The Somersville Manufacturing Company, established in 1879 on the banks of the Scantic River in Somers, made heavy woolen cloth until closing in 1969. The complex sprawled across nearly seven acres on either side of Maple Street. The mill itself was located on the west side, while the dam and c.1880 pump house and picker house were on the east side. A fire in 2012 destroyed the main complex, and the only remaining 19th century buildings are those next to the dam.
A metal penstock fed water from the mill pond through a turbine in the basement of the pump house. Over the decades, moisture led to
deterioration of timber framing members, some of which were replaced or supported by I-beams. After the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) rebuilt the dam in the late 1990s, the moisture issues accelerated as the water found new routes into the Building, which flooded during high water events. Subsequent DEEP interventions did not correct the problem.
Preservation Connecticut arranged an engineer Technical Assistance Consultancy (TAC) team visit to evaluate the current situation and potential solutions with Amy Jagaczewski of GNCB Structural Engineers, and Robert MacDuff of Triton Environmental. The report will offer broad stroke outlines for two alternate solutions to enable the owners to make an informed decision as to potential next steps as they seek to maintain and preserve the building.