EARMUFFS

EARMUFFS

In 1873, Chester Greenwood, a young boy from Farmington, Maine, he got a pair of ice skates for his birthday. He couldn’t wait to try them out on a nearby pond. He was frustrated at his inability to keep his ears warm and protected from the harsh winter temperatures while ice skating. He thought a little bit how to deal with that problem. At the age of 15, he came up with an idea to combat this problem that would be more convenient and comfortable than wrapping a scarf around his head (his first attempt to shield his ears from the cold).

He shaped two loops from wire and asked his grandmother to sew fur onto the structure – thus, earmuffs were born. At first, the other kids made fun of him. Then they began asking for ear protectors for themselves. Over the next three years, he made some improvements. When he was just 18 years old, he got a patent for an improved model with a steel band, and opened his business selling Greenwood’s Champion Ear Protectors. He made a fortune supplying Ear Protectors to U.S. soldiers during World War I. Not surprisingly, Farmington has since been seemed the Earmuff Capital of the World and puts on a yearly parade celebrating Greenwood’s birthday. Earmuffs continue to be a popular choice for combating bitter winter temperatures in style. Adapted from about website