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No. 6 year in review: Burke's unemployment numbers soar

By Sharon McBrayer | The News Herald

Published: December 29, 2008

Morganton - Furniture and textile companies have been closing down in Burke County and moving overseas since at least 2000.
In 2008, several companies closed citing competition from overseas as the main reason. Other companies in the county laid off employees as the economy took a nosedive.
Hickory Hill Furniture announced in April that it was closing and approximately 164 workers would lose their jobs. Many of the employees had worked at the location for 20 to 30 years.
Hickory Hill, which was located in Valdese, said it was closing the plant and moving production to its other facilities in Norwalk, Ohio, Fulton, Miss. and Livingston, Tenn.
The company first moved to Valdese in 1991, taking over the old Crestline Furniture plant.
In September, Burke Mills announced it was closing its doors and about 130 employees would be losing their jobs. The company had been in operation in Valdese for 60 years.
Company officials said Burke Mills was closing due to a drop in customers, which had mostly moved overseas and its ability to pay suppliers had dropped.
Several companies in the county announced layoffs in November, citing a weak economy and slowing industry. Baker Furniture in Hildebran laid off 117 employees; Valdese Weavers laid off 60 workers; Adden Furniture in Hildebran laid off 20 workers; and Cherokee Manufacturing in Morganton laid off 20 percent of its 20-person workforce.
In December, Shadowline in Morganton, which has produced ladies intimate apparel since 1946, announced it will close in early 2009.
The company employs 85 workers.