Posted April 3, 200718 yr Parker Tobacco Company What was once a small tobacco redrying and threshing plant, soon became a large tobacco leaf purchasing, processing, marketing and commercial storage operation. In the 1970s, it expanded with operations in Brazil. It later became incorporated as an international company, exporting tobacco to much of Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. It's downfall began in the early 1990s with the development of financial issues, that was later compounded with the burley cooperative refused to participate with Parker Tobacco due to quality issues. It processed little to no tobacco in 1995 and 1996, and was forced into Chapter 11 in 1997. The facilities were auctioned one year later. Conveyor Warp back in time! This photograph brought to you by... I went apeshit with the macro... Laboratory This thing is just to awesome to not use! With the closure of the Parker Tobacco Company, over one-dozen warehouses now sit idle and decaying. Downtown business has pretty much dried up, evident from the many empty storefronts or the "Going out of business!" sales. Downtown streetscape renovations can only help out so much, but with little industry left, the city needs to focus its efforts into attracting a big tenant.
April 16, 200718 yr Parker Tobacco Company: Neglect has taken its toll Neglect has taken its toll at the Parker Tobacco Company What was once a small tobacco redrying and threshing plant, soon became a large tobacco leaf purchasing, processing, marketing and commercial storage operation. In the 1970s, it expanded with operations in Brazil. It later became incorporated as an international company, exporting tobacco to much of Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. It's downfall began in the early 1990s with the development of financial issues, that was later compounded with the burley cooperative refused to participate with Parker Tobacco due to quality issues. It processed little to no tobacco in 1995 and 1996, and was forced into Chapter 11 in 1997. The facilities were auctioned one year later. These photographs are from my third exhaustive trip. I hope you enjoy these new images! -- Timeless (rephotographed): I am much more pleased with this take. B.C. Work Old and reliable (rephotographed) Signode
May 23, 200718 yr Parker Tobacco Company at Abandoned You have no idea how pissed I am right now! This was a pristine location, untouched by vandals or by anyone since its closure in the late 1990s! And now, a good chunk of it is gone I just posted my galleries for this location not that long ago, so I am relieved that at least we were able to document it while it was still in that condition. -- Parker Tobacco Warehouse damaged in fire Wednesday, May 23, 2007 12:06 AM EDT Staff Writers First reported to Mason County 911 dispatch as, "flames visible from behind Standard Supply," later visible from downtown Maysville, a piece of Maysville history was severely damaged by fire Tuesday night, forcing the evacuation of residents on part of Center Street. Firefighters from throughout the area fought the blaze for almost two hours, but by 11 p.m. most of the flames had been extinguished although black smoke continued to pour from the buildings. Parker Tobacco Warehouse, a 200,000 square foot complex built by R.J. Reynolds in 1918, and once a central building in the burley tobacco industry was partially engulfed in flames as fire crept from the prize room at the rear of the complex, forward toward the main part of the building, witnesses said. Maysville Fire Department sent multiple units to the scene and immediately requested additional tanker trucks from Orangeburg, Washington, Dover, Lewisburg Fire Departments and a ladder truck from Ripley Fire Department. Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the scene. A command post was set up near WFTM radio for volunteers who came from multiple departments to assist in fighting the fire. Other volunteers were sent to a staging area on Center Street near Wald Manufacturing. Buckley Place and Lexington Avenue were closed during the fire that raged into the night. A boost in water pressure was attempted by the Maysville Utility company by increasing pressure at the water tower, officials said, and representatives from Kentucky Utilities were at the scene to cut power to the area. Representatives from Columbia Gas were also at the scene. Crowds of people gathered along Forest Avenue to watch the fire as flames shot into the sky, gray and black smoke rolling into the night. Cries of "it's spreading," and talk of an explosion spread through the crowds. Among the crowd were two former employees of Parker Tobacco Warehouse. Jerry Ormes and Greg Gallenstein watched as the flames consumed the rear portion of the building. "It's just like memories are being burned up," said Ormes, who worked as vice president of Parker Tobacco. Ormes was employed by Parker Tobacco Warehouse for 28 years. Ormes said the warehouse once employed as many as 500 people from the area, many of whom accepted jobs there to help finance Christmas presents or pay for education. All employees, Ormes said, were aware of fire hazards inside the building. "You had to be cautious about heating up the motors with the dust," he said, though the inside had a sprinkling system. Occasionally small fires started in the building, though Gallenstein remembered one fire in particular. That fire, in 1982, was "major," said Gallenstein, who worked at the warehouse for 18 years. The warehouse has stood vacant for a number of years, according to Maysville Mayor David Cartmell, who sold tobacco at the warehouse for about 15 years. Cartmell said with a warehouse fire there is always a possibility of it jumping to buildings in the area. In the vicinity of the warehouse was the E.B. Hillenmeyer building and the old Browning building.
May 23, 200718 yr Nice! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
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