Jun 5, 2009

Old Mill Inspires New Products

Burlington, Vermont – Rich Frog Industries, a toy manufacturer in Burlington, Vermont, reflects its appreciation for history both in the location it chooses to occupy and the toys it chooses to create. Rich Frog is housed in the Chace Mill, a beautiful, converted 19th century cotton mill on the banks of the Winooski River.

This building is only one of many Mills that were built along the river to harness the water power and help to propel America’s Industrial Revolution. In its day, the Chace Mill, along with the still existing Woolen and Champlain Mills, wove the material which went into producing such items as uniforms for Civil War soldiers and policemen.

Before the wool industry arrived, saw mills were in operation on this stretch of river going back as far as the 1780s. From 1824 to the turn of the century wool was king, and records show that Vermont was home to more sheep than people. In fact, in 1838 the ratio was 5 sheep to 1 Vermonter. And there were 292,000 Vermonters! In time cotton became the dominant material produced by these mills until they were shuttered in the 1950s. Today these proud mills are alive with a mix of industry, retail shops, office space and residential living.

“Rulers of the World”, one of Rich Frog’s most popular products, captures the fun and intrigue that history has to offer. These wooden rulers feature a list of historic figures on the reverse side. Rich Frog’s newest two rulers are called “Rulers of the South” and “Rulers of the North”, and they feature Civil War Generals including their nicknames. Confederate Generals such as Joseph “Fightin’ Joe” Wheeler and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson are on Rulers of the South. On the Rulers of the North you’ll find, among many others, Andrew “Old Goggle Eyes” Humphreys and Henry “Old Brains” Halleck.

Indeed, it’s possible that the fabric that went into uniforms worn by the likes of Ulysses S. Grant and John Fremont was once woven in the very room where Rich Frog now designs wooden rulers that recognize and remember these men.

Rich Frog Industries
A Burlington, Vermont based designer, manufacturer and wholesaler specializing in classic and colorful children’s toys and gifts. A complete list of all Historic Rulers can be seen at www.richfrog.com. For images or addition information, please contact John Gallagher at (802) 865-9225 x 12 or john@richfrog.com.