End of an era: Last Snohomish lumber mill closing after 75 years

SNOHOMISH, Wash. (AP) — The last lumber mill in Snohomish is closing after almost 75 years due to low demand.

The Daily Herald of Everett reports that the Seattle-Snohomish Mill plans to close this summer, laying off 68 people. The family-owned company has been in business since 1941.

Mill President Megan McMurray says the sawmill will shut down when it runs through the last of its logs. The planning mill, which produces surfaced, finished lumber, will likely close by the end of July.

McMurray says the market is overloaded with lumber, and that it is difficult to compete with much larger companies around the Northwest and Canada.

The Seattle-Snohomish Mill shut down for eight months in 2012 after the recession and continued to struggle after re-opening.