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It finally happened...
Topic Started: Jan 30 2008, 10:55 PM (350 Views)
Tom W.
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After 80 years in business, and I as a 23 year employee, Dixon Lumber Company in Eufaula, Alabama closed the doors "temporarily."

There is no indication from the owner as to when, if ever, it will re-open, but he said that he "is hoping it can be opened as soon as the lumber and housing market picks up."

I'll believe it when I see it. We were informed Monday at 2:30 p.m. that Tuesday, when we ran the last log through the mill, that would be it until who knows when. Not much notice there, was it?

I've already started to look for employment, and now I have plenty of time.....
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legitlinda
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I'm sorry to hear that Tom. I hope you're able to find something quickly.
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Ali
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I'm awful sorry Tom, and I know words don't mean a thing at this moment. Just going to pray that you find another job soon.
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Culture Warrior
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Ali,Jan 30 2008
10:23 PM
I'm awful sorry Tom, and I know words don't mean a thing at this moment. Just going to pray that you find another job soon.

Best of luck to you, Tom and hoping that you find work soon.

When things are getting down on you, take a look behind you....those two pairs of footsteps in the sand, may have become one pair - as HE helps carry you thru these difficult times.
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Toothless Dawg
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Best of luck in your search for employment Tom. Its always sad when a long time business closes its doors, no matter what the reason. Fredericksburg VA was home to Fredericksburg Hardware for many years dating back to 1955. The oldest part of their building was a wall dating back to 1846. Finally due to stores such as Lowes and Home Depot, Fredericksburg Hardware had to close its doors in 2004. It was the kind of store that you could ask for a widget whammer, and the salesman would scratch his head and tell you to wait right here. He would go up in the attic and return in a few minutes with a widget whammer they had stored on some dusty shelf for many years. You don't get that type of service from Lowes or Home Depot. Its sad ... and I"m sure that your lumber company gave that service and had many loyal customers.
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Almtnman
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Tom, I hope that you will be able to find another place to work soon. If you have a different work specialty, you might want to try that until you find something that you do regular. During my years of employment, I would get laid off quite often, once for a 2 year stretch. I had drove an 18 wheeler flatbed back in my younger days and always was able to get back to work driving the next day after a lay off to fill in between those layoffs. I was thankful that I had the driving experience and knew how to load and tie down heavy stuff as it helped me through the hard times.

Now since I'm retired, my only job is being a purse watcher when the other half is at Wally-World.
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nuzzlebunny
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Sorry to hear this. I have been seeking gainful employment since I got laid off as well. I'm hanging on through savings and less than decent paying job at the moment.
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Tom W.
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Well, I believe that God knows what He's doing and He will provide, but I still shouldn't sit on my duff and wait for a phone call or letter, either. My wife's shoulder replacement surgery is set for 3 March, and if the health insurance runs out, medicare will take over as her primary. I looked on the 'puter last night to see how I could sign her up for Medicaid, but to no avail. I don't think the website wanted people to know how to apply!
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Almtnman
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Tom, you will find more information by going to your local social security office than anywhere else. When I signed up for my SS, I found out things from them that no-one or any other place had ever told me before. I was very happy with the results I obtained by going directly to them.
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nuzzlebunny
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Tom W.,Feb 1 2008
01:30 PM
Well, I believe that God knows what He's doing and He will provide, but I still shouldn't sit on my duff and wait for a phone call or letter, either. My wife's shoulder replacement surgery is set for 3 March, and if the health insurance runs out, medicare will take over as her primary. I looked on the 'puter last night to see how I could sign her up for Medicaid, but to no avail. I don't think the website wanted people to know how to apply!

Did you try this?...

http://www.medicaid.alabama.gov/apply/index_apply.aspx?tab=3

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Tom W.
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Thanks for the Link! You folks are great!

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nuzzlebunny
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Tom W.,Feb 1 2008
07:47 PM
Thanks for the Link! You folks are great!

you are welcome. I hope it is of some use for you.
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Condor
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Tom W.,Jan 30 2008
09:55 PM
After 80 years in business, and I as a 23 year employee, Dixon Lumber Company in Eufaula, Alabama closed the doors "temporarily."

There is no indication from the owner as to when, if ever, it will re-open, but he said that he "is hoping it can be opened as soon as the lumber and housing market picks up."

I'll believe it when I see it. We were informed Monday at 2:30 p.m. that Tuesday, when we ran the last log through the mill, that would be it until who knows when. Not much notice there, was it?

I've already started to look for employment, and now I have plenty of time.....

My Dad worked in saw mills all of his life - right up til he could no longer work. My brother still works in a mill. They were both saw filers. I worked cleaning under the mill and then on the green chain until I figured out that it was safer to enlist in the military and go to Vietnam after getting my leg crushed by a 500 board foot log. If you want to know if a sawmill is making a profit, look at the owners house and cars, then take a look at the timber buyers and lumber salesman's house and cars.

My Dad tried to get me to stay in the mill, but after seeing him working himself to death for barely enough to feed the family on and the mill commissary taking that, I was pretty sure there was a better way.

Count your lucky stars that they closed down and dumped you before you got too old to leave. Go to the local community college and learn to do something that will treat you a lot better than a sawmill. A turkey or ham for Christmas and a friendly "Howdy!" just isn't worth wasting your life for.

In the mill where my brother works now, he is pretty much the only American employee. Having that meager living has prevented him from moving on and kept him poor enough that he couldn't.

If you want to know whether your mill owner is screwing you, just go to Lowe's and buy a few linear feet of lumber!
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Condor
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I just got off the phone with my brother. Dixon's is the last mill my Dad worked in. He collapsed in the filing room in 1971 and they put him into a truck and took him home! They didn't seek medical attention for him, they didn't call an ambulance, they didn't take him to the emergency room, they took him home and dumped him!

I hope they went broke, but I know they didn't. They probably finally wrung enough money out of the sweat of their workers that they could retire in opulence. You are better off if they never open their doors again. You need to find a better answer to "How to earn a living?" than a sawmill. You don't need to spend your life making someone else rich!
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