OXFORD — Citing lack of business and the poor economy, Burlington Homes of Maine has ceased operations after 14 years, leaving 70 workers unemployed and surprising retailers throughout New England.

“We deemed it as a bleak future for the next four to six quarters. It was not a sound business decision to go forward,” explained Don Chadwell of Bridgton, former vice president of Burlington Homes on Route 26. The site had previously constructed manufactured and mobile homes since the early 1970s under different company names.

This is the third long-term manufactured or mobile home business in the area to undergo trouble recently due to a weak economy. Last summer Oxford Homes sold its equipment to Eco Building Systems of Boston, which also took over more than $318,000 in unsecured loans to creditors across New England and paid off the company’s property taxes. Waterford Homes on Route 37 closed last year, reopening last month after purchase by KBS in Paris.

Production at the Burlington Homes plant ceased in late December when between 63 and 73 employees, including office staff, were laid off. This week’s move affects not only employees but could possibly affect the amount of taxes paid to the town.

The plant, which sits on 12 acres of prime land, generated just over $35,000 annually to the town of Oxford in taxes. The building was worth $1.4 million. The property was leased by Burlington Homes from two private owners in Pennsylvania, according to Chadwell.

Since part of the leasing agreement included Burlington Homes paying the taxes to the town, according to Chadwell, the private owners will become liable for the taxes.

“It’s quite a blow for the area,” Twin Town Homes President Bob Huotari said Thursday afternoon. “It’s sad for all their employees. One told me Burlington Homes was her home and she was part of the family. That’s the way we felt too.”

Huotari said he received a letter from Burlington Homes President Theresa Desfosses dated Feb. 20 informing him of the shutdown. Desfosses was called out of state on a family emergency this week and could not be reached for comment, according to her daughter.

“We’ve been a dealer for 14 years, and it’s too bad. It’s a nice company. They were good to work with. We had a great relationship. It’s tough,” said Huotari, who carries Burlington Homes modular products such as Capes and ranch-style homes, and double- and single-wide mobile homes.

It is unclear what will happen to service and parts for the Burlington Homes buildings in existence. Huotari and Mike Niemi, manager of Town & Country Mobile Home Village on Route 26 in Norway, said they will be asking for assistance to resolve those issues from Burlington Homes’ Portland-based law firm of Marcus, Clegg and Mistretta. A representative was not available for comment Thursday.

“I’m worried about service,” said Niemi, who has three new Burlington Homes for sale.

Both men said they’re not worried about picking up a new line of homes for their businesses. Most of the larger manufactured and mobile home businesses, such as Redman and Fleetwood, come from Pennsylvania and Indiana, Chadwell said.

Chadwell said there were no severance packages offered to employees that he was aware of, but each employee was treated fairly.

“Everything was done by the books. We owe no employees nothing,” he said. Chadwell said the business has no outstanding debts that he is aware of.

When asked if the company could ever start up again, Chadwell said, “Like a politician, I would say never say no. Or like a sportsman making a comeback. I wouldn’t say no.”