This building occupies the space between the redemption center and a Dunkin Donuts on 1299 West Broad St. The area was posted “private property” so I did not choose to venture off the roadway. The remnants of a rather large foundation are evidence that a good sized building sat adjacent at one point. I was talking to a mailman who happened by why I was here. He remarked that the reason the entire building was not demolished was due to taxes. He said rumor had it that the owners were charged more taxes after one of the main buildings was torn down than when it stood. As a result they refused to demolish the last remaining building as they are taxed less than if they took it down.
Great set. The place looks like one of small factories in Chernobyl
Did you ever figure out what this building was? I’ve driven by it quite a few times and can’t seem to figure out what it used to be.
Hi Ty,
Thank you for your question. Unfortunately I have not been able to determine what business was in this abandoned building. This particular photograph does seem to generate interest. If I can get an answer I’ll post it.
Hi Ty,
As a result of your question I did a little more research. I was able to determine that this building belonged to Ross and Roberts Mfg. which closed approx. in early 2008. They were a plastics manufacturer. Supposedly the high costs of operating this facility forced them to shut down.
Ross & Roberts for sure. My father worked there from the 70’s to when he retired in 2004. This place was massive with 3 separate calendars running three shifts around the clock. Their main product was vinyl.
As many of the comments on here state the facility was old and the chemicals used surely led to health issues over time, but this place also was where over 300 local people made their living and supported their families. Mike Rosenberg the final owner of the company while it ran passed away back in 2014 from cancer. As a child I was all through this building, there were several levels inside and a bunch of chemicals that were used to make the mixes which generated the plastics and vinyls.
Thanks for the added information about the plant Robert. Appreciate your stopping by.
My dad worked at Ross and Roberts for 55 years. They were very good to him and begged him not to retire. It was a great place for local people to work and provide for their families. My dad loved it there.
Wow 55 years and still didn’t want to see him go. That’s amazing! Glad this brought back some fond memories for you.
Thanks for contributing.
Thanks for the comment!
here it is!
Hi Zach,
Thank you for your reply. I assume those are pic’s from the inside of the abandoned plant in Stratford. Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I don’t post links because I can’t be responsible for the content on a link as it may change over time.
My Dad worked here for 20 years. He was their chief electrician. He left in 1969. He used to talk about the swamp rats that he saw at the plant. He died of emphysema in 1992.
Also, my grandfather was a security guard there.
Sorry for the loss of your father Sheryl. I wonder if the factory brought on the emphysema. Other people have written in mentioning health problems as a result of working there. I don’t know where OSHA was in those days, you have to wonder. Appreciate your comments, thanks for stopping by.
BUZZ………A great guy for sure!
Im about to go make my way there in a couple days and I’m gonna try to get in .
Hi Tyler,
I haven’t been by in years. It may be demolished by now for all I know. As for going into the facility I wouldn’t recommend it as I’m sure you’ll be in violation of the trespassing laws and may find yourself subject to arrest. Thank you for stopping by. Have a good day Sir.
Jay
I worked there for a couple years in the early 90s. I was a Maintenance mechanic during that time. R&R manufactured Vinyl that was produced in rolls, it was used for just about everything sheet vinyl is used for including car and boat seats. Working at this place was like working in a 3rd world country, very dangerous and there were chemicals EVERYWHERE. The Hands down the worst and dangerous job I have ever had. I can probably answer a lot of questions if needed
Hi Todd,
Thank you for your reply. Interesting that you actually worked there and also found it to be highly dangerous. Probably a good thing that the doors are closed for good.
Jay
I worked at R&R and left around 1973. I worked in the office. I was now feeling nostalgic about it being the best job I ever had and came online to research it, never knew back then how dangerously toxic the place was at the time. Now I don’t feel bad for quitting. I bought some of the vinyl sheets at a discount for personal use.
Thanks for visiting. Hope you enjoyed the photo’s.
Could you contact me by email at, R. Montgomery, USEPA Thank you
The memories I started working at R&R in 1963 retired early in 1984 ,,I was a production Supervisor that was probobly one of the eeriest factories I have ever been in . yes they manufactured sheet vinyl and yes it was a dangerous place to work out of the 300 employees back then I would bet there are but a handful still alive
Hi Ray – What a shame that so many lives were possibly affected by the conditions. Whatever happened to government safeguards, EPA, etc.?
I’m glad you’re one of those still kicking. Thanks for stopping by. I wish you well Sir. Jay
Hello Ray, my name is Robert Montgomery and I work for the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a Civil Investigator. If you can spare a few minutes I’d like to talk with you about R&R.
Ray, a Rick Kaletsky advised that I should contact you. Please contact my email.
I worked in the office as a sample clerk, 1964-65. Names I remember are Larry Stannard, Mike Mingonello, Carl Marks, Steve Murzyn. With only two months service at Christmas, I was given a quality bottle of scotch and a ten dollar bill. Left to attend Southern Connecticut State College.
Hi Dennis,
A bottle of scotch and ten bucks after only two months of service. Wow! That’s more than many folks get after 20 years of service. LOL
Thanks for visiting the website.
