HOLYOKE ― A new documentary aims to capture Holyoke’s transition from a thriving “Paper City” to decades of economic decline — and the voices of those who endured it will help tell the story.
The project, titled “Rusted,” is led by filmmaker Jaime Cornejo and will examine how federal economic policies and global market shifts gutted Holyoke’s manufacturing base.
“‘Rusted’” is a historical portrait of Holyoke, a city frozen in time by the brutal process of deindustrialization,” Cornejo says on his project website, rustedfilm.com. “The story unfolds in a circular arc, reflecting a reality that feels inescapable. (It) explores a city once vibrant with life, now burdened by poverty, crime and neglect.”
Once known as the world’s largest paper producer, Holyoke flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, powered by its canal system and immigrant labor.
But by the 1970s and ’80s, factory closures and job losses left the city struggling with poverty and population decline. On his website, Cornejo attributes many of the problems to “the rise of neoliberal policies and their assault on the working class.”
Cornejo hopes his documentary will preserve that history while sparking conversations about what recovery means today for communities like Holyoke.
Filmmaker and historian Jaime Cornejo is working on a documentary exploring Holyoke’s golden age and aims to capture the transition from thriving “Paper City” to decades of economic decline. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Cornejo said “Rusted” will combine interviews with residents, historians and policy experts to show how national economic decisions and global market shifts changed Holyoke.
The film also will feature archival photos, factory footage and personal stories to bring the city’s industrial past to life.
“The idea is to have three or four very strong stories, plus an academic in history and or sociology,” Cornejo said in an interview.
The 20-to-30-minute movie will preserve the voices of people who lived through Holyoke’s hardest years and to spark conversations about what recovery means for cities that lost their manufacturing base.
Cornejo, who is producing “Rusted” as part of his Hunter College master’s program in integrated media arts, said more support could turn the project into a full oral history archive.
He invited Holyoke residents to the Senior Center last week to talk about the film and for people to share memories of the city’s industrial decline from the 1960s to the 1990s. He spoke with about 10 people, and three might be featured in the film.
He also is looking for volunteers to help with research and outreach, as well as donors to cover production costs. Residents who want to share their stories or get involved can reach him at upcoming community sessions or online.
Learn more about Cornejo or contact him at 63degreesmedia.com.
Filmmaker and historian Jaime Cornejo is working on a documentary exploring Holyoke’s golden age and aims to capture the transition from thriving “Paper City” to decades of economic decline. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
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