The vacant mill in Somers that was destroyed by fire over the weekend was sold by the town in a tax sale two and a half weeks ago.
Investigators Monday said the fire was intentionally set.
They have made no arrests and are now offering a $2,500 reward for information about who is responsible.
"They're saying arson, but who? The question is who?" said Roger Rivest, a businessman who works across from the destroyed mill.
The property at 40 Maple Street was sold in a tax sale on May 17 to the New York company Venture Capitals LLC, according to town records.
The sale came after the owner, listed in town records as Maria Orosz, failed to pay $21,053.54 in current and back taxes, according to town records.
Despite the tax sale, Orosz can keep the property if she pays what she owes within six months, town officials said.
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The town also put the property up for a tax sale back in September 2010. Orosz was able to keep the property then after she paid $35,932.90 in March 2011, just before the six month post-tax sale deadline lapsed, according to town records.
"The timing of this is a little weird because it just sold in a tax sale recently so it will be interesting to see what the town does with all that," said Ralph Guisti.
Guisti is a businessman in Somers who tried to buy the property during the 2010 tax sale.
NBC Connecticut was unable to reach Orosz for comment.
The I.R.S. also filed a $194,000 federal tax lien on the property against Orosz in early May, town records showed.
People in the neighborhood around the mill say kids often hung out on the property.
"I don't know that that's what started it but certainly there's enough people I've seen over the years playing in there that that could be what happened," said Guisti.
The fire happened just five months after another suspicious fire destroyed the Somers Congregational Church. There have been no arrests in that case.
