And so we did !!!

 

And so ends an era of steel production in the valley.

I rode past the mill this morning and saw the locked gates.  My last day was

Saturday of last week but a few were scheduled for this week.  Obviously

the new company pulled the plug a little earlier than expected.  This marks the

first time in forty five years that I don't have a job of some sorts.  I should

be content to just lull away the hours drifting around on the lake and enjoying

retirement, but the nagging question of affordable health care keeps me from

completely relaxing.  Too old to work and too young for benefits...seems like I

always fall through a crack somewhere.   I refuse to worry too much though,

the Union is negotiating a health plan and if it is feasible I'll draw my pension

and commence drifting.  If not there are back to school options that I qualify for

and even though I'm sure my brain is at it's saturation point, I believe I can

muscle in enough knowledge to get me closer to retirement age.   After all,

I've paid two colleges to teach my kids.. why not take them up on a free ride !

  Still it will be odd not going to the plant every day.  Thirty nine and a half years

is a long time.  We had some rough days in that mill  but I've always had a roof over

my head and food on the table.   I would have like to seen the plant live on,

not so much for me but for the younger employees and the young people of

the valley.  These jobs are becoming rare and not all of the young people are

capable of performing the high tech jobs the world today offers.   There is  no

disgrace is working with your hands regardless of what the techies would have

us believe.   I think if more people had to work jobs where your safety and the

success of the job hinged of working together and watching each others back

instead of the I,I,I me, me, me. world we live in, we would be a lot better off.

 

   *thump*   That was me jumping off of my soapbox.  

 

I managed to take a few photos my last day.  Poor dimly lit photos... but

photos just the same.   A sad ending to a once bustling business!

 

past worker wall of fame

Shipping floor empty

Delivery end work station

Galvanizing rig

 

coil reiceving floor empty