Watervliet Paper Mill
The flow of the Paw Paw River powered the earliest lumber mills near this site with the help of dams by the late 1830s and local timber was depleted after a few decades. A brick paper mill was built on the former site of a saw mill and first began operating in 1894, but was closed by 1905. The Watervliet Paper Company was formed in 1910, primarily by Kalamazoo investors. The paper mill here was considered “one of the best constructed plants ever erected” in Michigan, so it was re-opened with renovations and new state-of-the-art machinery. In 1912, the Watervliet Paper Company (WPC) began making fine glossy or “coated” paper products. A rail spur connected the paper mill to the railroad in town, allowing the WPC to easily bring in pulp sources and ship out its finished products.
WPC quickly gained a reputation for quality and consistency. Paper made in Watervliet was used around the nation as catalog covers, including Sears, Roebuck, & Co., as well as labels and wrappers in goods such as Wrigley’s Gum, Campbell’s Soup and Kodak Film. The mill also produced U.S. postage stamps and large amounts of playing cards. Hundreds of workers drove the success of WPC-in 1960 the payroll included 470 employees. It was not only the area’s largest employer, its significant contributions to local taxes helped fund the fire and police services, schools and the hospital in Watervliet. WPC sponsored leisure activities like baseball and bowling teams, musical groups, an employee newsletter, annual parties and social events. The paper mill shaped everyday life for local residents and generations of workers.
Throughout its early history the paper mill was powered by a combination of water wheels and steam engines, and used large amounts of river water for paper making. In 1973 the mill introduced a new water use and recycling system that prevented any further impact on the Paw Paw River. WPC became a part of Hammermill Paper in 1956, then it changed hands again four times after 1974. The paper mill produced its last paper in 1994 and was demolished in 2002, ensuring the total clean-up of hazardous wastes at the site. The historic dam structures remained in place until 2011, when the natural flow of the Paw Paw River was restored.