Oregon’s Hampton Lumber Acquires Banks Lumber Mill

Hampton Lumber has acquired the assets of the Banks Lumber Mill, just months after the Washington County mill had laid off its employees and ceased operations. Portland-based Hampton plans to upgrade the mill “to improve safety and productivity,” the company said in a news release.

Hampton said in the release it will keep the mill shut for about six months. The mill, which closed about two months ago, had up to 60 workers at the time, Mayor Pete Edison said. During the closure, Hampton “will hire some of the workers laid off by the previous owner to help with mill improvements and employ a number of local contractors for the more technical electrical and mechanical projects,” the news release says.

“The Banks mill is conveniently located 25 miles from Portland’s urban markets and transportation systems and has access to rail and a quality workforce in Washington County,” the news release says. “Most importantly, the mill is situated near several state and private forestlands, including lands managed by Hampton near the Wilson River.”

Terms of the deal were not included in a news release. Hampton also operates sawmills in Warrenton, Tillamook and Willamina. Representatives for Hampton and Banks Lumber Mill could not be reached for comment.

The Banks lumber mill had been in operation since 1961 producing green Doug fir narrow dimension lumber. Articles of incorporation filed in 1978 with the Secretary of State’s office listed Gordon Girard, Katherine Girard and Thomas Girard as company directors. George Girard, listed in various documents as the company’s current president, could not be reached Tuesday.

From Oregon Live: oregonlive.com.