Chester Greenwood (December 4, 1858 – July 5, 1937) was an American engineer and inventor, known for inventing the

earmuffs Earmuffs are accessories designed to cover a person's ears either for warmth or for Hearing protection device, hearing protection. Both types of earmuff consist of a plastic, thermoplastic or metal head-band that fits over the top or back of the ...

in 1873.Maine Secretary of State Kid's Page - Famous People
/ref> He reportedly came up with the idea while

ice skating Ice skating is the Human-powered transport, self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive sports, and commuting. ...

and he asked his grandmother to sew tufts of fur between loops of wire. His

patent A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an sufficiency of disclosure, enabling discl ...

was for improved ear protectors. He manufactured these ear protectors, providing jobs for people in the Farmington area for nearly 60 years.

Career

In 1873, aged 15, while he was testing a new pair of

ice skates Ice skates are metal blades attached underfoot and used to propel the bearer across a sheet of ice while ice skating. The first ice skates were made from leg bones of horse, ox or deer, and were attached to feet with leather straps. These skates ...

, he got frustrated as he tried to protect his ears from the cold. He then wrapped his head with a

scarf A scarf (: scarves or scarfs) is a long piece of fabric that is worn on or around the neck, shoulders, or head. A scarf is used for warmth, sun protection, cleanliness, fashion, religious reasons, or to show support for a sports club or team. ...

, but was too itchy to wear. Greenwood was

allergic Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are various conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, alle ...

to wool, so that neither the scarves nor the wool hats available in his time were viable options for him as protective head-coverings. Later, he designed two ear-shaped loops made by wire. He then asked his grandmother to sew fur on the loops. It successfully kept the cold away from his ears. He later improved the prototype earmuffs using a steel band which held them in place, and he named these earmuffs "Greenwood's Champion Ear Protectors". Greenwood also patented a tea

kettle A kettle, sometimes called a tea kettle or teakettle, is a device specialized for boiling water, commonly with a ''lid'', ''spout'', and ''handle''. There are two main types: the ''stovetop kettle'', which uses heat from a cooktop, hob, and the ...

, a variation of the steel-toothed rake, an advertising matchbox, and a machine used to produce wooden spools for wire and thread. He invented, but did not patent, an umbrella holder for mail carriers. The total number of patents Greenwood held seems to be contested: Some claim only a handful, while others claim over 100. The memory of the latter helps boost Greenwood's historical legacy. In addition to being an inventor, Greenwood was the owner of a bicycle business and a business involving an improved heating system. He also introduced one of the first telephone systems in Farmington. 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 (née Whittier), was a supporter of woman suffrage. He and Isabel were parents of four children.

Chester Greenwood Day

In 1977, the

State State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

declared December 21 to be Chester Greenwood Day. Farmington continues to celebrate "Chester Greenwood Day" with a parade on the first Saturday of December. The Chester Greenwood House in Farmington is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

In Media

In 2023, Three Brothers Theatre in Waukegan, IL produced
The Meaningful Action Theatre Company Presents A Workshop Reading Of 'Muffed: A Recounting Of Farmington, Maine's 43rd Annual Chester Greenwood Day Devised By The Members Of The Meaningful Action Theatre Company
," by Zack Peercy. The play follows a fictional theatre ensemble's attempt to devise a play about Farmington's Chester Greenwood Day celebrations.

References

19th-century American inventors 1858 births 1937 deaths People from Farmington, Maine {{US-inventor-stub Inventors from Maine 20th-century American inventors 19th-century American engineers 20th-century American engineers