Broken Windows, Barber-Colman Factory, Rockford

The Barber-Colman Company operated out of this Rockford complex for more than a century after its founding in 1894. The firm built its name on textile machinery and precision gears before expanding into door operators and access-control systems that carried the Barber-Colman name worldwide. Production wound down in the late 20th century, and Barber-Colman sold off its remaining divisions in the 1990s. The Rock Street factory buildings have sat vacant since, with the city and private developers periodically floating redevelopment plans for the site.

Photo taken in February 2024.