OXFORD – Seven companies from three New England states have filed an involuntary petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Portland to force Oxford Homes Inc. into liquidation and recoup more than $300,000 in claims.

“Many of these creditors have had longstanding relationships (with Oxford Homes Inc.)” said the petitioners’ attorney, Matthew S. Goldfarb, of Goldfarb & Associates in Portland. “But there came a time when even the most loyal supporters decided individually, ‘We can’t go any further.'”

The petitioning creditors represent about 22 percent of the estimated $1.4 million in outstanding unsecured claims, Goldfarb said. It is unclear at this time how much in secured claims are outstanding.

Named in the filing against Oxford Homes as petitioning creditors are Brockway-Smith Co. of Andover, Mass., Chick Lumber Inc. of North Conway, N.H.; Huttig Building Supply of Hooksett, N.H.; North Pacific of Concord, N.H.; and the Maine companies of Waterville Window Co. in Waterville; Wood Structure Inc. in Biddeford and Record Lumber in Oxford.

Waterville Window Co. is owed the largest amount, $97,465, followed closely by Chick Lumber, which is owed $81,394, according to court documents. Record Lumber is owed $14,226.

At least one other company from a fourth state, Bean’s Homes of northern Vermont, and others are expected to add their names to the list of petitioning creditors in the near future.

The move against the Oxford company, which was recently sold to a Boston-based limited liability company, is being made to recover what at this time is $318,476,00 in unsecured claims, according to papers filed Tuesday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Portland. The petition was filed after meetings between Oxford Homes representatives and the creditors failed to come to a consensus, Goldfarb said.

“We had conversations,” he said, and creditors were offered a proposal and did not accept it, choosing rather to file the petition for involuntary Chapter 7 that, in part, will allow the creditors to review the transactions of Oxford Homes for the past 90 days and perhaps as far back as one year.

“It will allow us to really explore the nature of the business dealings with Oxford Homes for a period of time,” Goldfarb said.

Oxford Homes, which was summoned Wednesday, must respond to the petition by Sept. 27.

“The only real material question is, is it true or have they (Oxford Homes) been paying their debts as they mature” Goldfarb said. “It’s simply a matter of proof.”

Oxford Homes Inc., a manufactured home business on 16 acres next to Route 26 has been operating for 30 years. Earlier this month, it sold its assets and a limited amount of debt, including equipment leases, to Eco-Building Systems, a limited liability company based in Boston.

Former Oxford Homes President Peter Connell of Norway, who has since been hired as the new company president, said last week that the sale was made as a means to provide a new source of business that would provide vendors an opportunity to recoup some of their losses through new sales.

Attorney Peter Shrair of Springfield, Mass., who represents Eco-Building Systems, said the filing does not affect his clients.

Connell, who is being represented by attorney Steven Cope of Portland, declined comment Thursday, saying that since the case was being actively and presently litigated, it would not be appropriate to comment at this time.

Goldfarb said it is his understanding that creditors were receiving communications from Oxford Homes that essentially said, “‘Stick with me. Work with me. You won’t be disappointed.'”

The problem was that the company sold their assets and informed creditors by mail that the company would not be able to make any payments to its general creditors but hoped to generate “a small dividend” after liquidation of the “small residue” of assets not purchased by Eco-Building Systems, according to a letter sent by Oxford Homes announcing its sale in early August.

Goldfarb said the court proceeding will allow the creditors access to information about how creditors have been paid. “Was there an equitable, fair distribution to all creditors?” asked Goldfarb. They will be able to see the assets of the company and how they were distributed, what the company debts are, and any transaction that occurred, he said.

This is not the first time Oxford Homes has been involved in bankruptcy proceedings. In 1994, nearly 15 creditors, including the town of Oxford and Norway Savings Bank, filed against the company in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Portland.

Oxford Homes again owes the town of Oxford money, but a representative of Eco-Building Systems said the company will pay the $33,000 in 2007 property taxes.