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Murphy Plywood has been a fixture in the middle of Sutherlin for longer than most people remember.
Rising right alongside Central Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare, the plant dominated the western entrance to Sutherlin. Since it was the town's largest employer, residents didn't mind the manufacturing plant's presence right in the middle of town.
It was a reminder of the town's history and its connection to the timber industry.
It's stunning to realize that Murphy's building is gone, after burning to the ground Tuesday in dramatic fashion. A thick, tall column of black smoke could be seen for many miles away as huge flames steadily consumed the plant despite the efforts of fire departments to halt it.
At the top of everyone's minds now are the men and women who worked there. Fortunately the fire started small, giving the 65 employees on duty ample time to reach safety.
What was lost, at least temporarily, are some good-paying jobs that were supporting families.
The majority of Murphy's 290 employees didn't go to work today.
As many of them watched in shock as their workplace was destroyed, they wondered what their future would bring.
Early on, when the fire seemed controllable, John Murphy, one of the plant owners, told onlookers he hoped to get the employees back to work soon.
But then, he and others could only watch as the fire spread and grew, and it became apparent it was unstoppable.
Firefighters from Sutherlin, Roseburg, Douglas County Fire District No. 2, Oakland and Tri City helped out. They were able to keep the fire from spreading to any other buildings.
As the ashes cool, attention will turn to the future, and concern for those who worked at the plant that helped define Sutherlin.
It's hoped that Murphy Plywood will be able to rebuild, probably in a different form and perhaps even a different location, and again be a productive manufacturing facility, offering good pay and benefits to many Douglas County families.
Rising right alongside Central Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare, the plant dominated the western entrance to Sutherlin. Since it was the town's largest employer, residents didn't mind the manufacturing plant's presence right in the middle of town.
It was a reminder of the town's history and its connection to the timber industry.
It's stunning to realize that Murphy's building is gone, after burning to the ground Tuesday in dramatic fashion. A thick, tall column of black smoke could be seen for many miles away as huge flames steadily consumed the plant despite the efforts of fire departments to halt it.
At the top of everyone's minds now are the men and women who worked there. Fortunately the fire started small, giving the 65 employees on duty ample time to reach safety.
What was lost, at least temporarily, are some good-paying jobs that were supporting families.
The majority of Murphy's 290 employees didn't go to work today.
As many of them watched in shock as their workplace was destroyed, they wondered what their future would bring.
Early on, when the fire seemed controllable, John Murphy, one of the plant owners, told onlookers he hoped to get the employees back to work soon.
But then, he and others could only watch as the fire spread and grew, and it became apparent it was unstoppable.
Firefighters from Sutherlin, Roseburg, Douglas County Fire District No. 2, Oakland and Tri City helped out. They were able to keep the fire from spreading to any other buildings.
As the ashes cool, attention will turn to the future, and concern for those who worked at the plant that helped define Sutherlin.
It's hoped that Murphy Plywood will be able to rebuild, probably in a different form and perhaps even a different location, and again be a productive manufacturing facility, offering good pay and benefits to many Douglas County families.
