1789 was the year America's Constitution was signed and George Washington became the country's first President. It was also the year Cornelius Holgate established a woodworking shop on the outskirts of Philadelphia in the Colonial town of Roxborough.. .we have been in continuous operation ever since! Through the generations, our company has made numerous wooden products for home, farm and industry.
Shortly after the Civil War, Holgate moved to Kane, Pennsylvania, to be near the area's abundant hardwood forests. In 1929, our company expanded its product line by making educational pre-school wooden toys. Holgate's early toy designer was Jarvis Rockwell, brother of famous illustrator Norman Rockwell who visited the Holgate factory on several occasions. Jarvis Rockwell's concern for safety, durability and educational play earned him recognition as America's premier toy designer during this period.
With the great consumer success of its toys, Holgate began concentrating on this segment of it's business. Today Holgate is synonymous with toys... and still making the finest wooden toys in America. Our factory is now located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, still in the middle of America's premier hardwood forests. Today, Holgate is recognized as the premier maker of children's wooden toys in America.