as General Manager. Joseph H. Dunton made Sale Manager. The soda pulp mill was shutdown and dismantled. Manufacture of text, cover paper and social stationary progressing.
1935	This was an eventful year. A vigorous expansion program was begun. Advertising Counsel was engaged and the development of the business along the lines of business papers, cover, text and reproduction papers was charted. Lane Taylor, son of Howard W. Taylor joined the company.
1936	Hugo H. Hanson became President on the passing of Howard W. Taylor who had done so much to rebuild the company. Lane Taylor became Vice-President. No. 5 paper machine was started to make high grade text and cover papers. Mill production reached 110,000 lb. per day.
1937	This year culminated the first phase of a rebuild program which has been going on for ten years. All the paper machines were rebuilt and lengthened for greater production. new stock chests and stock preparation equipment was installed. A new 450 lb. pressure boiler was added and a new turbine. The finishing room was greatly enlarged and shipping facilities improved. Production reached 115,000 lb. per day.
1941	No. 6 paper machine was started. New finishing room and warehouse added. Production reached 175,000 lb. per day.
1947	No. 7 paper machine installed and started in December. Production rose to 275,000 lb. per day. Joseph H. Dunton made Vice-President in Charge of Sales.
1953	Hugo H. Hanson made Chairman of the Board. Lane Taylor became President. C. M. Conner elected Vice-President in Charge of Manufacturing.
1954	Production at Hamilton reached 332,000 lb. per day. Michigan Paper Company of Plainwell was purchased adding 170,000 lb. per day to productive capacity. Allan B. Milham, President of Michigan.
1955	Allan B. Milham retired as President of Michigan. L. D. Nicolson replaced him. Equipment changes made at Michigan greatly improved quality and value of production. Production at Michigan increased to 187,000 lb. per day. Production at Hamilton is 333,000 lb. per day. Total production 520,000 lb. per day.
1956	Changed name of company from W. C. Hamilton and Sons to Hamilton paper Company. Subsidiary, the Michigan Paper Company of Plainwell became Hamilton Paper Company (Michigan Division) on the last day of the year.
1957	Began major plant expansion and modernization program at Miquon (new paper machine, warehouse, boiler plant, cutting machine and finishing equipment). One thousand new stockholders joined the organization.
1958	Completed expansion program - started new No. 6 paper machine (named "Hugo" after Mr. Hanson) in December, 1958. Also in December, shut down paper machines 4 & 5.
1959	To date, restarted No. 4 paper machine in April. Dr. A. L. M. Bixler joined the organization as Vice-President in Charge of Manufacturing at Miquon. Mr. C. M Conner made Vice-President of Research and Development of the Hamilton Paper Company.
1961	April 30, Hamilton Paper Company became a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Company.
1964	January 27, Hamilton paper Company, Subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Company became a Paper Division of Weyerhaeuser Company..
1980	March 3, Hamilton Paper Company, Division of Weyerhaeuser Company was purchased by Simpson Paper Company, Subsidiary of Simpson Timber Company.
1995	September of 1995, the Hamilton Paper Mill closed as part of an economic restructuring by Simpson Paper Company.
1998	The Hamilton Paper Mill property was purchased by real estate developers. The brick work of the original mill, (paper mill finishing , storage and beater rooms) was salvaged and renovated as the main building of an office complex named "River Park" at 1250 River Road.
2001	May 28 of 2001, Paper History Channel publishes the article, "The Paper Mills of Trout Run, Pennsylvania", the historical story of the W. C. Hamilton & Sons paper mill at Lafayette Station, Miquon, PA.