Woolrich history

Rich bought out his partner in 1845, when the operation was expanded and moved to the town that would become known as Woolrich.

By the time he died on January 7, 1847, he was able to witness the opening of the new factory, an enterprise made possible by the knowledge of wool that he had handed down.

1852: The business becomes known as John Rich & Son.

By 1881, the Keystone State led the nation in wool production.

By 1888, when it became a partnership of three brothers, the town surrounding the mill was known as Woolrich, rather than Richville, according to an account in Shooting Industry.

A fire in 1898 destroyed the original log house of John Rich II.

Woolen hose and mackinaw coats her­alded the debut of a women’s line in 1915.

Life did seem prosper­ous for local residents in 1923 when the community enjoyed brief distinction as the “automobile capital of the world.” Seventy-one families in Woolrich owned seventy-six automobiles.

Ironically, on August 8, 1930, the very day that M. B. Rich purchased additional property for the benefit of Lycoming Col­lege, he died.

Twenty years later, in 1935, Wool­rich was called upon to supply clothing for the Civilian Conservation Corps.

1939: The company outfits Admiral Byrd's Antarctic expedition.

In 1949, a larger community center was built, adding indoor activities such as bowling, basketball, and meetings of various charitable and social groups.

He had married Catherine Rich, daughter of Congress­man Rich, and moved to Woolrich in 1953.

The Arctic Parka was designed in the 1970’s for workers constructing the Alaskan pipeline, where maximum daily temprature averages were -40 degrees below freezing.

Woolrich established a down-filled garment operation in Alliance, Nebraska in 1971.

1974: Denver's Down Products Corp. is acquired.

In 1988, Woolrich Woolen Mills changed its name to Woolrich, Inc.

The company had ten plants in the United States and opened one near Montreal in 1989.

Woolrich laid off about 1,500 of its 2,600-strong workforce in October 1990 due to a shortage of orders.

Also in 1993, H. Varnell Moore, a former Wrangler executive, came out of retirement to take the position of president at Woolrich.

1995: The Nebraska plant is closed.

In 1996, Woolrich was licensing Seneca Knitting Mills to produce hosiery and a Japanese company to produce camping gear for that market.

Woolrich produced its first television advertising in 1997.

Taking a page from its competitors, Woolrich began producing a catalog for the first time in 2000.

The company opened a 2,500-square-foot home store towards the end of 2001.

In 2002, Woolrich licensed Elan-Polo of St Louis to produce a wide range of footwear under the Woolrich brand.