Preserving Waterbury's Future by Protecting the Past from Water Damage

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can mitigate the water damage to your Waterbury home, just call us for fast service

Professional water restoration companies like our SERVPRO team can help with mitigation and recovery.

With a growing population, Waterbury has continued to provide a stable place to live in work for thousands of residents. Once a booming part of the brass industry, much is changed in the recent decades for the city, though the population has not dwindled as a result. Despite the fact that our town motto, 'What Is More Lasting Than Brass?' seems less pertinent, it is more a statement of the community's longevity and its adaptability to the changing of times. Water damages can substantially impact historic and protected properties throughout the county, so having the fast response and knowledgeable technicians of our SERVPRO team to help is valuable for many property owners. 

Protected Properties of Historical Significance 

Because the city's history began in 1686 as an incorporated town, many structures and areas throughout the region bear historical significance. Many New Haven County areas in the greater New Haven region of Connecticut have ties to the American Revolution and other prominent periods of American history. There are protected landmarks and buildings that require unique restoration and recovery approaches when contending with water disasters like flooding or a plumbing leak. Determining the best strategy in terms of cost efficiency and protecting original construction materials ultimately requires experienced professional water restoration companies. Some of these unique and historic properties in New Haven County include:

• Palace Theatre – There's already been many resources and money put aside to renovate and remodel this theater to its original glory. First constructed in 1922, the theater had an excellent run of successes until the mid-80s. With a passionate group of individuals looking to provide a greater depth to live entertainment in the city, the structure was able to reopen its doors in 2004 and has seen steady successes since.
• Downtown Waterbury Historic District – Much of the buildings found in this protected area of downtown Waterbury were constructed in the late 19th or early 20th centuries. The total area features more than 130 protected buildings stretched out over 75 acres. This cross-section of the city was first recognized for its historical significance by the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
• Benedict-Miller House – This is one of the massive manors that point to a time of prominence and industry for the city of Waterbury. The home was built for tycoon Charles Benedict, a recognized name in the brass work production. Built in 1879, this is one of the few grand houses remaining in the Greater New Haven area. You can see the Queen Anne style, complete with brick and wooden paneling, on Hillside Avenue.
  
• George S. Abbott Building – On the convergence of North Main and Cooke Streets, you will find a property less than an acre in size that features a five-story building that has stood in this place since 1899. Most locals might remember a long-standing tire shop in the base of this building that once had a fifty-year run ending in 1980.  
• Elton Hotel – This is one of the oldest and most recognized hotels in Waterbury constructed in 1904, to replace a different accommodation destroyed in a fire two years earlier. The building has seen multiple celebrity guests throughout its lifetime, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, John. F. Kennedy, and James Thurber, who is said to have written his most famous story, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" during his stay.

Protecting the Heritage and History of Waterbury

Museums and cultural centers are both vital to protecting the stories and legacies of some of the area's most famous residents and visitors. Many structures have filled this role, and our SERVPRO team has helped provide efficient water restoration services to commercial properties. Some of the local museums and iconic locations include:

• Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center – This facility showcases the art and creations of those who were born or spent part of their lives in Connecticut. The collection features work from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. 
• Holy Land USA – This was one of the most fantastic attractions for all of Connecticut during the 60s and 70s, as it was a theme park unlike any other most had seen. While it was closed for nearly 30 years, the park reopened to great success in 2014.
• Brass Mill Center – Perhaps one of the most well-known locations for Waterbury is this massive shopping venue. Constructed from the remnants of brass production facilities, the name was a testament to what was discarded to build the new center.

When Only Professional Water Restoration Companies Can Help

Water restoration is not often a situation that can get resolved by a determined homeowner but instead requires sophisticated equipment and technologies. Identifying the damage is among the first steps of professionals arriving at the compromised property, and this involves various detection devices and discovery tools to isolate moisture pockets and dampness.

• Hygrometers
• Thermal imagery cameras
• Moisture meters

When standing water exists, professionals are expected to resolve this situation with our advanced extraction equipment inventory immediately. Depending on the severity of the case, it is often necessary to utilize multiple extraction devices to accomplish the mitigation expected. Electric submersible pumps can manage much of the surface water concerns before drying, but some instances require more direct approaches like high-pressure pumps for high-rise accommodations and apartment buildings like the Elton Hotel.

Depending on the damage done, drying your home might require contractors to implement controlled demolition to access damp areas and moisture pockets for direct impact with air movers, dehumidifiers, and other evaporative drying approaches.

No matter how water disasters happen in your home, you can count on the fast response of SERVPRO of Waterbury to help. As a leader among water restoration companies in Waterbury, we can make it "Like it never even happened." Give us a call today at (203) 757-5050.