We asked the volunteer aide at the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center in Logan, Ohio, for suggestions about things to do and see in the area.
She smiled and replied with a question of her own: “How strenuous?” Little did we know the Hocking Hills region of south-central Ohio is an outdoor sports mecca – a great place for rock climbers, hikers, cyclists, spelunkers, kayakers and zipline riders.
This area is considered “the canopy tour capital of the Midwest. More than 60 ziplines provide a bird’s eye view of breathtaking landscape as you fly from treetop to treetop.” Some of the routes soar you over the Hocking River.
The Delaware Native American tribe named it “Hockhocking,” meaning “bottle river,” because of the bottle-shaped gorge formed by the upper waterfalls. (They ought to switch back to Hockhocking; it’s fun to say.)
Not dressed for zipline zippering this day, we opted for “low-strenuous.” The welcome center lady sent us into Logan to tour the “warsh-board” factory.
It was easy to find the Columbus Washboard Company in Logan, a small city of about 7,150 that oozes “community character” in its revitalized and sparkling clean downtown area. A giant, 24-foot tall Sunnyland washboard is attached to the side of the three-story brick and glass building.
The company was started in 1895 by Frederic Martin Sr. in Grandview, Ohio, a community located near Columbus, the state capital. Frederic Martin Jr. purchased the company from his father in 1925. The assets included a few saws, a metal crimping machine, the patent and the trademark for the Bear On Easy washboard. Frederic Martin Jr. and his wife, Margaret Martin, were involved in the business for more than 60 years.
Peak production occurred in 1941, when the company sold 1,287,757 washboards. Sales remained steady at about 1 million washboards a year until well after the end of World War II.
Demand fell dramatically beginning in the 1950s, but the Columbus Washboard Company introduced new brands to complement its Bear On Easy washboards. The most notable names were Dubl Handi, Maid-Rite, Sunnyland and Crystal Cascade. The strategy was to gain more shelf space and squeeze out competitors.
Those competitors began to fall by the wayside, and by the early 1970s, all had closed, leaving only the Columbus Washboard Company.
Pat Taylor, a niece of Frederic Martin Jr., inherited the company in 1987. She ran the business with her husband, Mike Taylor, for a dozen years before selling out in 1999 to a small group of investors. To reduce costs, the partners agreed to move the company to Logan, about 50 miles southeast of Columbus. They purchased the vacant Godman Shoe Factory building in Logan.
In the factory, washboards are still produced by hand, one at a time, using original equipment and tools. One of the washboard builders is Betty Ellinger. She can assemble a washboard in 45 seconds, reported freelance journalist Lori Murray, writing for American Profile magazine.
“The washboards are produced in varying sizes with rubbing surfaces that include galvanized steel, stainless steel, brass and glass. Galvanized metal is the original choice, with a wavy crimp designed to keep the soap on the board so it doesn’t run down into the water,” Murray explained.
One of the partners, Jacqui Barnett told Murray: “The washboard was re-discovered recently by U.S. military troops stationed overseas in places like Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, where soldiers don’t have regular access to washing machines.”
All Columbus Washboard Company products come with washboard instructions. There are 12 steps in all, but the condensed version goes like this:
“Put water in the tub until three-fourths full. Do underwear first, followed in order by shirts, pants and socks. After soaking, rub article of clothing over the soap bar at the top of the board and then rub vigorously on the metal rub surface until item is clean.
“When finished, do not discard the water. Soak your feet for 20 minutes, it will feel sooo good! Dry feet with towel, apply foot powder, clean socks and boots. Now, you can discard dirty water, refill bucket and rinse items until no soap remains. Wring out clothing items and pin on clothesline to dry.”
Another partner is James Martin, who serves as plant manager. He told Jackie Scheckler Finch, a reporter at the Kankakee (Ill.) Daily Journal: “Amish and Mennonite communities, campers, students, back-to-the-landers and fiber artists still use washboards to scrub their clothes and fibers.”
“Washboards are great at removing stains and for getting your clothes clean. That’s why our ancestors used them,” Martin said. “Use a washboard as a laundry aid for anything from delicate nylons to pants.” Remove the dagnabbit, stubborn stain and “then throw the garment in the washer.”
Martin added: “Many of the washboards are used for artistic decorations and novelty items, while others are turned into magazine racks and other furniture items by woodcrafters. Some washboards are used by musicians as percussion instruments.”
Washboard musicians play the board using thimbles on their fingers, wooden spoons, drumsticks or whisk brooms. All of the top performers arrange their calendars in order to play at Washboard Music Festival in Logan, a traditional Father’s Day Weekend event in the Hocking Hills.
But not in 2020. Organizers have cancelled the event this year because of the coronavirus. Maybe next year!
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