PORTLAND (AP) – Production of Sebago shoes is ending in Maine and the famous brand will join the likes of G.H. Bass, Dexter and Cole Haan in making shoes at factories outside the United States.

Sebago, which produced shoes at a Westbrook plant, was purchased last year by Wolverine World Wide, the Rockford, Mich., company whose major brands include Hush Puppy and Merrell, officials said Tuesday.

Sebago employed about 360 workers in Maine two years ago but the number had dwindled to 75 in Westbrook when the announcement was made. A second plant closed last year.

“There’s a lot of sadness about it. There’s no joy in Mudville, I’ll tell you that,” said Dan Wellehen, Sebago’s former owner.

Wolverine World Wide, which completed its purchase of Sebago last November, announced Monday it was closing Sebago’s plant in April. Company officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

The announcement comes two months after G.H. Bass eliminated 300 jobs when it closed its Maine headquarters.

Wellehen, who turned 70 in December, said he decided to sell the privately held operation while it was still healthy to eliminate the possibility that it would be liquidated in the event he died.

He said he had hoped Wolverine would give the Maine workers a chance to prove themselves.

“Frankly, we could live with margins that would satisfy us but would not be adequate for a publicly traded company,” he said Tuesday evening.

Sebago’s shoes will be produced in the Dominican Republic.

AP-ES-02-03-04 2126EST