Patrik Orcutt 05.19.25
Rising up in Maine, you’re by no means removed from a water supply. Whether or not or not it’s on the rocky coasts, the dashing rivers, or the calm lakes, there’s at all times an outside exercise involving water available. I bear in mind my first journey with my dad and mom the the Previous City Canoe facility again after I was a child. We picked up three of their Otter Kayaks and would use them for a few years. In actual fact I’m fairly positive my dad and mom nonetheless us them to at the present time, almost 20 years later. For sure, think about my pleasure after I heard again from Previous City they usually needed to present me a Facility tour and present me a number of the magic that goes into their watercraft.
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A Transient Historical past of Previous City Canoes
Earlier than we get into the tour, we have to go over the lengthy a captivating historical past of Previous City Canoes. Based in 1898 in Previous City, Maine, the Previous City Canoe Firm started as a modest enterprise when brothers George and Herbert Grey added canoe making to their current companies. Their first canvas-covered picket canoes, impressed by the birchbark vessels of the Penobscot folks, have been crafted in a shed behind their ironmongery shop. These early canoes shortly gained recognition amongst native lumbermen and sporting guides, and by the early twentieth century, Previous City’s merchandise have been being offered throughout the US and even internationally
In 1901, the corporate was included, and by 1916, it boasted the most important canoe manufacturing unit on the planet, using Jap cedar sourced from the Penobscot River. Previous City canoes have been so famend that they have been offered in main retailers like Macy’s and exported globally. In 1927, the corporate’s annual gross sales surpassed half one million {dollars}, marking a major milestone in its development.
Within the post-World Battle II period, a rising American center class, elevated leisure time, and increasing car possession led to a surge in out of doors recreation, together with tenting, fishing, and paddling. Nationwide parks and wilderness areas grew to become extra accessible, and the thought of reconnecting with nature gained cultural significance. Canoeing, as soon as a utilitarian exercise, advanced into a preferred spare time activity. This societal shift drastically benefited Previous City Canoe Firm, as demand for reasonably priced, sturdy, and leisure watercraft elevated. The corporate responded by increasing its product line and ultimately embracing new supplies like fiberglass to fulfill the expectations of a brand new technology of outside fanatics, serving to Previous City keep its market management and increase gross sales throughout this era.
In 1974, Previous City was acquired by Johnson Outdoor, a Wisconsin-based firm with a portfolio of outside manufacturers. Johnson was an avid outdoorsman, and after visiting the previous Previous City Facility in Maine, he determined to purchase the corporate. This acquisition allowed Previous City to increase its choices, together with the introduction of the Discovery sequence in 1984, which grew to become a best-seller and helped the corporate regain its place because the world’s largest canoe producer. Previous City would as soon as once more see a surge of gross sales post-COVID when the world needed nothing to do with the indoors and lusted for the outside. This was just like the post-war growth seen within the late Forties.
At this time, Previous City continues to function out of Previous City, Maine, sustaining its dedication to high quality and innovation. The corporate employs a lot of locals, a lot of whom are a part of multi-generational households working within the canoe and kayak business
The Tour
My tour information for the morning was Ryan Lilly, a Advertising and marketing Director for Johnson Outdoor, an avid outdoorsman and Registered Maine Information who actually is aware of his method across the waters of the Pine Tree State. After a fast introduction and a rundown on the corporate’s historical past, Ryan started exhibiting me round Previous City’s new entrance workplace, together with their Analysis and Growth space. It was tremendous attention-grabbing to stroll by these rooms and take a look at a number of the cool stuff they’re tinkering with round with however sadly, I can’t share something I noticed and was not allowed to take any photographs.
That is the Finish of Half One of many Manufacturing facility tour. If you wish to preserve studying and see extra of the Manufacturing facility Tour (and belief me, you do) simply click on HERE! I need to thank Ryan and all the good guys at Previous City Canoe for making this go to occur!
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