Hoover plant stops production
G. Patrick Kelley
Rain and gray skies added to the somber mood Thursday as production ceased at the Hoover plant here -- in the same neighborhood where it began almost 100 years ago.
The rain couldn't obscure the tears on many faces, or hide the expressions of those who had worked their last shift. All it did was hasten steps to the parking lot as some left for the last time.
But first came hugs and poignant good-byes.
"Family" was a word used by many, and through it all ran a vein of relief.
"People were a little down about it," said John Forsythe. But they also were "kind of glad about it. We knew it was coming."
The tough part was leaving the people.
"After working with all these people for all these years, it's kind of like a family. You work here expecting to retire."
Thursday's production stop was expected, but made it no less difficult for the company's last employees.
Hoover has been a North Canton fixture since its founding in 1908 when H.W. "Boss" Hoover established his Electric Suction Sweeper Co. At its peak, the company employed more than 3,400 in Stark County, many of them at the plant here at Main and Maple streets. The Hoover name became synonymous worldwide with vacuum cleaners.
Maytag bought the company in 1989, and it later hit hard times. Maytag announced Hoover's sale to TTI Floor Care North America in 2006, and by April TTI said it would close the North Canton operation.
Some still working
John McIntyre Jr. said Thursday was "a little sad" and slow. "Just a lot of old memories, I guess." He and a partner are planning to open a fitness center where co-worker Duke Williams will work.
James Repace, president of Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1985, which represents hourly workers at Hoover, said the sole product coming out of the plant now is a commercial upright vacuum, he said. There will be some minor work done today, but it won't be production.
About 219 people were given the option to stop working Thursday. Of those, about 50 will be kept at the plant to do cleaning and inventory work, he said.
When the dust has settled, there will be between 120 and 150 jobs at a Hoover distribution center in Jackson Township and a bag plant in Canton -- from a company that employed more than 2,000 in Stark County less than a decade ago.
"It's devastating to see a company that was a Fortune 500 company -- No. 1 in its industry" in Hoover's condition, Repace said.
Like many current and past employees, Replace believes that Maytag hurt Hoover through mismanagement. Yet he acknowledges that it probably would be "too expensive and too difficult to bring it back."
"It's sad. It's a very somber situation here. When you know you're walking out the door for the last time -- it hurts."
Greg Kline carried a small artificial Christmas tree out of the plant. "It was kind of depressing," he said of the last day. "It was real quiet. It's real empty in there."
He'll probably go back to school. "I can finally move on with my life instead of worrying day to day."
Gail Clark and Helen Hardy built a friendship during their 11 years in the plant. They passed through the gate for the last time together.
"It's been a good ride," Clark said.
"You'll never find something this good around here," Hardy said of the job.
"We'll miss this place."
Workers churned out another 411 machines on Thursday. "Just like every day," said Steve Erichsen, a repairman with 11 1/2 years at the company.
His father, Dave Erichsen, worked 40 years at Hoover before retiring. "It's sad to see," Steve Erichsen said. "My dad said he was glad he wasn't here to see it."
Although he's losing his job, Erichsen said he's fortunate. He's one of 800 workers who will be paid until June 2008 because of the labor contract negotiated three years ago.
He'll be looking for a job. "You just have to get back up and start over."
The day was "real quiet," said Frank Hurst, who has been with the company for 41 years.
"It was kind of sad," but "we're prepared for it now. It's not like it was a shock."
Curt Johnson has been with the company for 35 years. "It's pretty solemn," he said. "It's been very challenging over the last couple of months because we've lost a lot of good people."
They're supervisors, and they agreed on one thing about employees: "One of the things that has remained very constant – they've always remained on the up side."
Absenteeism wasn't a problem and "that says a lot for the character of the people," Johnson said.
That was echoed by Chris Guerreri, president of new owner TTI Floor Care North America.
"As we conclude production at the North Canton facility this week, I want to thank all of our employees and the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1985," Guerreri said.
"They have responded in a very professional manner over the past several months since we announced the phased shutdown of the facility."
Repository staff writer Edd Pritchard contributed to this story.