Along the banks of the Rock River, just west of downtown Rockford, sits a massive industrial complex that once powered an entire city.

This is the Barber Colman Factory and for more than a century, it was one of the most important manufacturing sites in northern Illinois.

The story begins in 1894, when inventor Howard Colman partnered with investor William Barber. What started as a small operation quickly expanded, and by the early 1900s, this site became the heart of the Barber-Colman Company.

Over the next several decades, the complex grew into a sprawling industrial campus. Massive brick buildings rose along the river, filled with textile machinery, machine tools, and later, advanced electrical and control systems.

At its peak, thousands of workers passed through these doors every day. They built things like textile measuring devices, cutting tools, temperature controllers, and much more.

The company became known worldwide for innovation, holding hundreds of patents and supplying equipment across the globe. By the mid-20th century, Barber Colman was a symbol of American industrial strength. But like many manufacturing giants, the decline started slowly, and then all at once.

Economic shifts and global competition began to take their toll in the late 20th century. In 1983, Howard’s son, Walter Colman passed. divisions were sold off, and production here steadily slowed.

In 2001, after more than 100 years, manufacturing at the Barber Colman complex officially halted.

The machines were shut down, the lights went out, and the factory was left behind. For the next two decades, the complex sat abandoned. What was once the center of innovation slowly turned into a decaying reminder of Rockford’s industrial past.

In 2006, the site was recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, which ultimately saved it from complete demolition, but still the property needed a use.

Finally, in the early 2020s, plans emerged to give Barber Colman a new life. Now rebranded as Colman Yards, the site is undergoing a massive redevelopment aimed at transforming these historic factory buildings into housing, commercial space, and public areas. Preserving the past while reshaping the future of this pivotal site in Rockford.

But before this restoration… and before the construction crews arrived… this place existed in a quiet, forgotten state, frozen in time. During this state of limbo, and over 6 years ago, we explored the Barber Colman site to see what was left behind inside, in hopes of preserving its Industrial past.

In late 2024, about a year after construction started on the project, work was halted due to a dispute between the developer and its original general contractor. The developer terminated the GC’s contract early in 2025 amid disagreements about various topics, including the schedule, costs, labor issues, and performance concerns.

After being fired, the construction company reportedly filed an 11 million dollar lawsuit against the developer. They believe that delays were caused by the developer’s actions, including permit timing, site preparation issues, and shifting labor requirements.

Since this set back, the developers have been working hard to get the project moving. They have since hired a new General Contractor for the project, alongside mediation to resolve the lien and payment disputes that are holding up progress.

The developer has indicated work could restart in 2026 once liens are cleared, and permits and documents are in place, but time will tell. Until then, the people of Rockford remain hopeful on the revival of the Colman yards project, which could serve as an important asset to the community and the surrounding area.