The Revitalist

Two mill fires this week in western mass highlight some of the risks of working with these old buildings.

Strathmore Mill, from jnoc's Flickr set

In Turners Fall, part of Montague, the Strathmore paper mill burned on last Sunday. Only one of the 11 buildings in the complex was completely destroyed, but most of these others were damaged by smoke or water. The site is occupied by a paper manufacturing facility, which is planning to reopen. We are familiar with the site because we have been talking to a fellow who was planning to purchase the mill and rehab it into a film and photography school. Of course now, the redevelopment plans are back to the drawing board. The site had a lot of potential, and we hope that this isn't the end of rehab plans for it.

Faceplate Mill fire, Chicopee

A mill building, part of the former Faceplate textile company, burned in Chicopee yesterday. The building had been vacant for several years, and the firefighters worked hard to keep it from spreading to the rest of the mill complex.

It's an odd coincidence to have two major mill fires so close together in one week. It a tough thing to keep these buildings current with fire protection, especially when they are vacant.