Story |
Chester A Page managed TKWM between about 1927 and 1936.Â
Chester was born on 30 Jun 1881 in Massachusetts to Albert L. and Addie Page. At the time of Chester’s birth, his father Albert worked in a woolen mill. By 1910 son Chester had followed him. We find him on the 1910 census at a mill in Killingly, Connecticut. Chester married Mary E Ellison in 1909. By 1915, they had five children and they were back in South Kingston, RI. He had risen to the job of boss dresser at Wakefield Woolen Mill West, information confirmed by his WWI draft registration card and the 1920 census. Â
There seems to be a small break in Chester’s record between 1920 and 1925. The 1925 and 1927 Wakefield, RI City Directories shows no employment for Chester. This does not necessarily mean he was not employed. A year later we find Chester employed as the Superintendent of TKWM. The Page family was living on Court St with five children ranging from age 2 to 21. Three of them soon joined Chester working at TKWM. All remained living with the family, so their income helped the family survive the Depression.Â
In 1934, Chester leased a woolen mill in Brownsville, OR but continued leading the TKWM workforce. After two years, he purchased the Brownsville mill and left TKWM. His leaving was later clouded by a suit he brought for back wages (in the form of a percentage of the TKWM’s gross sales). Â
The Page Brownsville Mill was successful, and the family thrived. Chester became a county commissioner and his two oldest sons helped manage the mill. However, in 1955, just as Chester was approaching retirement, the mill burned down. Chester and his sons sought public backing to rebuild the mill and eventually the son’s built in Jefferson after Chester had sold his interest to them. The Jefferson Woolen Mill was in business for many years and finally ceased operations in 2001.Â
Chester passed away on 4 Jun 1964. His obituary says he owned woolen mills in Missouri and Michigan prior to coming to Salem but we find no evidence that this was in fact, true. Mary Page passed away 2 Jan 1972 at age 83. Chester and Mary are both buried at Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem. Â |
Census |
1880 Albert Page. Born about 1880 in Rhode Island. 140 Laurel Hill, Burrillville, RI. Grandson to HOH. Father’s name: Albert L. Page. Father’s Birth: Rhode Island. Mother’s name: Addie Page. Mother’s Birth: Connecticut. Joseph Clark 69,Phebe A. Clark 63 Frank S. Clark 28 (wks in Woolen Mill, Albert L. Page 23 (Common Laborer), Addie Page 21, Edith Page 1, Albert Page 6/12.Â
1900 Chester A Page. Born in MA in Jun 1881. Boards at 344 14th St, Cranston, Rhode Island. Single. Father’s Birth Rhode Island. Mother’s Birth Connecticut. Florist. James A Pierce 21, Edith A Pierce 21. Chester A Page 18.Â
Mary E Ellison. B May 1888 in Rhode Island. Lives in Providence, RI. Single stepdaughter. Father b in NJ. Mother b in RI. John H Donovan 38, Harriet Donovan 40, John E Donovan 5/12, Mary E Phillips 63, Mary E Ellison 12, Nettie J Steere 35.
Â
1910 Chester A Page. Born about 1881 in Massachusetts. Rents house in Killingly, Connecticut. Married HOH. Dresser Woolen Mill. Chester A Page 29, Mary E Page 21, Chester A Page Jr 1, Harriett Donovan 50.Â
1915 (RI State Census) Chester A Page. Born about 1882 in USA. HOH in Wakefield, RI. Weaver, Woolen Mill. Chester A Page 33, Mary E Page 26, Chester E Page 6, Albert E Page 4, Harriet A Page 2, Helen E Page 1, Oscar C Ecklund 50 (Loom Fixer), Grace D Ecklund 43.
1920 Chester A Page. Born about 1882 in USA. Owns home on Main St, Wakefield, RI. Married HOH. Father’s birth USA. Mother’s birth USA. Mill Dresser, Woolen Mill. Chester A Page 38, Mary L Page 30. Chester Alton Page 12, Albert E Page 10, Harriet A Page 7, Helen E Page 5, Mary E Phillips 82, Harriet E Ellison 58.
