SALEM, Va. (AP) _ A Salem brick company has suspended operations and furloughed most of its workers until further notice. C.W. McNeely, the president of Old Virginia Brick, announced the move in a letter to employees. The letter says decision comes after a seven-year decline in demand for its products. Old Virginia Brick produces bricks and pavers, including wood-molded lines that serve a niche market. McNeely says in the letter that the 125-year-old business is considering its options for the future, including filing for bankruptcy and finding new investors. When McNeely bought the company in 2006, it employed about 170 people at locations in Salem and Madison Heights. It’s unclear how many people the company still employs.
