Exploring the ABANDONED Merrimac Paper Company (Lawrence, MA)

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  • Опубліковано 24 жов 2022
  • J-MASS INSTAGRAM: @jmassofficial
    Join me as I explore a massive abandoned paper mill located in the heart of Lawrence, Massachusetts, a historic industrial city home to dozens of old factories and mills. However, years after being abandoned in 2005, this mill was ravaged by an extremely devastating fire in 2014, and now sits in a state of disrepair along the banks of the Merrimack River. This is the Merrimac Paper Company, a site that opened up in 1866 and produced over 125 tons of paper during its prime. The Merrimac Paper Company was just one of many vital mills that boosted Lawrence's industrial economy in the 19th century, now a reminder of a time past. This place is huge, with many rooms, corridors, and entrances to explore under the crumbling walls and ceilings.
    I had been here once back in 2016, so coming to the Merrimac Paper Company again many years later was truly a site to behold, as this place had deteriorated even more with time. It was in a severe state of disrepair and damage, and walking through it felt like witnessing the ruins of an earthquake. Unfortunately, this place is extremely dangerous to explore and I would NOT recommend coming here at any time: I found dozens of places where squatters could have lived (or maybe even still do), with evidence of living spaces everywhere. The place is also generally just not structurally sound, and it is best to avoid it for safety. That being said, I had a great time exploring the now-abandoned Merrimac Paper Company, a look into Lawrence's short-lived, yet economy-defining industrial past! If you guys liked this video, make sure to stay tuned for more exploration videos all across New England!
    www.groundworklawrence.org/me...

КОМЕНТАРІ • 37

  • @j-mass
    @j-mass  3 місяці тому +3

    Unfortunately, as of early 2024, this spot has been demolished and no longer exists. This video now stands as a historical archive of this former piece of New England history.

  • @user-sn4lq6xj1y
    @user-sn4lq6xj1y 3 місяці тому +2

    I was born her 30 years ago so 1994 I left 😮 thank you for the video because still remember 😂🥲

  • @venturarivera8235
    @venturarivera8235 Рік тому +4

    J mass props to you, I worked at the paper company over 40 years ago, I watched you tour a place of interest. On your walk through where you heard water from below at a round floor opening used to be where the bad batch of paper that didn’t cut the mustard was dropped into by forklifts and reprocessed. This huge look like blender would turn the wasted paper to a liquid and used again. It would get pumped back to a pool at the beginning of the paper processing machinery. It was massive in size. From the pool the mixture would be sprayed by lined pipes that would land on humungus rolled that were temperature controlled with flat conveyor belts, all temperature controlled from one end of the room to the other, with the height of 2 floors opened up, it, the machinery was like a freaking block long, and windows and door were kept closed at all times for to make sure we got a good blend of paper product. At the final end there would be a roll of paper that sometimes would take about a week to produce and we would have blades to make cuts so when we take them off with forklifts they would be ready for shipping. Those areas that looked like long ass hallways are where lots of production was stored. It’s too bad it came to an end. Back then 3.75 an hour during the Night Shift was somewhat reasonable salary but hey it was a job just out of HS.
    Lawrence deserves better, that homeless issue shouldn’t be there, damn politicians, their all alike, they all do the same across our major cities, be safe and thanks for sharing your views, it became a wake up

    • @j-mass
      @j-mass  Рік тому

      Wow, thank you for the insight into the backstory of this place! Very interesting, and I agree! Lawrence deserves better.

  • @OLDADAMS
    @OLDADAMS 23 години тому

    I'm 70 now and when we were 12-14 years old we would fish from the railroad bridge and the fish ladder at the falls. Many times we would climb up inside the abandoned mills and it was very creepy like all the machines were still there but no people. Found out what the PUCKER FACTOR was for the first time when my kid brother and I (I was 12, he was 10) went to the Boys Club and since it was so cold out we crossed the river to South Lawrence on the ice. Half way across we started to hear the cracking of the ice. We never did that again! LOL. When we fished the river, every other cast we had to clean the paper off our lines. Nice job.

  • @kennethsonier1766
    @kennethsonier1766 Місяць тому +1

    Good morning from Cape Cod ⛵ Lawrence Mass, hometown of Sonny Urna, GODSMACK 🤘 Great documentary Jason. Keep up the great work and be safe out there 👍✌️🇺🇲

  • @elvee7851
    @elvee7851 3 місяці тому +1

    Man, you have a lot of cojones going to some of these places. Lawrence isn't the safest place and going to an abandoned place like this, no telling who you might run into. Enjoyed the video though - cheers!

