Bob, did you ever get over to RN Johnson in Walpole NH? They operated out of a small old building like that. They were John Deere's oldest dealer in the world. That distinction ended around twenty years ago when representatives from John Deere arrived at the Walpole business and ended their 84-year-old relationship.
Because the sale of the machines represents half of R.N. Johnson's revenue, the company laid off six of its 20 employees, owner Alan Johnson said.
"Those were families that relied on us not only for their income but for their health care," Johnson said. "First layoff in our 84-year history. That's harder on me than losing John Deere."
John Deere employees removed its machines off the property on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"That field was full of John Deere equipment," said Johnson, motioning toward a field with one John Deere machine sitting in it Wednesday afternoon.
The employees who lost their jobs were in clerical and sales positions, Johnson said. None of the seven mechanics in the shop lost their jobs. The focus of R.N. Johnson's right now is to continue to service the tractors it has sold.
"We are going to stay in business. We are going to continue to service the many people who bought John Deere products over the years," Johnson said.
Alan Johnson is the third generation in his family to run the business, which was started by his grandfather Ralph Nathan "Jack" Johnson in 1929. He declined to take on the huge debt of putting up a huge new building that John Deere required.
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