The Fence Post

A-Mazing company beats us out at 173 years

This week, I had the privilege of talking to Al at Maze Nails. We were sourcing a new product for a government contract. My jaw dropped when he told me his company is 173 years old! And I thought Louis Page was old at 131 years. We’re a mere child! They were in their 42nd year when Louis Page started his company.

My commitment to American companies is unwavering, and I am dedicated to supporting them whenever possible. However, the reality is that the availability of made-in-USA products in our industry is dwindling. The recent acquisition of a major player in the wire mesh industry, leading to the cessation of in-country wire mesh production, was a sobering reminder of this fact.

Certain products are no longer manufactured in America. Hexagonal wire (aka chicken wire), apron fence, and hardware cloth are the three that come to mind. As we submit bids for government contracts in our industry, they always specify “American-made.” I am super proud of this! “I am proud to be an American” rolls off my tongue when I say this, and I automatically break into song!

I thank my lucky stars

To be living here today

'Cause the flag still stands for freedom

And they can't take that away

And I'm proud to be an American

Where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me

And I'd gladly stand up next to you

And defend Her still today

'Cause there ain't no doubt

I love this land

God Bless the U.S.A.

Buy American! Buy Louis Page! Buy Family-owned!

Call Terry. She’s waiting for your phone call. (Tap to Call)

Kind Regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (It adds up to over 131 years owned and run by our family. Think about it: Nobody stays around in business that long without really supporting customers so they want to come back!)

Don't beg for attention

Phoebe’s dog-mate in obedience class is a big ol' bloodhound named Bentley. His owner? A tiny, petite young woman with the softest voice you could imagine. Definitely not one of those cases where the dog and owner resemble each other!

Last week’s class was quite the spectacle. Bentley, bless his heart, kept letting out the most mournful bays you've ever heard. In class, all dogs are expected to keep quiet—no barking, baying, whining, or whimpering. But Bentley? Well, he clearly didn’t get that memo. Every now and then, he’d raise his voice to the heavens and let out a howl that rattled the walls.

His tiny owner would whisper to him, “Bentley, don’t beg for attention,” in the calmest tone. But Bentley had his own ideas, and her gentle request wasn’t cutting it.

Bentley’s persistence had me thinking about how some things just demand attention, whether we want them to or not. And that’s a bit like how good fencing works. Whether it’s securing a rambunctious bloodhound or protecting your property, fencing speaks volumes without making a sound—strong, steady, and reliable.

At Louis E. Page, Inc., we know that quality fencing does its job without needing the fanfare. It’s there when you need it, standing tall, just like our products that are built to last, even when life gets a little noisy.

So, whether you're trying to keep in your own version of a “Bentley” or just want peace of mind, we’ve got you covered.

Call Terry at 978-486-3116 to get your fence quote today. T2C

All my best regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (So 131 years ago our family ancestor Louis E. founded the company)

A French point of view

Bonjour! I’m in France—Toulouse, to be exact. I’m with my son, Daniel, Rachel, and three grandchildren for three weeks. We’re here just for the pleasure of being in southern France.

Rachel especially loves the Victor Hugo market, which has more than 40 meat sellers, many cheese sellers, seafood and duck sellers, and beautifully packaged foie gras. Yesterday, I saw sardine-wrapped olives.

But what stood out for me and the children was the chickens with their heads and feet still attached—not a sight I’ve ever seen in the US. These are great for making broth, as the feet have great collagen. We bought the sweetest strawberries I’ve ever tasted. Divine! Absolutely a taste of heaven.

The French go food shopping every day or every other day, which explains the small refrigerator and freezer. I could definitely enjoy this lifestyle. I love food, and getting up in the morning and anticipating going to the market, strolling around, and peering into the cases of beautifully displayed foods excites me.

Before retiring last night, I was already thinking of tonight’s dinner. I’m thinking seafood, but Daniel wants steak. The kids want pastries, of course.

Strolling down the boulevard—indeed, it is a boulevard—as wide as a car lane. Still, for pedestrians only. We were in the shade of mighty sycamore trees, and everyone we passed seemed to be enjoying the moment, not hurrying at all.

We made our way to a beautiful park with glorious flowers, a rose garden, beautiful statues, and an old woman bent over feeding the pigeons and rooster in abundance. The playground was alive with giggles and squeals of delight. I was soaking up every moment. We climbed through a circle of holly saplings and underneath the “mother” holly with low branches and children climbing and challenging one another.

