What does the abandoned mill represent in the novel, The Last Romantics?

The large and prominent abandoned mill in Bexley represents the poor, blue-collar nature of Bexley in the 1980's. This feature distinguishes Bexley from Connecticut's many wealthy towns, in the 21st century, that are lived in by wealthy commuters to New York City, such as Fiona's future home in Croton-on-Hudson.