Toothpick factory closing its doors (88 Jobs Lost)

WMTW (Portland, ME) ^ | Saturday, February 1, 2003 | Associtated Press

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

STRONG (AP) -- The factory that made Strong the toothpick capital of the world is shutting its doors.

The Forster Inc. plant will close down on June 1, putting 88 people out of work. Jarden Corporation, which is buying Forster from the bankrupt Diamond Brands firm, says the closure of the plant was a business decision, and that the Forster plant in Wilton will remain open.

Still, employees were shocked when given the news Friday morning.

Twenty-four-year employee Dena Darnell said Jarden officials led workers to believe that the plant would remain open. She said by closing the plant, Jarden has "kicked us in the teeth."

Forster Inc. was founded in 1887 by Charles Forster, who hit upon the idea of manufacturing disposable wooden toothpicks to replace ones made of ivory, quill, gold or silver. Jarden Corporation is based in Rye, New York.

[Willie Green]

ping

[billorites]

The State of Maine is full of towns with wonderful names.

Strong and Unity are two of my favorites.

[Fiddlstix]

Forster Inc. was founded in 1887 by Charles Forster, who hit upon the idea of manufacturing disposable wooden toothpicks to replace ones made of ivory, quill, gold or silver.

That's the great thing about FR. Great posts.
I never knew who "invented" the wooden toothpick. FR is better than going to college

[Grut]

Thank God there's still tourism to support Maine's economy! Now, all we need is a federal program to subsidize unemployed workers in other states so they can come to Maine as tourists....

[Steven W.]

why am I not surprised to see this post on this day? sick and pathetic, not even an American shuttle disaster can keep dedicated Bush-a-phobes from their "duty".

[Willie Green]

Why am I not surprised that you'd spin a national tragedy into an unwarranted personal attack on a totally unrelated issue?