Partial Roof Collapse Discovered At Amerbelle Complex In Vernon

VERNON, CT — A partial roof collapse was discovered at the old Amerbelle factory over the weekend, town officials said.

The factory, once a hub of activity at the height of Vernon's Victorian Era textile manufacturing prowess, sits at the corner of Brooklyn Street and East Main Street. The town has control over the property and has been working with developers and state officials to find a renewed use the for brick and stone buildings.

The roof collapse took place in Building 4 of the complex, which can be seen from Brooklyn Street, Fire Marshal Dan Wasilewski said. The building dates back to 1868, he said.

Fencing is around the property and it is secure, he said. There is no imminent danger of the building collapsing, he added. Town officials and Vernon's engineering consultants are studying the roof, he added.

Vernon Economic Development Coordinator Shaun Gately said the discovery is not overly concerning in terms of the future because plans call for a new roof for Building 4 anyway.

Building 4 at the Amerbelle complex is not part of the state's $2 million grant to cleanup the area and find new uses for the historic mills in the area, Gately said. The money is for the old Daniels Mill, he said.

The factory closed in 2012 amid a myriad of safety concerns. The origins of Amerbelle date back to the end of the Civil War and town officials estimate that the original buildings were constructed between 1865 and 1869.

Amerbelle is famous for its aerospace contributions, namely the high-tech Mars Pathfinder parachute.

Other markets Amerbelle contributed to include:

• Apparel
• Athletic uniforms
• Automotive
• Backpacks
• Banners and flags
• Canopies
• Computer and sport bags
• Emergency medical service garments
• Equine fabrics
• Filtration fabrics
• Footwear
• Home furnishings
• Industrial fabrics
• Industrial uniforms
• Luggage
• Medical barrier fabrics
• Military applications
• Personal floatation devices
• Photographic umbrellas
• Police jackets
• Prepared fabric for lamination or printing
• Sailcloth
• Skiing and snowboarding apparel
• Sleeping bags
• Tents