![]() The company had many ups, and downs, in its turbulent 37-year history in Bucyrus.Īeroglastics was incorporated on Feb. The company broke ground for a new $1 million facility in the Bucyrus Airport Industrial Center on Dec. The new building was the first phase of a four-year expansion program which saw all aspects of the company's operation move to Issac Beal Road.Ĭompany president Baker said at the time that plans for the expansion began some years before when it became clear that projected sales would exceed the capacity of the Jones St. While still on Jones Street, the company suffered a series of fires in 1976, the first happening on Jan. Both were small fires, causing little damage. Fire ripped through the plant in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, causing more than $140,000 in damages and virtually destroying the plant. Flames were estimated as high as 100 feet. "The building was down and gutted within 45 minutes after we got there." "We couldn't have saved the building by the time we got there," then Bucyrus Fire Chief Gordon Grove said. The fire occurred just two weeks before an annual trade show in Chicago, but dealers loaned boats to exhibit to generate subsequent sales. In the meantime, the Jones Street plant was shut down and Baja executives decided to move quicker to build the new plant on Issac Beal Road. The building suffered another major fire on Nov. This fire hit a building just 20 feet south of the site of the first fire. Both fires were eventually ruled to be of suspicious origin.Īeroglastics also suffered another setback on Dec. 20, 1976, when an administrative judge of the National Labor Relations Board found the company engaged in unfair labor practices and was ordered to restore three employees with seniority and other rights and pay them their earnings.Īeroglastics appealed the ruling, kicking the case up to a three-member panel, who affirmed the ruling of judge Almira Abbot Stevenson on April 10, 1977.īaja completed its expansion plans in mid-1979, finishing a 12,000-foot square building. At the time, the company expanded its work force by 40. The company held yet another groundbreaking for a $1.5 million expansion on Jan. The expansion was expected to create 35 new jobs with more jobs coming as other phases of the expansion were completed.īy 1986, Baja reported sales of more than $20 million and 235 employees, that raised to $32 million and 360 over the next year. During peak periods, production hit between 55 and 60 boats per week coming out of the Bucyrus plant. In 1987, president Doug Smith announced that the company was opening a new manufacturing facility in Mabank, Texas.
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