FARMINGTON, Maine – Residents of Farmington, Maine, will don earmuffs today in honour of the man who invented the furry, wire-clad contraption.
Chester Greenwood was a 15-year-old boy in Farmington when he came up with the idea in 1873. The story goes that he was frustrated by the choice of either wearing a bulky scarf or having cold ears when he went skating.
It was 130 years ago today that the earmuff was patented.
The Chester Greenwood Day events include a parade with every float having an earmuff theme.
It’s also the only day that the inventor’s now 89-year-old grandson wears old-fashioned earmuffs.
With newer products that wrap around the back of the neck, and don’t mess up the hair, Sully Greenwood says “Nobody wears them any other time.”
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2007/12/01/4700408-ap.html
