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31

Bernat Mill Complex Burns

July 31, 2007 |

Firefighters from 45 communities battled flames. (ALAN J. BRACKETT)Photo supplied by (ALAN J. BRACKETT)

July 21, 2007 the former Bernat Mill in Uxbridge MA, which housed 65 local businesses, burned to the ground. This 10-alarm fire shocked the community, and destroyed one of the few remaining Northern Mill facilities still remaining in this country. While many old mills have undergone renovation and falling into disrepair again, the Bernat Mill was a vital part of Uxbridge, MA. The mill had long ago stopped producing yarn from wool, but it was now a mixed use facility.

Quoted from a story By Linda Bock TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF - The Bernat Mill was not only home to more than 60 businesses, some of which were subletting from others, but also several Uxbridge Public School programs, including the Mosaic Mill program for alternative students. This program also served the special education requirements for the high school.

“The Mosaic Mill and Youth Center shared space in the mill, and this disaster will have a major impact on several hundreds of kids in town,” Mr. Stefanilo said. “In the last 48 hours, we’ve reached out for emergency space.”

Students in the Explore & Discover program won a grant several years ago for a testing program for the Mumford and Blackstone Rivers through the use of the River Classroom. The Mumford River, which feeds into the Blackstone River, runs directly under the Bernat Mill. Permanent displays were created to educate students and the community about the health of the rivers.

Parts of the Bernat Mill complex, 19 Depot St., off Route 16, were at one point transformed with interactive exhibits, mosaics, stained-glass windows and murals, and miraculously, some of those survived the fire.

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