ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. -- A longtime furniture manufacturer has been sold to an Illinois-based company.

Harden Furniture in McConnellsville was bought by "Big Shoulders Capital" leaving a lot of questions about its future, and the futures of their 175 employees.

Harden Furniture has been around for 174 years.

The business had to undergo financial restructuring, with their company lender selling their assets through an Article 9 Auction.

Operations have suspended.

Harden Furniture CEO Greg Harden said a skeleton staff has been in for a few days but little is going on other than clean-up and maintenance.

He doesn't know what the future of the company is but says if they want to continue operating he expects they would call back all of their employees.

Harden is optimistic but also apprehensive about the situation.

"Our business has been very good the last six months," said Harden. "We had a great January. Orders doubled what they were the prior year. We've got a great team. It would be very, very sad to see the talent and the dedication and the wonderful employees in this company end up scattering."

Big Shoulders Capital has not commented on the situation.

Harden expects to know more about the new ownership's intentions next week.