20 Staff Let Go At Pendleton Woolen Mills

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Story Published: Jul 2, 2009 at 5:35 PM PST

By Kyle Trompeter

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PENDLETON - Now it hasn't been the best year for Pendleton. We've already seen the Fleetwood Plant close down. Lot's of people lost their jobs. Now, staples of the community are proving they are not recession proof. The newest victim is Pendleton Woolen Mills.

This week, 12 people lost their jobs. Eight were let go last week. Only 38 employees remain and some will take pay cuts.

“It's something that is detrimental to Pendleton and along with a lot of other cut backs that have taken place in the Pendleton area. We've definitely felt the recession,” said Pendleton Mayor Phillip Houk.

Action News talked with the company today. They didn't want to talk on camera. Clearly it is a tough day for a tight knit business.

“They've been part of the fabric of Pendleton. It’s been here since the early 1900's,” said Hamley’s Pat Beard.

“Woolen Mills has had a strong commitment to the Pendleton area. We bear their name and they bear our name,” said Houk.

Woolen Mills told me the cuts had to be made to stay in business. At Hamley's in downtown Pendleton, the store sells lots of Woolen Mill apparel like blankets and bags. They say even though it's a big blow right now, Woolen Mills is here to stay.

“They're not a fad item. They're substantial. They're made to last and I think that's going to be the saving grace,” said Beard.

“I also feel and have a lot of respect for Pendleton Woolen Mills for doing what they need to do in order to move forward so in the future, they'll come out of this much stronger,” said Houk.

Hopefully, stick around in Pendleton for another hundred years.

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