  • @Undeadfly
    @Undeadfly 8 місяців тому +2

    That hole with the running water is where the water turbines were.

  • @POTENTDOMAIN
    @POTENTDOMAIN Місяць тому +1

    Great content

    • @j-mass
      @j-mass  Місяць тому

      Thank you so much!

  • @rompeboxer
    @rompeboxer 2 місяці тому +1

    Ur brave my dad used to work there.

  • @CharlotteCody
    @CharlotteCody 8 місяців тому +1

    This was a paper mill back up until the 1960s or 1970s, along with Oxford Paper on General St. in North Lawrence. (The Merrimack Paper Co. was in South Lawrence, on the South Lawrence canal.) I had a relative who was a supervisor there, worked there all his life and retired from there. My dad worked for Oxford for more than 38 years, right up until they closed down in 1971. (I worked there for the last 2-1/2 years of its existence.) It's sad what Lawrence has become!

    • @j-mass
      @j-mass  8 місяців тому +1

      Wow, fascinating history… thank you for sharing!

  • @scotmatheson1109
    @scotmatheson1109 9 місяців тому +1

    I recognized the boilers on the outside of the property. I know a lot of people who worked there.

  • @user-qv9nk3xc4j
    @user-qv9nk3xc4j 8 місяців тому

    That Vegas piece is 🔥

  • @edzachary8657
    @edzachary8657 Рік тому +1

    Some of those shots look like they could be album covers for an old Black Sabbath album

  • @UncleGo67
    @UncleGo67 7 місяців тому

    Just came across your video.
    I kind of like your Documentary..
    I grew up in Lawrence.
    Here is a Fact for you…
    I Remember the Merrimack River’s Edges had No Trees or Brush. You could drive a Truck from the Falls to the Highway…? And the Construction of Both Central St. and the Duck Bridges Reconstruction…
    Or When they Did the Two Towers on Essex St.

  • @SPIRITUALWARMOH
    @SPIRITUALWARMOH 6 місяців тому +1

    it caught fire years ago

  • @ryldauril6379
    @ryldauril6379 Рік тому +2

    Lowell im sure has some gems has well

    • @annarchy665
      @annarchy665 Рік тому

      I explored a few of Lowell's finest. The Boott Mill and one on Appleton Street. Squatters at the Boott Miil.

    • @scotmatheson1109
      @scotmatheson1109 9 місяців тому

      Lowell had the advantage of getting more funding due to being Marty Meehans home district, as well as being home to UMass Lowell.

  • @DarkSamaritan97
    @DarkSamaritan97 Рік тому +1

    Hey man me and my cousin was just here we also filmed and explored the whole building very sketchy place for sure I was wondering if your willing to do a callable one day

    • @j-mass
      @j-mass  Рік тому

      That’s dope dude, it’s a crazy place! Feel free to hit me up @jmassofficial on IG, I’d be down!

    • @michaelmac3621
      @michaelmac3621 10 місяців тому

      Yea there keeping the original slab and foundation. As well as the turbines. We had to cover them during the demolition so they don’t get ruined. Place is really cool though

  • @michaelmac3621
    @michaelmac3621 10 місяців тому +1

    We’re in the process off demolishing it. The company I work for is doing it S&R corporation

  • @Ukeville
    @Ukeville 10 місяців тому

    Who owns the property

  • @ryldauril6379
    @ryldauril6379 Рік тому +1

    maybe i can help you on a part 2 in the winter.. cuse well the homeless wouldnt camp

    • @j-mass
      @j-mass  Рік тому

      That would be cool! I’m sure it’d be a lot safer to explore the mill in its entirety at that point. I definitely missed a few rooms!

  • @ICantMeow
    @ICantMeow Рік тому +1

    Place is demolished now sadly

  • @ryldauril6379
    @ryldauril6379 Рік тому +1

    wish i could of joined you at least for protection. i live down the street.

  • @ngm978otf5
    @ngm978otf5 9 місяців тому

    Perfect stash spot lots of goodys if you look good enough 😂

  • @user-qv9nk3xc4j
    @user-qv9nk3xc4j 8 місяців тому +2

    bro you move your camera too fast, show more of the art man

  • @ngm978otf5
    @ngm978otf5 9 місяців тому +1

    Plans are to tear down the old site and build a new building

  • @briandurkin8582
    @briandurkin8582 6 місяців тому +2

    great video...make a bit more professional with proper language and you have a decent documentary. Thanks for posting.