Newcomerstown [Business] Outlook Stable for 1969
by Sally Duffy

The Times Reporter: Wednesday, January 29, 1969 – NEWCOMERSTOWN – No radical changes in the economy of the village, either up or down, are expected in 1969, according to leaders of business and industry.

As local businessman B. K. Castle puts it, whatever happens to the nation also will happen to the village. According to Castle, the government is exerting control on the economy in an effort to control inflation in the country and unemployment will probably go up as a result. He foresees no radical change from the present level of business and industry here.

Banker R. D. Fletcher pointed out that unemployment in the village is practically non-existent – and should continue that way. According to Fletcher, settlement of the Vietnam War could affect employment in the village slightly. He, too, predicts “nothing startling” for the financial future this year.

Cecil Haver, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s Industrial Committee and Bill Ourant, CIC president, also are predicting a fairly stable year. Haver says the two organizations are constantly on the lookout for new industries.

Growth is expected in several local companies, particularly the smaller ones, but only one, Groovfold, is predicting any sizable expansion. It hopes to double its present size. According to Haver, General Tire, which purchased Seilon last year, will continue to be important to the village economy and plants such as C. and S. Soap Company, Jackson Tool, Herco, and Kurz-Kasch will grow.

Weatherseal is expected to have its new operation going by March, and that changeover from the manufacture of kitchen cabinets to storm doors should increase productivity.

Frank Sherry, manager of General Tire here, says emphasis for this year will be placed on making more efficient use of present machinery and in securing new business.

According to Sherry, there are no plans for expansion in 1969 and long-range growth plans have not yet been formulated. Two or three new products will be introduced by the company during the year, including a floor runner to be placed over carpet.

The past year has not been particularly kind to Main Street, where two grocery stores, A&P and Smith’s Sanitary Market, closed their doors. There are now a half-dozen empty store fronts along the street, with very little prospect of filling them this year.

There are signs of progress, though. Stores and businesses which are in operation are for the most part either in new or newly remodeled buildings.

The Baltimore moved into its new store early last year, Scott’s Five and Ten is in a new building, Lawler’s Drug Store recently remodeled and the Reeves Banking and Trust Company branch is in the process of opening a new drive-in window where a private residence and an empty business place had stood.

The new Silco Store, which opened last summer, also is an improvement over the vacant lot which had stood at the corner of River and Main Streets. According to store manager Mrs. C. H. Hooker, owners of the Silco chain are well satisfied with the community and the business they are doing.

In the offing for 1969 is Haver Electric’s relocation from their present store on River Street to a new building across the street. The 8000 square foot building now under construction is expected to be completed late this summer.

Haver’s has been in existence about 40 years and moved to the present building in 1940. They expect to add a new line of major appliances and to expand wholesale sales of plumbing, heating, and electrical supplies. The old store will be torn down to provide parking space for the Baptist Church.

All in all, the outlook for Newcomerstown is “continued slow growth” during 1969. Most area business and industry leader believe this will be the trend until completion of the new highways when perhaps the village can expect to grow faster than ever before.