ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. -- Being around for more than 170 years, Harden Furniture has become a staple in McConnellsville, and a popular employer.

"Harden has been extremely important to our community for decades. I mean, it's a fifth generation company. They've employed over the time thousands of people, I'm sure. I think at one time they were 500 or 600 people strong. That's been dwindling over the last few years unfortunately," said Oneida County Legislator Michael Waterman.

The Rome Sentinel reports Ison Furniture Manufacturing owns the factory equipment and the Harden Furniture brand name. 

The Ison Furniture Manufacturing CEO confirmed to Spectrum News that as it stands, production will be moving to North Carolina.

"It has a huge impact as far as income lost, families. I think there was quite a few where there was husband and wife both working there, and in some cases their children even working there," Waterman said. "So that's devastating for those families."

"Anytime you lose jobs anywhere in the County, that's an impact, even in a region," said Rome Mayor Jackie Izzo.

As upsetting as job losses are, nearby Izzo said there is hope, suggesting jobs in the City.

Izzo said, "We have many opportunities available in advanced manufacturing. We probably have a hundred job openings in that field throughout many of our employers in Rome such as Worthington Industries, Owl Wire, Varflex, Bartel Machinery. That's just to name a few."

The work may be similar, but Oneida County Legislator Michael Waterman has concerns about the transition.

"Employees that were left there were probably moreso the longer term employees. They've probably been there 30, 35 years. They might be in their late 50s. Not that anyone is going to age-discriminate but I think it's more difficult for someone in their early 50's to go in and re-train into a higher tech manufacturing environment," said Waterman.

Harden Furniture previously employed 175 people.

The Ison Furniture Manufacturing CEO did not want to comment further.

Spectrum News also reached out to former CEO Greg Harden but did not hear back.