New exhibit ‘Remnants’ showcases Turners Falls’ industrial past

TURNERS FALLS, Mass. (WWLP) – The Great Falls Discovery Center is currently hosting a captivating photography exhibit titled “Remnants” by Joe Wallace, showcasing the stark beauty of Turners Falls’ abandoned mills.

The exhibit is on display through July 28 in the Great Hall at the center, located at 2 Avenue A in Turners Falls.

Wallace, who has a keen eye for places of forgotten industry and human endeavor, presents a series of interior photos from 2010. These images capture remnants of the town’s industrial past along the Turners Falls canal, including haunting scenes from the empty Strathmore mill buildings and the now-demolished Griswold cotton mill.

“I search for places of industry and human endeavor that have been left behind,” Wallace explained. “These photographs are my attempt to slow the velocity of my surroundings – to sharpen my focus on details that reveal a complex fabric yet beautifully serene story.”

An artist reception is scheduled for Sunday, July 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. Wallace will discuss his photography starting at 1:30 p.m., followed by a talk from Montague town administrator Walter Ramsey about the past and future of the mill sites. Refreshments will be provided.

The Great Falls Discovery Center is open six days a week: Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All programs at the center are free and open to the public, though children must be accompanied by an adult.

The “Remnants” exhibit is part of the center’s 2024 Food, Farms, and Factories project, which includes programs and exhibits about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. This initiative is supported by various organizations, including the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, RiverCulture, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Montague Public Libraries. Funding is provided by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, visit the Great Falls Discovery Center website .

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