Uniroyal smokestacks demolished in Naugatuck

Uniroyal smokestacks demolished in Naugatuck

[@LesHaskell]

I used to live on Ward Street in the mid-60s. I remember this place and the Synthetic Company, too. I remember Peter Paul. My dad had worked at Risdon and then the Bristol Company. My mom worked at the US Rubber Company (later Uniroyal). I used to walk to Salem School and get bubblegum for the cards and check out the horror movie magazines at the store on the corner of Cherry and Scott. I remember the Naugatuck River being different colors depending on the color of Keds they were making that day.

[@rogerrose8220]

Seen the river on fire from all the crap coming out of that factory. Don't forget the smell!

[@riproar11]

That is hilarious but equally frightening about the color of the river because so many companies dumped waste into so many waterways like the Hudson and Housatonic Rivers.

[@LesHaskell]

@@rogerrose8220 My asthmatic bronchitis cleared up after we moved to Massachusetts. I still get nostalgic when I go in to buy tires, though.

[@rogerrose8220]

@@LesHaskell Les I grew up in Watertown. My girlfriend lived in Naugatuck. Her Mom worked at Risdon. My Dad worked at Scovill and had a buddy we'd visit that lived in Beacon Falls that worked at Peter Paul. Also had a classmate that worked at Bristol company. Been in SC for almost 50yrs now and still get homesick!

[@LesHaskell]

@@rogerrose8220 I still have a Risdon slide rule. I remember Peter Paul. I remember being in a Halloween parade in the early '60s. I had a cheap store-bought devil mask, so we really didn't expect me to win the costume contest. I remember that some kid won, but they decided he wasn't eligible because he was Portuguese and not a "natural born citizen" or something and took his prize away. I will never forget how livid my dad was over that. We moved to Bedford, Massachusetts in 1966 after my dad got a job at Itek in Lexington, and I was fully steeped in Revolutionary War history. It wasn't until a few years ago that I discovered that my 4th ggf is the Caleb Haskell who's diary is often quoted in historical books when the author is writing about the smallpox in the army (especially on Arnold's Expedition to Quebec). I also discovered that the first Haskell's settled in Salem (the part that is now Beverly) in 1635. My 8th ggf William's house is a bed and breakfast in Gloucester (John and Elizabeth Proctor are also my 8th ggp and the Towne sisters are 9th gga., plus close to another dozen distant cousins were hanged as witches in 1692). I have one ancestor who was from Connecticut (Dr. Azor Betts - there is actually a Wikipedia page on him) and he was a Loyalist and split for Canada after the Revolution (his daughter married the son of Caleb and they moved back to Newburyport. I grew up within 30 miles of 8 generations of family heritage and I never even knew a thing (my great-grandfather moved from Newburyport to Maine). My dad was from Maine and my mom was from New Jersey and I was born in Waterbury.

[@gabrielsidoti5816]

I do not remember these smokestacks at all but I remember when I drove there to the truck entrance and saw the 1930 tunnel

[@juancitoharris1297]

Can someone tell me the location of the 1930 tunnel when I saw the movie the factory was also there although I couldn't locate it well on Google Maps and I appreciate any valid information.

[@gregdolecki8530]

Just another part of the numerous once proud industries that resided in the area. Sad that they are all gone now.

[@Kevmike68]

How old were these twin smokestacks? I remember when I first drove up route 8 after the demolition and it was very strange not seeing them. Quite a landmark!

[@LesHaskell]

This was after the Martian invasion, right? I guess those triopods really messed the place up.

[@jmm1000]

I met the guy who operated the drill-tractor that nite at the Old Corner. Quiet guy from down south. But now looking at this clip, i can se he was actually INSANE!!@^#%$

[@Krista2882]

I work up the street from there and I didn't know the stacks were coming down that day. they were still standing when I got to work... but when I was leaving work, I saw that they were gone and it was so weird. now all of the buildings are gone and it's just a bunch of flat dirt.

[@glk001]

Remember when they filmed War of the Worlds there?..Sad to see it all go really...It would be one thing if something replaced Uniroyal, but nope...Then the tearing down of Butterfield, Risdon, and say good bye to Peter and Paul...Eastern Steel and Metal, gone...It's ok, we'll get a new commercial outlet...lol...What was Peter and Paul paying in taxes, $528,000 a year if I remember correctly...The American Dream...Chinese products at Wal-Mart and parcel C...Wonderful trade off...DUH...

[@ackotele-radiochannel7408]

are you referring to the TV War of the Worlds series or the actual George Pal movie in 1953 ?

[@MarylandDude9005]

CNNRotatingSquare the 2005 movie with tom cruise.

[@Teedles]

Tripod down!

[@matthewnorman3411]

My grandmother used to get sneakers from there.

[@upslee63]

Rennaisance place will never happen in our lifetime! Maybe they could have used the money to fix some of our roads! Do you live in Naugatuck? We do. Our kids go to Maple Hill.

[@ioriorioriorio]

Screw the uni stacks...bring back DEANS cafe