I'm always looking for fences! I spied the wooden sand fencing we use for erosion in the States, but here, they used it to provide a safety boundary when you walk up the cobblestone path to the top of a small hill. It was a lovely use of this fencing. Its weathered appearance blended perfectly with the shrubs and flowers behind it. I’m thinking of ways to use it on my property. I like the fact that it’s only three feet tall and not obtrusive.

Take a look at our wooden fence offerings. You may find it’s the perfect thing for your garden.

Call Terry at 978-486-3116 (tap to call)for assistance!

Bonne Journee!

Warm regards

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (It adds up to over 131 years owned and run by our family. Think about it: Nobody stays around in business that long without really supporting customers so they want to come back!)

Purple Hearts and Evil Surgeons

Yesterday, I talked about my dad’s Purple Hearts and the shrapnel in his eye. Someone asked me to explain what happened with his eye, so here I go.

After the bomb exploded, leaving shrapnel in his leg and eye, they transferred Dad to a field hospital. They attended to his immediate needs and set him up in a large tent with numerous other injured soldiers. With Dad’s eye being affected, they had wrapped his head and face in gauze so that he couldn’t see.

Two young surgeons met with him and explained they needed to remove the injured eye. I think Dad was about 22: young, scared, and naive. He accepted this was his fate. Dad had tremendous faith in God and never showed fear or anxiety to us as kids, so I don’t really know how he was handling this.

The next morning, a young doctor was making his rounds. He came to my dad’s bed, picked up his chart hanging from the end of his bed, read the name, and said, “Billy Hoffman? The Billy Hoffman from Lincolnton, North Carolina?”

“Yes,” my dad answered.

The doctor introduced himself, and Dad immediately knew who he was: a classmate from his hometown. What a small world. The doctor sat on the edge of the bed and listened to

Dad’s story, including that surgery to remove his eye, was arranged for the next day. The doctor told Dad to hold on tight as he would discuss this with the surgeons.

Walking down the makeshift corridor, he overheard the surgeons discussing Dad’s case. They said this would be a great practice for them and would give them a great experience when returning to the States. Dad’s friend was appalled and confronted the surgeons. As the doctor learned more, he concluded that eye removal was unnecessary! Imagine! Deciding to remove someone’s eye for practice’s sake. It’s so unethical.

I mentioned yesterday that Dad’s eye was fine all the rest of the days of his life, and he never wore glasses. Dad didn’t do much reading in his late 80s, so who knows if he would have needed reading glasses. But he lived to 90 and enjoyed seeing the world around him with two eyes.

I hope you have fond memories of your dad and have tales to share with family and friends. There is nothing better than a good dad. Unfortunately, Dad died eleven days before I started working at Louis Page in 2011. He would have taken great delight in perusing the website and the catalog, dreaming of ways to use our fencing products. I’m sure he would have found a way to incorporate a fence in his yard. I would have jumped at the chance to watch him dig those fence post holes.

It’s the end of April, and it's time to plan your fence. Many of our fence contractors install backyard fences this time of year to keep dogs and children safe. Our Yard Guard has been a favorite for many decades. I received a lovely email with pictures from a satisfied customer who installed this last Spring and is looking to expand her project. Why not join suit?

Warm regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (True! That’s 131 years owned and run by our family)

Five kitties and two mothers

I’ve never seen this happen before. Maybe you have. Let me know.

My sister Jeanne’s cat gave birth to five adorable kittens. When they were just two days old, Jeanne’s other female cat decided to get into the nesting box. At first, the birth mother stared at her, but then she gracefully stood up, stepped out of the box, and let the surrogate mother babysit.

This pattern continued for weeks. What a great idea. Sunshine gave Precious breaks throughout the day. It always seemed to coincide with the kittens having just been fed and sleeping soundly. Precious would go for a walk and a stretch in the sun’s warmth.

Jeanne thoroughly enjoyed this scenario because she had the cats and kittens contained in her mud room. You could accomplish this also with a catio. That’s one of my favorite things to see our customers build—a catio.

Are you unfamiliar with Catios? Think of an enclosed screen porch or patio just for your cats. They can be big or small, elaborate or simple—I’ve seen both.

Any type of hexagonal netting works well for a Catio. Check out our different types.

Terry loves cats, so call her and let her help you decide which wire works best. @ 978-486-3116? (Tap to Call)

Kind Regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (It adds up to over 131 years owned and run by our family. Think about it: Nobody stays around in business that long without really supporting customers so they want to come back!)