I worked at Ross & Roberts for a few years around 1980 as a colorist. I was about 25 or 26 at the time. Maybe I’m old school but I don’t remember it being that dangerous. Ok there was an explosion in the vinyl hopper one day, but we got time off till it was repaired. And there were chemicals, but generally just oil substitutes known as phthalates, which I don’t think were very hazardous. I do remember the name of Ray Willis, as well as the big production engineer Norm Howard who was quite a character. He had a cat that hung round the Lab, called “mama”. We had a chief colorist, Roger Heigel, who was into growing orchids as a side hobby. I think he’s president of the ct orchid society now. Roger had a brother who was a chemical engineer and worked in another dept. Yes, it was all working 24 hour days cause it didn’t pay to shut down and start up the furnaces that heated the “calendars” which were just large rollers used to roll out the vinyl into thin sheets. This was my first introduction to production deadlines and real manufacturing business.
Great commentary and insights. Thanks for taking the time Steve.
Steve, if you’d contact me by email I’d appreciate it.
I worked in the mail room with the tele-type machine and then got promoted to be the switchboard operator. This was around 1972. Everybody was treated with respect and we all liked each other. I and my sister were some of the few blacks that worked there. There was a great crowd there, I’m now thinking of all the chemicals. Barrels everywhere. I remember them making vinyl toilet seat covers.. Never saw anything crazy or out of the way. I found it a great place to work.. I think my supervisor was Mary ann Meroisa or Susan Merosia, something like that, I remember her being very soft spoken. Sandra Bridgeforth-Bolling
Hi Sandy,
I appreciate hearing of your time there. It helps “fill” the pictures with voices which, of course, bring it all to life. I’m glad your experience was positive. It’s nice that you remembered your supervisor as soft spoken. Sometimes we only remember the loud and obnoxious ones (& not always in a good way). (laughing)
Thanks for stopping by and it always makes these pictures more worthwhile when they touch someones past in a good way. Jay
My first job out of college, for a couple of years, was a chemicals salesman for a company called CONOCO. Had a number of accounts throughout New England including Ross & Roberts, who I called on once a month. This was 1978-1979. We sold PVC, the main ingredient in vinyl for their calendaring work (a manufacturing process to make large continuous sheets of vinyl). My contact was always the purchasing agent, Bill Devine. He was only available during in the mid-day, because I’m pretty sure he wanted to make sure he got lunch out of the sales call. He was much older then me, and wasn’t a bad guy. We always went to the same restaurant (maybe had Shakespeare in the name?) and he always ordered the same thing . Since I called on Bill in their admin offices, I was not aware of whether the manufacturing facility was very dangerous or not. Although come to think of it most clients would proactively give me a plant tour at some point, but Bill had never offered. Not sure why I never asked, but there you are. Thanks for posting this and continuing to respond to comments, as I was traveling through the area today and wondered what happened to the place.
Hi Bill,
Awesome comment! Thanks for sharing your memories of visiting the plant in the late 70’s as a young salesman. I love hearing the history and most importantly you folks out there who bring to the images to life with your stories.
All the best to you,
Jay
You’re very welcome!
I read with great interest about Ross & Roberts. Here is something that I wrote after Mike Rosenberg passed away.
Michael (Mike) Rosenberg, a man of deep faith and strong family values. Born in Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland, to Tzvi (Szulim Hersz) and Rachel Rosenberg. He was thirteen years old when WWII broke out, and miraculously survived the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.
Mr. Rosenberg’s brother, Benjamin, remembers Mike as a very honest man who would always provide help to those in need. He said, “My brother’s handshake was better than a contract.”
Paul, a son, said, “My father was not afraid to give people a second chance. If someone made an error on the job, my father was always willing to provide the employee an opportunity to rectify the situation.”
He would often offer loans to his employees in the event they needed assistance. “My father was available to people of the next generation, and treated younger individuals with respect. It was never about him; he always wanted the best for others,” said Paul.
A strong supporter of Jewish life, Mr. Rosenberg contributed to a wide range of charities, including the United States Holocaust Museum. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Frania, in 1985, and is survived by his sons, Samuel and Paul, his brother Benjamin, and three grandchildren. Mr. Rosenberg is missed and remembered by his family, friends, and the many people whose lives he touched.
Hi Dovid,
Thank you for sharing your commentary about this fine man whom you obviously held in high esteem.
Best regards,
Jay
B”H. Hi, does anyone remember or know of a massive fire they had in their warehouse around 1959? Thanks!!!
Jay:
I’d love to interview several of the parties that worked at Ross and Roberts in the past, and additionally Bill G.
If possible, please send my email contact information to them. I’d sincerely appreciate it. Great site, great pictures and great history.
Thank you
Robert J. Montgomery
U.S.E.P.A.
(212)637-4332 or (201)414-3118 C
Steve, if you’d contact me by email I’d appreciate it.
My exploration of this place took place around 2016, just before its destined demolition. Hearing the rich tapestry of stories from readers about the plant’s history and its economic significance to numerous families was truly remarkable. It’s a testament to the profound impact such places have on our shared history. Quite astonishing, indeed!
Agreed!