Photos: Barber-Colman complex in Rockford then and now

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Time and vacancy have been cruel to the former Barber-Colman factory on South Main Street.
The once-bustling complex has been empty since 2002, and for years it has been a monument of blight with busted out windows, partially collapsed roofing and rundown facade.
It looks much different than the company Howard Colman started in the early 1900s in partnership with investor W. A. Barber.
Full story: A look inside at the history and decay of the Barber-Colman complex in south Rockford
Today, we’re providing a look back at the factory through images from the Midway Village Museum archives alongside our own photos of what the site looks like now.
While these aren’t direct shot-for-shot comparisons, they do provide a perspective of the history of the complex and its current state.
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Barber-Colman then and now





































This photo gallery is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.