A Bit of History…
Holyoke was one of the first planned industrial communities in the United States. The city’s advantageous location on the Connecticut River – the largest river in New England – beside Hadley Falls, the river’s steepest drop (60 feet), attracted the Boston Associates, who had been involved in successfully developing the textile industry in Lowell, MA. From the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, Holyoke was the world’s biggest paper manufacturer. The elaborate Holyoke Canal System, a system of canals built to power paper and textile mills, distinguishes it from other Connecticut River cities. Holyoke is nicknamed The Paper City due to its fame as the world’s greatest paper producer – Source: Wikipedia.