Sunday, November 01 2009
By Justine Judge (
CBS3Springfield)
[MA] -- Southwick residents will not see the old Gillett Cigar Factory be rolled down College Highway in one piece. Instead, the Historical Society is taking it apart, piece by piece.
CVS has approvals to build a new pharmacy at the intersection of College Highway and Vining Hill Road, but the timber frame structure of the old factory is in the way.
Built in 1871, it is believed to be the last example of once numerous factories where workers hand rolled locally grown tobacco into cigars. Last year, the Historical Society convinced town resident the factory was worth saving and obtained $300,000 in community preservation funds to restore it.
The Gillett Tobacco Barn is Soon to be in Pieces continues at cbs3springfield.com with accompanying video.
