1984: Farmall, then Caterpillar fall

Dec. 5, 1984: Although the news did not come as a complete surprise, employees at the International Harvester Farmall plant in Rock Island were still disappointed to hear the plan would close. Officials with the company were scheduled to meet with employees to reveal their plans for the 1,650 workers who would be unemployed, but Don Keding of rural Long Grove was one of many affected who said it would be tough to find a new job. “It’s going to be damn tough to find something that will even come close to giving workers the fringe benefits and high salaries that major manufacturing has provided in this area.”