Photo's taken in 2003
Music : The Master / Mike Turcotte ( Copyright MTM 2026 )
From Google AI
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While the main 1867 textile mill was closed in 1983 and fully restored into lofts, the former lower "marble plant" and related industrial structures are now repurposed for private businesses.
The History of the Cumberland PlantIn 1941, Owens Corning purchased the massive 19th-century Ashton Mill and retrofitted it into a fiberglass manufacturing facility and research lab.Space Race Contributions: The factory produced "beta cloth," the noncombustible material used for astronaut spacesuits and external patches during the Apollo missions.
The Marble Plant: Glass marbles (pellets) were produced at the lower plant at 23 Ashton Park Way to be melted down and drawn into fiberglass threads.
Closure: The plant ceased operations in December 1983, bringing an end to over 40 years of local fiberglass production
.Current Status of the SiteThe property is no longer an abandoned, decaying ruin.
The Upper Mill: The main Ashton Mill at 51 Front Street has been beautifully restored and operates as The River Lofts at Ashton Mill.T
he Marble Plant: The former marble plant/lower factory building at 23 Ashton Park Way is now home to private manufacturing businesses like Swissline Precision, LLC.Site Context and Safety
Since the buildings have been converted into apartments and active commercial spaces, there are no abandoned interiors available to explore. The area is privately owned, residential, and restricted to tenants and customers. However, the historic smokestack and brick mill architecture remain highly visible from Mendon Road and the surrounding Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
