by Steve Bradley
The 126 year old Oak-Mitsui plant on First Street is coming down. [Private]Over the past couple of weeks, crews have been tearing sections down and separating the recyclables from the scrap and removing the debris. The demolition began in the far rear and is moving toward the front.
Larry Vosh, a Mitsui engineer for 38 years, was asked how long it was estimated to take to have the building completely down, said, “That’s a moving target right now.” Formerly Noble and Wood, where paper making equipment was made, the plant was converted in the mid-seventies to produce copper foil. Foil was produced in the plant from 1977 to 2001. Foil production required about 200 employees.
Originally built in 1891 to produce potato diggers, the manufacture of potato diggers slumped and the business went bankrupt. In 1902, the building was destroyed by fire. Later in 1902, Walter A. Wood and several other men rebuilt the plant and built a thriving paper making machinery business with over 150 employees. In addition to that business, 15 to 20 men worked year round at the plant casting, machining, plating and polishing piano parts. [/Private]
Business for Noble & Wood was good through the war years, with over 250 employees, including 100 women, making artillery shell boosters. Business slowed through the 1960s, when the business was sold to Simmons Machine and Tool Corp. Simmons went bankrupt in 1973 and the local plant closed in January of 1974.
A joint venture between Oak and Mitsui Mining purchased the property and began manufacturing copper foil in 1977.
(Thanks to the Town of Hoosick Historical Society website for the information). [/Private]