Battered by recession, Derby lumber company closes

For more than a century, it survived a host of calamities, both natural and manmade -- but now a local institution is closing its doors for good.

[Steve]

What great losses. Stores like this it was worth paying the extra dollar or two; when you went back with a question you would see the same people and they knew what projects you were working on. Everything is getting like the airlines and nobody likes that, yet no one wants to pay for service.

[Business Owner]

In spite of the propaganda being spewed by Obama, there is simply no help available to businesses like this. I have given up looking for the help because everyone I talk to says that there isn't any (unless of course you employ thousands of United Auto Workers members who can be counted on to vote exclusively for the Democrats).

If you are looking for help today, you better be able to deliver some political benefits to the Democrats or they will treat you like yesterdays dirty underwear.

[Trisha]

This is so sad. Housatonic Lumber was great to work with. When I had my house addition done, my contractor took the plans to them and they figured out the materials and ordered everything. They were exact to the last nail. Also, I had some custom work done, and they were great. I had a person to speak to who knew me and it made a stressful time a little easier. You are not going to see that level of service and expertise from Home Depot or Lowe's.

[Trisha]

Hey business owner-you are dead wrong. Obama and the Democrats are not the reason for the failing economy. It started with the greedy executives who gouged millions in salary, perks and bonuses and would kick the people who did the real work to the curb. How much are you paying for gas these day? OH poor Exxon needs to make a few billion dollars this quarter in profits. Those profits are coming out our your pocket and mine. GREED caused this mess. Plain GREED!

[ct dem]

thanks obama....

[Jim Maguire]

100 years in business ,what a shame ,quality company ,competent and knowledgeable employees from the top down.A good company to do business with .Will be missed in the community .

[Joel Gonzalez]

Is West End Lumber next?

[Business owner]

Trisha wrote:

Hey business owner-you are dead wrong. Obama and the Democrats are not the reason for the failing economy. It started with the greedy executives who gouged millions in salary, perks and bonuses and would kick the people who did the real work to the curb. How much are you paying for gas these day? OH poor Exxon needs to make a few billion dollars this quarter in profits. Those profits are coming out our your pocket and mine. GREED caused this mess. Plain GREED!

Actually I am paying a lot more for gas and heating oil now then when Obama took office. Looks like he doesn't have the ability to turn the world economy on it's ear with his magic wand like he promised all the lemmings who voted for him.

Greed? What do you call the UAW contracts which call for layed-off workers to be paid 95% of their salary and benefits (by the companies)for TWO years for doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (they are not even required to attempt to find new work)? I don't suppose you think this has anything to do with the destruction of this once major engine of our economy. Is this the new American dream? Is this how it is now supposed to work? Get somebody to pay you for doing nothing? Do we have any hope of competing with the Chinese with this attitude?

Now we have a president who thinks that a centrally managed economy controlled by the politicians (like Chris 'sweetheart mortgage" Dodd) is the answer. Know anybody in Cuba or Venezuela or North Korea (other than those in the party elite)? Asked them the last time they had a decent meal?

Looks like the 2010 election will be as important to this country as the Battle of Yorktown. Will we become "Animal Farm" or will we turn back the slide into the welfare society before the Ponzi scheme Obama is using to try to fund it collapses?

[WHEEL]

Home Depot & Lowe's Have still got alot to learn they will never be considered a land mark nor I doubt do they care, but these Mom & Pop buseniss knew how to take car of their customers, Everyone had a name.
If the OLD SCHOOL propriters didn't have what you needed they would bend over backward to see to it that you got it! and those were the days when people were Proud to carry products MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA !

[Mauna loa]

Memo to business owner: I can't believe you live in CT, or even own a business up there. The avg sycophant acorn lover up there doesn't know what a republican is; the entire New England area is all about taxes, and the killing of the middle class.

You are the only one that has it right.

"In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to another".

[Stop the madness]

Trisha wrote:

Hey business owner-you are dead wrong. Obama and the Democrats are not the reason for the failing economy. It started with the greedy executives who gouged millions in salary, perks and bonuses and would kick the people who did the real work to the curb. How much are you paying for gas these day? OH poor Exxon needs to make a few billion dollars this quarter in profits. Those profits are coming out our your pocket and mine. GREED caused this mess. Plain GREED!

Obama may not have all the answers but he certainly didn't cause this economic downturn. Greed certainly was the main instigator and one factor in the closing of this business is cheap imports from China. It is time to cut down on this.

[Anonymous]

Definitely - greed. What else would you call it when Housatonic accepted pre-payments on orders that they never placed! I am sorry to see such a company go but in the end greed of the company's business owners won out over loyalty to their own customers.

[THE TRUTH]

I tried to do business with them a few times however the counter people were as useless as t*ts on a bull. Completely clueless and appeared they were being disturbed. So the effort they put in the business finally caught up to them. Good Ridance.

[tman]

could the crooks who ran stevenson lumber into the ground be intersted in buying them ?

[What a shame]

It's a shame. Part of the problem is there are dam few new homes being built. Not Obama fault but also would think the Republicans would back Home Depot over a small business anyway. The real problem is no one can afford the price of competing with large chains like Home depot and afford to pay the high costs of doing business in CT. No one is looking out for the little guy anymore, we just pass more laws and higher taxes that will drive everyone out. Its a shame and dam short sighted.

[Chuck]

Good job city of derby...Get home Depot nad lows to come in and pay more taxes but kill the little guys who supported the city for 100s of years...It will all come back to bite you inthe ass

[Up-Chuck]

For example sake, how does a mom and pop company who pays 30K in taxes a year support a city, compared to a big box who pays to the tune of 600K per year??

Its tough to lose the small town stores, but it is a sign of the times.

[Get Real]

It's a shame they had to close. This economy is killing off a lot of businesses.

[Get Real]

Stop the madness wrote:

<quoted text>
Obama may not have all the answers but he certainly didn't cause this economic downturn. Greed certainly was the main instigator and one factor in the closing of this business is cheap imports from China. It is time to cut down on this.

Point in case is BUY AMERICAN, cheap Chinese products in any form are just that-cheap, and in some cases like food, dangerous to your health also. I really wasn't aware that this company sold chinese products, always though they were pretty reputable.

[Suckered]

I tried to give them as much business as possible building a house and made a big order from them about 10 days before they closed their doors and specificaly asked if the business was OK and the reply was they were doing OK and weren't going any where. They took our money and did not deliver. Is a reimbercement is to much to be expected? I guess it doesn't pay to help the local guy if he is not going to be honest. I guess now who ever I deal with they don't get paid until I get the goods.