Morris Paper Mills

The first paper business in Morris was the Allen Paper Car Wheel Works, which functioned as a straw milling operation for the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago.

The business was named for Richard N. Allen, who invented the paper car wheel in 1869. In 1881, the Allen Paper Car Wheel Company, located in Chicago, relocated to Morris and built a processing plan. The plant straw was pulped, made into board and cut into circles, which created the core for the steel-tired composite wheels for Pullman. The paper core helped to absorb the shock from the track and provide a quieter, smoother ride for the traveler. Located on East North Street, the business operated until 1890, when it was turned over to John N. Bunnell and changed its name to the American Straw Board Company, shown in the then photograph.

Over the next two decades, the business and plant was leased, sold and restructured and operated under different names, including the Morris Box Board Company. In October 1915, the business reorganized and was incorporated as the Morris Paper Mills.

By the 1920s, the paper mill became one of Morris’ largest employers and produced boxes of every kind, color and size that were shipped all over the country.

In August 1956, the Morris Paper Mills was sold to Federal Paperboard Company, shown in the then photograph, and operated until closing in 1980. The now picture shows a view of the old Federal Paperboard Office at 960 East North Street today.