Picture Somers - Then And Now

SOMERS, CT — For our periodic look at Somers history, we return today to the amazing photo book, Images of America: Somers, compiled in 2001 by Jeanne Kenyon DeBell for the Somers Historical Society. On page 89 is an aerial view of the old Somersville Manufacturing Co.

English immigrant Samuel Billings built a gristmill and sawmill along the Scantic River, called Billings Mills. Several changes of ownership over the years and additional buildings resulted in the business being a prime producer of woolen cloth.

By 1969, the Keeney family dissolved the business and most of the buildings were vacated, particularly the textile mill. A few businesses popped in and out over the years, until the building was destroyed by a raging fire on June 2, 2012. The rubble stood until remediation began five years later.

A small park-like area now occupies the former mill site. Here is a more contemporary view of the land and river, taken by yours truly.

Do you have a photo of an old Somers business which no longer exists, to which you own the rights and which we could feature in this column? Email tim.jensen@patch.com.

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