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No Offers on the Table for Luke Paper Mill Site

July 16th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Any hopes of seeing the former Luke Paper Mill being utilized for significant economic development opportunities are apparently dead at this point- with the mill’s owner, the Verso Corporation, confirming that no offers are in the table.  Indications are that the equipment and other assets are being sold off to third parties for alterative uses- and the plant site itself likely will have no viable use. The historic mill, which first opened in 1888,  was closed in May of last year by Verso, who took ownership in 2015. While a company spokesman said that Verso remains hopeful the site one day will serve the local business community and residents in some capacity- that no longer seems like a realistic option. State Senator George Edwards…

4 Responses to “No Offers on the Table for Luke Paper Mill Site”

  1. July 16, 2020 at 6:21 am, mac said:

    Audio link not working so I don’t know what Edwards is saying but everyone knew from the day of the closure that no one would reopen the plant. All of that happy talk was just that talk.
    What about the black liquor polluting the river?

    Reply

    • July 16, 2020 at 7:12 am, Jay said:

      My father worked there for 41 years in the mill’s heyday when it was Westvaco. I drove past the mill recently. It already looks like it’s starting to deteriorate. It’s a sad situation.

      Reply

  2. July 16, 2020 at 7:23 am, Brian said:

    They were able to sell three other paper mills since this one closed the huge difference was the state’s they were in wanted them to be open

    Reply

    • July 16, 2020 at 9:06 am, Jay said:

      Paper is a dying industry. I’m guessing in 10 years coal will be all but gone and in 20 years other fossil fuels will be in very steep decline. Nothing has ever stopped innovation and progress. It’s interesting when you see old movies that have phone booths. Gone forever.

      Reply

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