Thomson, NY - Abandoned Paper Mill

Back in 2015 I explored the remnants of this saw mill with a friend. 2015 Exploration >

After our 2015 trek, I was curious to find further details about its history. Frustratingly Google Searching did not turn up any photos and hardly anything else. Thankfully my curiosity was satisfied after more recently discovering the NYS Historic Newspapers project! :-) Although there were no photos, I've managed to piece together it's colorful history. Be sure to click on any photo to see it enlarged.

Thomson Pulp and Paper Mill

This area was once the site of the Thomson Pulp and Paper Company. Incorporated on June 11, 1888 it was later known as the Iroquois Pulp & Paper Co. It was sold to Georgia Pacific and closed in 1980.

Newspaper Articles (Chronological Order)

The mill changed owners and names through the years, closed down a few times, had a strike and eventually was abandoned. The factory village of Thomson all but disappeared once the mill closed. It actually in a beautiful location and a park there (as proposed a few year back) would be a great idea!

Paper Machine Photo - 1909
https://books.google.com/books?id=O9_FHqaLcHUC&pg=PA163&dq=Iroquois+Pulp+%26+Paper+Thomson+NY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7266v5u7hAhVtkuAKHSKWBLkQ6AEILTAB#v=onepage&q=Iroquois%20Pulp%20%26%20Paper%20Thomson%20NY&f=false

Double Size! - 1907
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031457/1907-10-23/ed-1/seq-1/#

Thugs 1920
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031457/1920-02-25/ed-1/seq-1/#

Iroquois Pulp & Paper 1924
https://casetext.com/case/united-paperboard-co-v-iroquois-pulp-paper-co-2

Re-opening! 1937
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031458/1937-07-21/ed-1/seq-1/#

1943 Timeline
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031461/1999-09-16/ed-1/seq-4/#

Business Boom - 1943
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031458/1943-09-15/ed-1/seq-1/#

1944 (from 1964 Paper)
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031458/1964-02-27/ed-1/seq-11/

Strike - 1958 (3 weeks)
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031458/1958-09-10/ed-1/seq-12/#

Vacant

Google Aerial View

Our 2015 Trek

The Georgia Pacific properties encompasses127.5 acres of vacant former industrial/commercial land,  a portion of which is on the Hudson River.
Study Mill Use 1980
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031461/1980-01-10/ed-1/seq-1/#

Mill Closed in 1979 - Trash Burning Proposed

http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031461/1987-03-05/ed-1/seq-1/

Heritage Corridor Riverfront Park - Proposed 2004
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/2003245007/2004-01-29/ed-1/seq-5/#

Heritage Corridor Riverfront Park Proposed 2005 (follow up)
http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/2003245007/2005-12-15/ed-1/seq-8/#