Bailey closed down

Twenty-five years ago this week, the Bailey Corporation was preparing to close.

The Nov. 18, 1995, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about the plant that injection molded and painted plastic auto parts. The facility ceased operations four days later.

“I cried. I cried so much every time they took something away,” said Jama Hampshire, pointing at an empty spot where a 500-ton press used to be. “The semi loaded it out. It was part of my life. It was like taking part of my life away.”

Bailey had been winding down operations in preparation to close. Workers who had once worked 12-hour shifts were down to five or six hours a day as production wound down. The workforce of 240 employees had dipped to 110.

“I’ve made a lot of good friends here and to see them go out the door, people I’ve spent breaks with, had lunch with and called them at home and told all your problems to, and they’re gone now,” Hampshire said. “It’s like death. It’s like a second home, a family.”

Bailey had announced its impending closure in August, one year after the New Hampshire-based company had acquired the plant from Premix E.M.S. Expansion plans had been announced, but significant losses in late 1994 forced a change in plans that led to the closure.

“I’ve never been laid off,” said Julie Fisher, the plant’s longest-tenured employee. “I’ve never had to draw unemployment.

“When you had a future there it was pretty exciting. Now, I think it’s downright depressing.”