1930 Chester A Page. Born about 1882 in Massachusetts. Married HOH. Owns house at 1255 Court St, Salem, OR. Has radio set. First Marriage at 28. Father born in US. Mother born in Rhode Island. Manager, Woolen Mill. Chester A Page 48, Mary E Page 41, Chester E Page 21, Harriet A Page 17, Helen E Page 16, Frank L Page 9, Raymond E Page 5, Mary E Page 2.Â
1940 Chester A Page. Born about 1881 in Massachusetts. Married HOH. Owns house at 1255 Court St, Salem, OR. Highest grade completed 8th Gradel. Owner Woolen Mill. Chester A Page 59, Mary E Page 51, Helen E Page 26, Frank L Page 19, Raymond E Page 15, Mary E Page 12, Harriet Ellison 80. |
Wakefield, RIÂ Â Â
City Directories |
1902-1905Â Chester A Page lives in Pawtukeet, RI. Dresser.Â
1909-1908Â Chester A Page lives in Woonsocket, RI. Dresser.Â
1915 Chester A Page lives in South Kingston, RI. Works as a Boss Dresser at Wakefield Mill West.Â
1925 Chester A Page lives on High St North of Wakefield MillÂ
1927 Chester A and Mary Page live on N Main St in Wakefield, RI. No job listed. Son Albert E Page boards with them. Works at a gas station. |
Salem City Directories |
1928 Chester A Page (Mary) 1267 Court, Salem. Superintendent, TKWM.Â
1930 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court St. supt TKWM.Â
1932 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court St. supt TKWM.Â
1934 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court St. supt TKWM.Â
1936 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court St. supt TKWM.Â
1939 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court St. No employer Â
1941 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court. No employer shownÂ
1942 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court. No employer shownÂ
1945 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court. No employer shownÂ
1947 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court. No employer shownÂ
1951 Chester A Page (Mary E) 1255 Court. No employer shown |
Newspapers.com |
Oregon Statesman 8 Mar 1940 p 9Â C. A. Page sues TKWMÂ
Capital Journal 29 Oct 1940 p 13 C. A. Page sues TKWM for back payment of a percentage of profits from 1935/36Â
Albany Democrat Herald 12 Dec 1950 p 56 C. A. Page leased Brownsville Mill in 1933, bought it in 1935Â
Albany Democrat Herald 30 Oct 1952 p 14 C. A. Page unopposed to replace himself as County Commissioner.Â
Lebanon Express 3 Feb 1953 p 1Â Name change to Page Woolen Mill. Bought mill in 1935.Â
Lebanon Express 4 May 1955 p 1 Brownsville Mill FireÂ
Capital Journal 7 Jul 1958 p 7 C. A. and Mary Page hit by carÂ
Capital Journal 5 Jun 1964 p 15 C. A. Page Obituary |
WHC Materials |
M3 1966-001Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mill RecordsÂ
0079.001.0002Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â PhotoÂ
M3 1994-100-0001Â Â Â Â Â AdÂ
M3 1994-100-0008Â Â Â Â Â AdÂ
M3 1993-100-0006Â Â Â Â Â HandbillÂ
M3 1994-016-0015Â Â Â Â Â Oral History (Bill Pero)Â
M3 1994-016-0017Â Â Â Â Â Oral History (Mac Carthew)Â
M3 1994-016-0033Â Â Â Â Â Oral History (Jay Yarnell)Â
M3 1994-016-0048Â Â Â Â Â Oral History (George Noack)Â
M3 1994-016-0051Â Â Â Â Â Oral History (Carlisle Roberts)Â
M3 1994-016-0021Â Â Â Â Â Oral History (Larry Rich)Â
M3 1994-016- 0022Â Â Â Â Oral History (Lon Barrett)Â
M3 1994-016- 0025Â Â Â Â Oral History (Ernest George Van Buren)Â
M3 1994-016- 0027Â Â Â Â Oral History (James Hackett)Â
M3 1994-016- 0030Â Â Â Â Oral History (Ed Antrican)Â
M3 1994-016- 0019Â Â Â Â Oral History (Harry & Vera Blanchard)Â
M3 1994-016- 0043Â Â Â Â Oral History (Virgil & Bessie Shipman)Â |