Strathmore Paper Mill No.2
The July heat of 2017 hung heavy over Woronoco Road, but that did nothing to diminish the sight before us. Strathmore Paper Mill No. 1 stood like a monument to another era, its weathered brick facade still holding strong against time. Behind the mill, the Woronoco Falls provided a constant soundtrack, the rushing water a reminder of why this spot was chosen for industry more than a century ago. My friend J and I had made the trip along Old Route 20 specifically for this place. The mill looked untouched, almost frozen in time, save for the expected cluster of "No Trespassing" signs posted along the perimeter. Across the street sat the warehouse, sometimes called Mill No. 3, connected to our target by an old catwalk that stretched between the two red brick structures. We studied it from a distance, hoping for an angle of approach, but access proved impossible that day. The catwalk taunted us with what could have been. Still, we had come too far to leave empty-handed. We spent...
