I returned to the Mohasco Complex, or what was left of it, with my Father (a treasure trove of Amsterdam history), my neighbor (an older gentelman-alive during the heydey of the Amsterdam mills), and my younger brother. As I said my father is a veritable book of facts and theories about Amsterdam's past so this trip was very informative journey. Many of the questions and mysteries I had were cleared up during this expedition. Here are some of the things I learned:

1. At one time the Mohasco complex had so many factories that there were few spaces between the buildings to walk! Apparently, there are pictures of what it used to look like in the Urban Renewal Office at the City Hall.

2. The factories were destroyed by a massive fire about 10 years ago. The owner of one the factories seeking an insurance pay-off hired an arsonist from New York City. Although, he only torched one of the buildings the proximity of the factories to one another created a virtual inferno destroying most of what was there. Five factories remain, only two are operable. The arsonist arrived in Amsterdam in a very compact car with a big gas canister. He purchased over 20 gallons of gasoline, duct tape, lighters, and other odds and ends. The clerk remarked that 20 gallons was a lot of gas for such a small car, but she never notified any authorities. She only came forward after the fire.

3. The foundations of many of the factories that currently remain are older foundations from older factories, but the newer factories were constructed right on top of the old foundations.

These are the main points of interest, but more information will be included with the individual photographs.