Many in Carroll County were worried Monday Nov. 2 as word spread quickly through the community that the Black & Decker was being merged with Stanley Works to create Stanley Black & Decker. (See related story to the right.)

The tool manufacturer, whose headquarters is located in Towson, has employed generations of workers at the Hampstead plant and in other facilities throughout Maryland — including various members of two generations of my own family.

Black & Decker has always had a strong presence in Carroll County — and in Maryland — by way of the fact that it was founded by two industrial engineers, S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker, with a $1,200 loan and $600 obtained from the sale of Black's second-hand car, in September 1910, on Calvert Street, in Baltimore.

One of the earliest references in Carroll County newspapers to the manufacturing giant occurred in the July 25, 1924, issue of the defunct Westminster American Sentinel newspaper:

"Carroll County has a number of incorporated cities surrounding Westminster. These cities furnish labor for several nationally known industries such as the Black & Decker Co., Blue Ridge Rubber Co., Lehigh Portland Cement Co. and the Lincoln Manufacturing Co. ..."

Black & Decker has always been a good corporate neighbor, employer and economic engine in the community.

On Nov. 8, 1973, the old Carroll Record newspaper reported:

"A $1,250,000 Black and Decker expansion tops those building permits granted in Westminster since October 24. ... (permits included one for) Black & Decker for a steel and masonry addition to an existing building and repair to an existing roof..."

That was a lot of money in 1973.

Word on the street suggests most of the employees currently working at the Hampstead plant will keep their jobs.

Let's hope. However, an account published in the Towson Times reveals that the jobs for many of the 250 people who work at the corporate headquarters in Towson, "are likely to the eliminated," according to Black & Decker's Roger Young, vice president of media relations.

Having a small part of a prestigious global manufacturer has always been the source of pride for Carroll County.

For those of us who have grown exhausted with the terms, "hope," "change" and "progress," we certainly hold onto the wish that happy talk does not mean the loss of too many jobs for our friends and neighbors.

Nonetheless, we worry about any job losses in the region, especially in these economic times.

If history is any guide, such losses invariably hurt more than our pride. It means a loss of spinoff employment, tax base, charitable giving and -- in the case of those who have to move to keep their job — a brain drain in the community.

When he is not in the shop working with Black & Decker tools, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at kevindayhoff@gmail.com or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net.

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