Embattled Easton foundry to close doors
By Vicki-Ann Downing, Enterprise staff writer
EASTON — Belcher Corp., the oldest continually operating malleable iron foundry in the nation, will close on July 1, a victim of rising energy costs and its own inability to bring its aging plant into compliance with state pollution control regulations.
“It is not profitable to be in business in Massachusetts,” said Joe Dynoff, chief financial officer for Belcher, in a telephone interview on Wednesday. Dynoff said the closing will mean the loss of jobs for 67 union employees.
Residents of the Furnace Village section of town, who have complained for years about soot, noise and odor from the foundry, received news of its planned closing in letters signed by Dynoff and hand-delivered to mailboxes on Wednesday.
“The giant has toppled,” said George Allen of 59 South St., a founder of the citizens group “Foundry Watch” that formed in 2004 to bring public attention to the neighborhood complaints.
“I've got mixed emotions. There are jobs being lost over there,” Allen said. “But maybe we can finally live free at last.”
In addition to the loss of jobs, the plant closing will mean the loss of $30,056 in annual tax revenue to the town. Assessor Anne M. Carney said the company's plant and 12 acres at 558 Foundry St. are valued for tax purposes at $2.7 million.
Dynoff said he is not certain what will happen to the facility after July 1.
“I assume it will probably be sold,” Dynoff said.
Belcher's decision to end its Easton operation and focus instead on its sister foundries, located in Texas, Alabama, New York, Connecticut, Ohio and Washington, became official Tuesday in a meeting with state Department of Environmental Protection officials in Lakeville.
Since September 2004, Belcher had been operating under a consent order from the DEP. The order limited the company's hours of operation, required it to pay for neighborhood environmental testing and new pollution control equipment, and imposed fines if deadlines were not met.
Only a year ago, Belcher completed installation of a $500,000 advanced oxidation system that had been successful in alleviating pollution at other foundries.
More work on other pollution controls was required, but at a meeting last month, Belcher indicated there were questions about whether it would continue its business in Massachusetts, said Gary Moran, DEP regional director, and David Johnston, deputy regional administrator.
On Tuesday, “they let us know they weren't going to be installing air pollution control measures,” said Johnston.
Dynoff said utility costs in the Northeast, particularly for electricity and natural gas, also affected the company's decision to close.
A foundry has operated on the Belcher site since 1837 and in its early years manufactured carriage trimmings, whaling spears, cannon parts and fireplace tongs under various owners.
According to the company history, between 1980 and 2004, Belcher's production grew substantially. In 1980, its production capacity was 2,800 tons; by 2004, it had increased to 10,000, all in the midst of an established residential neighborhood that is also a historic district.
Before the state consent order, Belcher operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employed 138 people and was a major supplier of automotive parts to Ford and General Motors.
Vicki-Ann Downing can be reached at vdowning@enterprisenews.com.
Copyright: The Enterprise