The news stunned, even shocked, most everyone last week when Intermet-Ironton Iron announced that the great iron city will lose its foundry next year.

Saturday, December 18, 1999

The news stunned, even shocked, most everyone last week when Intermet-Ironton Iron announced that the great iron city will lose its foundry next year.

Words like "crushing blow," and "tremendous impact" already have been used to describe the future effects on the local economy.

Yet, despite heartbreak among plant worker families, despite the city’s impending financial struggle, our community spirit has remained true, suffering no ill effect.

Saturday’s Christmas party for Ironton Iron and Cabletron employees serves as evidence of that fact.

In an age where cities, towns and counties across the country have given up in the wake of plant shutdowns or massive layoffs, Ironton residents are not going down without a fight.

Thousands of people – from next door neighbors and church deacons to the mayor and council members – gathered at Ironton High School to support and encourage the workers. Gifts were exchanged and hands were shook as each person, in his or her own way, showed the gathered workers’ families that they were willing to stand alongside them.

The true mettle of any community can be found in the strength and pride of its residents.

And, like an Army battalion, Ironton’s residents showed that strength and pride Saturday by completing their mission to spread cheer, hope and a little Christmas peace to our friends and neighbors – the workers of Cabletron and Ironton Iron.