Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1517428
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 M A R C H 1 8 , 2 0 2 4 We'll be there. More than 40 years ago, we were there as Wilbur's of Maine laid their foundation in Freeport. Their search for a community-focused bank, one in harmony with their needs and dreams, led them to Bath Savings. Today, Wilbur's is still thriving in Freeport and beyond, and we are proud to remain their financial partner. Our dedication to family-owned businesses assures we'll always be there to celebrate all of their sweet successes. 1-800-447-4559 | bathsavings.bank MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Andy Wilbur and Kristin Frazier Andy Wilbur and Kristin Frazier Owners of Wilbur's of Maine Owners of Wilbur's of Maine Maine's business mix in 1994 ranged from defense industry to 'funky secondhand shops' B y P e t e r V a n A l l e n L ooking back at the first issue of Mainebiz (then known simply as BIZ), the roundup of state news included items from companies that have shown their staying power. Here are some highlights from 1994: Bath Iron Works was awarded a $10 million Navy contract to conduct engineering and design work on the Aegis guided-missile destroyer — work that continues to this day. Bath Iron Works is part of General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE: GD). Wright Express, then a South Portland-based provider of gas credit cards, said it planned to create 44 new jobs. Today, WEX (NYSE: WEX) is headquartered on Portland's East End and has 7,200 employees worldwide and a market capi- talization of $9.47 billion. Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick reported that it received an order to build 25 engines for fighter jets. Pratt & Whitney still has an active manufac- turing site in North Berwick. On the flip side, the economy was struggling in the early 1990s. BIZ reported that Wholesale Depot closed all nine of its New England stores, including locations in Auburn, Augusta and Bangor — a total loss of 150 jobs. In Waterville, Harris Baking Co. shut down operations, putting 60 people out of work. SP ONSORED BY FUN FACT: The first issue of BIZ reported that 12 businesses had relocated operations to Portland. The businesses included "an eclectic mix of funky secondhand shops, coffee houses and restaurants."