Chester Greenwood
| Chester Greenwood | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 4, 1858 Farmington, Maine |
| Died | July 5, 1937 Farmington, Maine |
| Nationality | United States |
| Education | Public Farmington, ME schools and Wilton, ME Academy |
| Children | Lester Clyde Greenwood, Donald Whittier Greenwood, Vodisa Emilie (Greenwood) Magoon, Clinton Whittier Greenwood |
| Engineering career | |
| Institution memberships | Sarah Isabel (Whittier) Greenwood |
| Significant projects | earmuff |
Chester Greenwood (December 4, 1858 - July 5, 1937) of Farmington, Maine invented the earmuff in 1873, at the age of 15.[1] He reportedly came up with the idea while ice skating, and had his grandmother sew tufts of fur between loops of wire.[2] His patent was for improved ear protectors. He manufactured these ear protectors, providing jobs for people in the Farmington area, for nearly 60 years.[1]
Chester also patented a tea kettle, a steel tooth rake, an advertising matchbox, and a machine used in producing wooden spools for wire and thread.[1] He invented, but did not patent an umbrella holder for mail carriers.
In addition to being an inventor, Greenwood was the owner of a bicycle business, a business involving an improved heating system and was involved in the introduction of one of the first telephone systems in Farmington.[citation needed]
In 1977 the State of Maine declared December 21 to be Chester Greenwood Day. Farmington continues to celebrate "Chester Greenwood Day" with a parade on the first Saturday of December.[3][4]
In addition to his inventions, he was an accomplished machinist, an active member of the community, a business developer, a member of the Unitarian Church and a family man. His wife Isabel was a supporter of Women's Suffrage. He and Isabel were parents of four children.
The Chester Greenwood House in Farmington is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Maine Secretary of State Kid's Page - Famous People
- ^ Dec. 4, 1858: It Was Very Cold the Day Chester Greenwood Was Born
- ^ Farmington honors earmuff inventor today Portland Press Herald, December 4, 2010
- ^ Title 1, §117: Chester Greenwood Day
|
 |
This article about a United States engineer, inventor or industrial designer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
