We have found some really impressive folks making toys in this country. Some have been in business for over 100 years, some are much younger, but they all have some things in common. They all truly love the toy business and care a lot about what they make for our children.
We have worked with a few companies to build our Made In USA collection for parents and grandparents looking for a simple, quality toys made in this country.
One company in particular I’d like to showcase is Holgate Toys in Pennsylvania. Below is the history of the company, a great old black and white photo of the workshop and some really interesting tidbits about the toys and who designed them many years ago.
Holgate has made great toys for many generations of kids in this country and we wish them many more! We offer the Rocking Color Cone, Handeez School Bus, and Pull Along Caliope to name a few you can find in the Made in USA collection.
The Holgate tradition started back in 1789 in a colonial village called Roxborough which is close to the center city of Philadelphia. That year George Washington was elected the country’s first President and the US Constitution was signed. Holgate began making feather dusters, broom handles and too handles. Generation after generation of the Holgate family continued making wood products. In 1929, they expanded into the emerging kindergarten program and under the direction of Jarvis Rockwell, brother of the famous American illustrator Norman Rockwell, started making wooden toys.
Holgate is located in north central Pennsylvania and surrounded by one of the most diverse hardwood forests in the world. Holgate buys the majority of its dimensional wood products from a lumber company that has a tradition in the forest industry dating back to 1855. This company locally owns over 120,000 acres of forestland and all their holdings are part of the Forest Stewardship Council. They are self sustaining, containing more wood today than they did over a hundred years ago. Their land is home to bald eagles, black bears, wild turkeys, active meadows, springs, creeks and beautiful watersheds. They are naturally healthy forests – growing trees only from sunshine, water and nutrients from fertile soils. They are not a tree farm but a living, active and diverse natural ecosystem. In the mid 1990’s this company received the White House award for sustainable forestry practices.
Holgate uses a variety of hardwood including Pennsylvania cherry, hard maple, red oak, ash and other species. The wood is carefully cut, sanded smooth and finished with non-toxic water based paints. Holgate toys have always been independently attested for US safety standards. The company is proud to say Holgate toys are made in the USA!
By Roberta J, senior product manager
