A West Virginia newspaper and the company's new website is reporting that Coastal Lumber has reopened as Eastern Hardwoods Inc.

What this means for the Weldon manufacturing plant is that it will retain ownership and maintain an office staff of four or five people but has no immediate plans to ramp up production, Bo Hammond, who is directing sales and marketing for the company, told rrspin.com this morning.

Hammond said manufacturing will initially be done at two plants in West Virginia and one in Pennsylvania. He said with the uncertainty in the industry there is no certainty the Weldon plant will begin manufacturing but the prospect will be evaluated.

The InterMountain of Elkins, West Virginia reported Friday that after closing in August, Coastal Lumber at Dailey has reopened as Eastern Hardwoods, Inc. Operations at the manufacturing facility began last Monday, company officials told the paper last Thursday.

The paper reports that a prepared statement from the company said Eastern Hardwoods will initially employ more than 100 people at manufacturing and administrative sites in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina.

The paper reported Eastern Hardwoods, Inc. is a primary lumber manufacturing facility with secondary processing capabilities providing raw material to the cabinetry, flooring, millwork, furniture, and hardwood distribution industries. The company buys standing timber and logs within the local and regional areas surrounding its operations.

A message on the company's website notes, “There is admittedly a lot of work to be done but we are fully engaged in doing it.”

The message says the management team assembled has more than 70 years experience in the hardwood business. “At the helm of that management team is Bob Conger, recently appointed president and director (of) Eastern Hardwoods.”

The website message notes Conger will be responsible for all operational aspects of Eastern Hardwoods while Amas Player will be directly responsible for production an procurement and Hammond will direct sales and marketing efforts for the company.

The website reports that the company owns manufacturing facilities in Dailey; Hopwood, Pennsylvania; Hacker Valley, West Virginia; Horseshoe Run, West Virginia; Gassaway, West Virginia; Frametown, West Virginia; Spartansburg, Pennsylvania; Weldon and Goldsboro.

According to documents filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State, Eastern Hardwoods Inc. was incorporated on September 27 and lists its principle office in Charlottesvile, Virginia.

Paul Bamatter is listed as president and CEO while Stan Edme is listed as secretary and treasurer. They maintain offices in New York.