Exploring the ABANDONED Ramage Paper Mill (Monroe, MA)
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2024
- J-MASS INSTAGRAM: @jmassofficial
Be sure to check out GB explores’s video on the Ramage Paper Mill, as he served as the inspiration for this exploration! • Ramage Paper Mill, Mon...
Also, check out Jesse's CZcams channel where he posts originally composed music: / @j.r.walshmusic2757
Nestled in the northern Berkshires, straddling the border with Vermont, sits the small, rural town of Monroe, Massachusetts; a town so small that it just has a population of 118 people, making it the second-smallest town by population in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Despite its small size, Monroe is home to a unique historic landmark: the Ramage Paper Mill, sitting abandoned along the banks of the Deerfield River. Constructed by the James Ramage Paper Company in 1887, the mill manufactured paper products using the output from nearby logging companies. Ramage Paper Mill operated for many years, although it changed hands several times; in the 1920s, it was purchased by the Deerfield Glassine Company, and in the 1970s, they changed to Deerfield Specialty Paper. The mill continued with operations up until 1996, when it officially closed down. Although it was yet again purchased that same year, Ramage Paper Mill was abandoned and neglected for many years (although a new tenant temporarily moved into the upper floor of the mill in the 2000s, only leaving in 2015). In 2017, an unstable wooden portion of the mill would be demolished, resulting in the creation of the Monroe Bridge Overlook, a public park that now sits in its place, completed in 2019.
The Ramage Paper Mill was, without a doubt, one of the most amazing abandoned places I have ever explored, and a highlight of my urbex experience! Joined by my good friend Jesse, we explored all the floors and rooms within the mill complex, and were surprised to see just how much was left behind! From massive industrial machinery to old photographs to handwritten documents and records, this mill was the Holy Grail of old artifacts! The upper level was especially interesting, as it was the most recently abandoned portion of the mill; many unique trinkets were left behind for us to sift through. While it is a shame that much of the Ramage Paper Mill has been razed and demolished, I am still thrilled that I was able to explore what was left-this is truly a fascinating piece of New England’s industrial history, and an underrated urbex site! If you guys liked this video, make sure to stay tuned for more exploration videos all across New England!
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00:00 "J-MASS Explores New England" Intro
00:20 Introduction to the Ramage Paper Mill
03:30 Exterior of the Mill
05:22 Ground Level
09:12 Lower Level
20:37 Basement Level
33:00 Top Level
47:33 Rooftop and River Views
50:20 Old Kodak Photographs
51:57 Monroe Bridge Overlook
55:21 Outro
Brady Sullivan in Manchester NH would turn this builing into apartments or office condo's.
In fact they have pretty much renovated just about every mill building in Manchester and some in Massachusetts as well.
They do some of the best work Ive ever seen.
That mill would make nice condos or a nice arts retreat. It's build very soild.Is it for sale ? With the right permits it could generate electricity again. The roof would be expensive to replace. You guys are right about being clueless about machinery. You goof balls,that was a lab for the paper mill or for quality control.The ending would of been grate if the ladder rung broke.
That's exactly what I thought. You get the 4.5 million and I 'l general contract the project for you.
Cant wait to go there! Love these videos!
It’s definitely worth a visit! Much appreciated bro!
Really excellent exploration/video. this is one of your best I think. Really enjoyed seeing all of the mechanical artifacts left behind - pretty fascinating place. Both of you guys did an excellent job narrating and relating facts.
Thank you, this was definitely one of my favorite explorations I’ve ever done! Such a cool spot!
Great video guys
Super cool video! I love the location
Thanks bro! It’s definitely a fascinating location!
Good work boys
Hey Jmass! Thanks for the shoutout! I know another mill you may want to see, it's knows as the "1 Ferry ST Mill". It's been partially redone but there's still some abandoned parts that haven't been redone, it's in Easthampton MA
Thanks for letting me know about this spot, it was so much fun to explore! And I’ll definitely have to check that one in Easthampton out… I’m not too familiar with it. Sounds interesting!
@@j-mass let me know when you want to see it and I may be able to meet up and film a vid!
I thought it was all redone I was just there last Saturday for a wedding reception
Cool stuff !
I find these abandoned mills and factories very interesting and like learning about their history!
Same here! I absolutely love learning about the pasts of the sites I’m exploring, and this one was especially fascinating!
