09/08/2026
I apologize for the long read but today is a very important anniversary. Six years ago today, a devastating wild fire came to rest at the parking lot of our old facility. This wild fire came to be known as the Almeda Fire. This tragic event burned 3,200 acres and with it 3000+ homes, businesses, parks and other structures. The fire was started in the morning at 11:07 by some careless individuals in a field in north Ashland. Pushed by high winds and dry conditions, it ripped through the greenway that lined the middle of Phoenix, Talent and South Medford along I-5. It left Thousands of people homeless and 3 people dead.
There was a point as I was evacuating, I thought to myself that this was the end of the sword making business for me, and what was I to do next. As the next few days progressed and the smoke cleared, remarkably, Castille Armory was still there. The blacktop of our parking lot was melted, several burned out car husks still warm in their parking spaces. Our windows were cracked, front door shrubs turned to ash and exterior building paint was blackened and peeling but everything else was fine.
I later learned that a brave battalion of firefighters set up a barricade in my parking lot to make a stand against the inferno. One firefighter died in the struggle.
For the next 3 years I looked out my office window and watched nature slowly cover up the scars as it does. I watched the burned foundations of my neighbors livelihood bulldozed and garnished with a real estate for sale sign.
I have always carried a heavy burden of survivors guilt as a result of that day; something that I eventually rationalized into empowerment: If there was one thing that the universe is making clear, is that I am doing what I am meant to be doing. Here is your sign.
Every year on this day I thank those heroes publicly for their sacrifices. Thank you.
In retrospect, this is why we persist. Through covid where we nearly went under, seasonal economic strife and materials shortages, we persist. This niche market is never going to make someone wealthy. The few niche manufacturers that still exist in this country, constantly must reinvent themselves to stay ahead of the wolves, as we do.
Please keep this in mind as we make changes for the future. The sea is perpetually storming for us. Everyday brings new challenges. Now, what makes this day even more profound...
Remarkably, today, 6 years later to the day, we own our current facility. We have be involved in a two year+ long refinance where everyday was potentially the last day Castille Armory had a home. We bought into our facility here at 150 trout way as a two year owner carry and had to add nearly a full year of extensions. I submitted more paperwork over these two years than I ever imagined possible. Two years of sleepless nights and long days split between the shop and the office. We were turned down abruptly twice after 8 months each of hard work due to a market that has no interest in small businesses. Finally, with the help of many the final documents arrived and the refinance was recorded. Every asset I own is in collateral but, against the odds, I do not fear. We have weathered the worst storms imaginable. So we persist.
Thank you all for your support over the years. We will keep doing what we do as long as all of you keep believing.
Much love.
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