A look back: Oct. 25, 1983

The Fernbrook textile plant in Tamaqua has closed its doors, leaving 115 workers unemployed.

The shop is owned by Frank Depaulo and Peter Barter. The two have nine plants in the Schuylkill, Carbon and Northampton County areas.

Barter said the reason for the closing was a huge loss in revenues in the past several months. He said in the past three months alone the plant has suffered a loss of over $100,000 because workers were not making their piece rates.

Women who worked there have a different view to that of Barter, saying he often threatened to close the plant if piece rate cuts were not accepted by the employees.