The paper mill closed earlier than 1996. Not sure what year but closer to 1986. Definitely early to mid 80s. I grew up in Readsboro next town north of Monroe. Me and some friends got caught in there by a state trooper in 1991. Luckily, we only got a slap on the hand. The place seems to have accumulated a lot of junk since then. I remember something operating in there in later years but don't remember what. Thanks for posting this! pretty cool to see inside after all these years.
Those massive drums fed the side press up above you they coated the paper with chemicals to give it whatever properties they were looking for. The chemicals were stored on pallets. The two smaller ones were wear you mixed the chemicals with water and boiled it .then you pumped it to the big vats and diluted it. They had multiple machines so you had to make sure you pumped to the correct tank
You two are clueless about all this equipment.
Such an epic video! So many cool sights, loved seeing those grinders and rollers. Awesome remains of the once impactful mill. I doubt they would turn that building into apartments considering it would double the town’s population 😂😅
LOL yeah, I’m sure no housing is needed in Monroe! 😂 Agreed, there were so many amazing sights to see in that place! Definitely gonna go back!
The dam is regulated year around. Other than winter this is a starting point for thousands of rafters and kayakers. Also you are a mile away from where the Yankee Rowe nuclear power plant was. I'm going out on a limb and saying the shower was mainly for mechanics that wanted to clean up before going home
The first nuclear power plant in America was constructed in Monroe,Mass. There is a hydroelectric plant there that pumps water up to a lake during the night then when electricity is needed during the day the water is gravity fled down to turbines which produce electricity. There is a information center located on the west side of the river. Thanks for the video
Fascinating history, I wasn’t aware that the first nuclear power plant was located here! Thanks for sharing!
I have been wanting to fly there. Only a short ride for me. Great FPV spot.
Oh boy I like that place
Same dude, one of the best urbexing spots I’ve explored thus far!
Loved your Denny's in Danvers exploration. You should check some abandoned places in Gardner or nearby towns
Thanks man! And for sure, I’d love to explore more in the Gardner area!
A lot of forgotten history here in Gardner, I grew up in Lynn and maybe you could research and explore Dungeon Rock in Lynn. Would like to explore too
I lived 2 towns east on rt 2. Charemont. My Dad worked in Monroe .
It still is a white water rafting area. See zoar outdoor or crabapple for info. I used to work for zoar for 25 years
Papermill probably has it's own chem lab there's a lot of nasty stuff used to make certain types of paper
"true love swallows"-Unknown
they aint lying 😭😭😭😭
LOL 🤣
I saw the thumb nail and immediately knew where it was, Small town doesn’t do it
Justice. It is right down the Road from the now gone Rowe Yankee Station. The Deerfield River produces lots of Hydroelectric for Eastern MA
Yeah, there was a major hydroelectric dam just next door to that mill… the Deerfield River is a very powerful source of energy!
642 the first room looks like the finishing room.when you went downstairs you entered the beater room .those lava stones for the beaters where 16 thousand pounds . 1200 that area was not for material storage it was where the shavings from the finishing room went down a shaft.like a big duct and just dumped on the floor. That would get put into the pulper. Picture a blender ten feet tall withe conical steal blades on the bottom filled with water shavings and lots of steam. Dont fall in dont let the shavings wrap around your legs and pull you in. There was also a big conveyor belt feeding it from below and a baler to the left of the frieght elevator 1233 is the machine room 1530 the door to nowhere went to the test room .it was cantilevered over the river.1635 I think that's the control for the big stack that winder was in the machine room 1813 you in the winder room those wonders had many rollers the paper would go through the hooks were for changing the rollers. They would wear out so you had to use that elevator and ride up pull the bad roller out lower it onto a dollyl push it onto the frieght elevator and bring it down to the machine shop directly below you 2011 not a loading dock also not a womans bathroom the only women employed there worked in the office
Obviously there were 2 paper machines side by side on those sole (sill) plates. Those pits were under the wet end of the machines.
That was a Calendar stack. It would provide the finish on the paper. That bottom roll is the king roll the next roll on top of that would be the queen roll, then 7-8 intermediate rolls on top of those.
These basement would house all the drives and drive the sections of the paper machines via belts.
The tile tanks are pulpers driven from above.
