The company is also a well-known manufacturer of wood-turning products. Pride Manufacturing officials were not available for comment Friday. However, Glenn Mastro of Mastro Communications based in New Jersey, did not deny in a telephone interview that Pride is considering the move. Mastro, who described himself as "point man" for Bob Burr, Sr. Pride's vice-president of sales and manufacturing who is currently on vacation, stated no determination has yet been . "Discussions are in the feasibility stage," Mastro said, adding, "It will be several months yet before a decision will be made."

At this point in time there is some question whether the discussions involve Pride's Burnham plant.

Meanwhile, on the homefront, Marc Scarano of the Piscataquis County Economic Development (PCEDC) and officials of the state's Community Development Economic Department which operates under the umbrella of the Eastern Maine Development Corp. have met with Pride officials about its possible relocation of its Guilford operations to Wisconsin.

Marc Scarano, executive director of PCEDC said Friday that the Burnham plant was not discussed. "That plant is not in our county," he explained. He did say, however, that "If Pride were to upgrade and make new investments at Guilford, possible public incentives would be available. We spoke with Pride executives about designating the Guilford site within the Governor's Pine Tree Zone which would offer tax incentives for business investments in certain geographic areas around the state," Scarano explained. Scarano said an application to have Pride's location at Guilford designated for the Pine Tree Zone is expected to be filed by the end of this year.

During January of this year, Pride Manufacturing announced it was acquiring the assets of Houlton International Corporation. Once located in Aroostook County, Houlton manufactured high-quality wooden components and at that time Pride stated it expected to immediately increase production at both its Burnham and Guilford facilities and consequently added 13 employees to the Burnham operation and 10 to its staff in Guilford. The Houlton International deal included the acquisition of the company's business lists and equipment. The Houlton factory closed and all business operations were moved to Guilford.

At that time Bob Burr Sr., Pride's vice-president of sales and marketing was quoted as stating, "We are excited to have Houlton furniture turnings, which are found in many nationally-recognized brands of furniture, join the Pride family of products. This acquisition, along with the new sawmill contracts, positively impact Pride's growth strategy in the wood turnings industry."

The question for many now is: "Does that strategy include moving the Guilford's wood-turning operation to Wisconsin?

This possibility worries Guilford Town Manager Tom Goulette. The loss of jobs and substantial tax revenues are on the line. Goulette said the town will do what it can noting that "Pride has always been an excellent corporation. We can not panic. We can be pro-active and not reactive," Goulette said.

In July of 1999 Pride officials announced that the company had purchased wood-turning equipment from Allen Rogers Limited of Laconia, N.H. with complementary products and markets. The equipment was brought to its Guilford manufacturing facility. At that time, Ray Beless, former director of human resources stated, "Let's end the rumors that Pride Manufacturing is moving out of Maine. This acquisition will go a long way to ensure out employees and the people of Maine that we are staying right here."

In October of 1999 the company relocated its logo imprinting business from Maine to Wisconsin. Pride officials said then the move to a central location would better serve the golf industry and provide additional space for the expansion of the woodturning operation in Guilford.

Founded in 1930, Pride Manufacturing was a 14-generation business success story. Fletcher Pride, and his son, Gene, patented and produced the first wooden cigar tip in Tampa, Fla. During the 1950s, Stanley Pride, Gene's son and his brother-law, Ariel Ellis, added golf tees and golf accessories to their wood products line.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."