Connecticut was once known
as the industrial center of the Northeast. Every
town had manufacturing
jobs and factories. Huge brick buildings up to four
stories in height towered
over the streets. Unless one of your parents worked at
one, you wouldn’t know how
they were built. Thick brick walls, windows large
enough to admit daylight
to work by, thick steel girders to hold up the weight of
machines.
The machines often
ran twenty-four/seven.
Connecticut was famous for
hundreds, maybe thousands of products. Thread
from Willimantic went
worldwide. Manchester made silk. Coventry made flannel
and wool during the Civil
and First World Wars.
Waterbury brass mills made ball
bearings, buttons,
fasteners.
So what happens when a
mill shuts down?
The windows are covered
until some vandal breaks the glass. Some of the
buildings were burned when
homeless people tried to build fires on the oilsoaked
floors.
The buildings became an
eye-sore.
Then that old Yankee
spirit rose. How does that old saying go? Wear it out, use it
up?
Well a few entrepreneurs
bought a few buildings. Using government grants and
private funds they
rehabbed the structures into housing.
the effort has changed entire
neighborhoods around. Condos with playgrounds
replaced weeds.
I’ve included pictures of
the Ameribelle project in Rockville. Since I couldn’t get
too close because of the
construction fences the pictures are from the other side.
Ameribelle made fabric
sold around the world and went out of business last year.
The factory stands at the
end of the town center. They’ve removed the asphalt
parking lot, uncovered the
river that runs beneath one building. That waterfall
powered electricity to the
machines in the 1880s and beyond.
The rehabilitation is less
than half done but the area looks terrific. They removed
the newer structures,
leaving the original ones.
I drive by daily and am
fascinated by the changes. They are already landscaping
the banks of the newly
exposed river. They had built an underground waterway to
allow more buildings.
This project is the third
here to make housing out of unused property.
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Hi Barbara, I enjoyed your post and I'm happy to see that your state is doing something positive with the buildings when businesses closed down. But it is sad that so many of our industries no longer exist. I lived in your state for several months when I was a young bride and my husband was in sub school in New London. Connecticut springs are very lovely but they come much later than spring in Kentucky. Your books sound interesting and I wish you success with all of them. If I should be your winner I would choose an historical. Linda Swift LSwiftR@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting because I was raised in CT, and I always thought of it as the insurance state since my father was an actuary. I never thought of CT as an industrial state. :) It's all in what you're exposed to, I guess. There's also a lot of interesting history in the state.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! I've not been to Connecticut before, in fact, have not spent much time in the Eastern states, but on my bucket list! So many places to visit in this lovely, intriguing, and historical country of ours! Thanks for sharing about your state!
ReplyDeleteThe first time I went to Connecticut I got lost. But I won't hold that against the state. After all, Mark Twain thought it a good place to live.
ReplyDeleteI'm always glad to hear someone had the sense to find another use for abandoned buildings.
Enjoyed reading the post. Best of luck with your writing.
Those mill fires are legendary in the fire service across the country--and not in a good way. I'm glad someone's been able to rehabilitate some of those buildings.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to see the abandoned buildings. I am glad someone is finally changing things around. Its tht Yankee spirit!
Hi Carly,
ReplyDeleteI love history and always find something new. I was fascinated by the importation of silk worms.
Hi Gayle,
ReplyDeleteLast year we finally did our fiftieth state. This country is the vry best anywhaere.
HiJR,
ReplyDeleteI can see how you got lost. The roads are winding and narrow. Beautiful in the autumn and spring with the leaves and mountain laurel.
Hi Mark,
ReplyDeleteIt is scary to watch a building with oil-soaked floors burn for days even weeks. I've seen a couple and bbeen glad I'm not on that fire truck. Thanks for your service.
I loved reading about the history and the ongoing history-making. It sounds like the entrepreneurs have the right idea by uncovering and making use of what is already there. Best of luck. nancyos@centurylink.net
ReplyDelete