Their were two calendar rebuild shops in w Mass, one in Holyoke (Holyoke machine) and one in Chicopee (the former B.F. Perkins, which later became Valmet paper machinery).
I worked for Valmet for 21 years rebuilding calendar rolls of all sizes and also embossing rolls.
That was a great company to work for, I have a 21 year pension from them.
Valmet is still in operation but closed their us calendar shops around 2017 including the Chicopee location, and about a year or so later our former competition Holyoke machine closed.
Our sister shop in WI closed around that time as well leaving to my knowledge one shop left in WI that does large calendars that serves what's left of the north east paper mills. A lot of the large mills closed, and our jobs went away as well.
Hi William, an era gone by. Paper mills gone , with associated machine builders and services gone as well. I also worked for a machine builder in eastern Mass for 38 years catering to the smaller paper mills. It was interesting viewing the abandoned paper mill, brought back a lot of great memories.
Oh i need to go here that mill is perfect for my new drone to fly inside
There’s some good scrap in there I would be getting out what you can it’s free Money. Then again I don’t know how many scrap yards there are out in western mass but over in the east we have a good amount of them.
There used to be a "Prison Camp" in Monroe. Once, a guy, Shorty Nimblett escaped and hitch hiked into North Adams and committed a murder there. They shut the camp shortly after. Some foundations and a small dam (for water supply to the camp) remain.
Interesting, I never knew about that!
Those are pulp machines, Hollander Beaters (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollander_beater). too bad some punks smashed them. They're worth a lotta money if you're into making paper and could salvage it. But obviously not worth enough to anyone when the place closed.
Chemicals my buttt ! That was for people that don't go home, deticated wild men.
Is this place off limits to the public? I am familiar with the area Hoosac tunnel Bear Swamp project.. I also have a question is there decent access to the upper reservoir of the Bear swamp project. Thanks Fred. Oh by the way I am a big fan of yours and the knowledge you bring to the places you explore
Thanks so much Fred! When I went there, I didn’t see any “No Trespassing” signs, no fences, and the entrance was wide open… it appeared to be completely neglected to me. Regarding the Bear Swamp project: while I am not entirely sure, I did drive by a public parking lot next to it that people use for viewing and hiking.
Hey Fred! My buddies and I went here last weekend, and although there was a plucky little "No Trespassing" sign, the place was - as Jacob said - wide open. We interacted with a very friendly local man who seemed OK with us taking pictures and such.
If I eat Chinese for late supper, Mexican for lunch the next day followed up by Checker's Big Buford, large fries, Milk Shake of early supper My ass starts smelling like a paper mill before bedtime that same day.
Monroe is in Franklin County, not the Berkshires. But right on the border of.
While you are correct that Monroe is not located in Berkshire County, but in Franklin County, the town is part of the Berkshires region. Interesting fact actually: Crum Hill, which is mostly located in Monroe, is the highest point of the Hoosac Range of the Berkshires at 2,841 feet!
@@j-mass true, part of the Berkshire region, I just don't want people to think it's part of "The Berkshires" (the ritzy touristy $$$) area, it is a beautiful town but it is far from that portrayed image.
Good point, it very much is different from that type of regional atmosphere! Thank you for clarifying!
2216 was the shop not that bad a job mostly you ran big ass lathes that cleaned up the roller for the collanders those belts on the floor weren't for powering anything they ran along the same route as the dryers when you got the paper from the wet end you'd toss the wet paper into the rope and it would feed it through the dryers they were big metal drums filled with steam dont get you hand caught in the rope or you could get sucked in or flipped on your ass
118???? This town is definitely gonna be abandoned in the future
Actually the population is up a little bit.
The mills are abandoned; where is everybody supposed to work?
I believe most people in and around Monroe commute to nearby cities like North Adams or Pittsfield for work, or work from home, but sadly there really aren’t any job opportunities in the town itself (save for hydroelectricity).
The machine uses felt
Constructive criticism. Slowly move the camera around. To fast is dizziness. Good subject but I had to move on as I found it hard to watch.
Understandable, that is a totally valid criticism! My cinematography is definitely something I want to improve upon over time. Thank you!
IS THIS VIDEO SUPPOSED TO BE SOME FORM OF "PUBLIC SERVICE"" ?????????????
They should tear down the entire Mill and restore the beauty of the area. That mill is useless and an eyesore.