End of an era; ladder factory to be demolished soon

What was a premier employer in northern Tioga County, the former Gold Medal Valley Ladder factory, located on the corner of Rewey Avenue and Clinton Street in Newark Valley, is set to be demolished soon. After several years of exploring options and then working on funding for the project, the Village of Newark Valley secured a state grant to move forward. 

For the half-million dollar undertaking, Newark Valley Mayor Jim Tornatore commented, “We know this is a step in the right direction for our Village.” 

Tornatore described the empty building, which has sat vacant for 24 years, as a danger and visual depressant to the village. Not only is the property an eyesore, it has deteriorated significantly; a collapsing roof is just one of the many issues. 

Tornatore also explained that Newark Valley Fire Chief John Haney has cited concerns on numerous occasions regarding its threat to public safety, particularly as a fire hazard.

LCP Group of Vestal is the firm prepared to tear down the structure, which should begin in mid-February. However, before that phase of the demolition occurs, another subcontractor will soon be on site to handle the asbestos removal, which is slated to take three weeks.

The estimated completion date of the entire project is March 31.

For long-time Newark Valley residents, Ray Shaver and Sharon Weed, the demolition of the business they worked at for decades is bittersweet.

“Time marches on,” Shaver said, who worked at the factory from 1952 until 1993.  

It was Shaver and Weed, the last two employees, who boxed up items and memorabilia, and then turned out the lights in 1993. In 1987, the factory was bought out by R. D. Werner. Not long after, Werner shut down the operations entirely.

“There is so much history there,” Weed said, and further explained that at its peak during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the ladder factory employed nearly 100, and about 125 or more in the high demand seasons of spring and summer.

Part of the history evolves around the fact that generations of families worked at the ladder factory since its beginnings in 1922, and many, Weed said, also worked simultaneously on their family farms.

“They would milk in the morning, then go to work at the ladder factory, and then go home and milk again,” Shaver said.

Weed, a third generation ladder employee, started in 1963 and held a bookkeeper position as well as worked in traffic and production. She commented that the business was quite prosperous for multiple years and shipped its step and extension ladders all over the United States.

Shaver, who started on the production lines in 1952, first worked with wood ladders and then witnessed the transition to aluminum and fiberglass, and also helped design equipment and tools to make braces and other ladder parts. Shaver said he also drafted blueprints for as many as three building expansions.

Weed added that another Gold Medal venture, the production of building portable houses for construction sites, was short-lived, since the popularity of trailers gained momentum.     

Interestingly, prior to the ladder factory, the building once housed the manufacture of automated manure spreaders, invented by J.S. Kemp who brought it to Newark Valley in the early 1900’s. Kemp later expanded his company and then sold the design to International Harvester.

Another chapter unfolded at the end of World War I when a prospective airplane manufacturer shipped in wood, propellers and other airplane parts to the Newark Valley facility, but ultimately opted not to use the property.    

That company never built airplane parts there, but did leave behind a stockpile of materials, which included wood that was later used for the ladder business. 

Instead, Shaver chuckled, “Everybody in town got a wooden propeller.”

Finally, what happens with the property once demolition is complete is unclear. An idea of a solar park has been tossed around for a few years, although Tornatore explained that another party would have to be involved in that potential development. The worst-case scenario, Tornatore said, is that it sits idle.   

Once the demolition begins, Tornatore announced that there would be a change in traffic patterns. The village will make announcements, as the time gets closer.

For village updates, visit their website at villageofnewarkvalley.com, call (607) 642-8686 or find them on Facebook.

For history about the Gold Medal Ladder factory, the Town Historian’s office, located at 109 Whig St., has available photos and other items for the public to view, much of which was put together by Weed and Shaver. Office hours are on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m., or call (607) 642-5541 or (607) 642-8789 with questions.