NO. R-287Page 1
NO. R-287. House concurrent resolution congratulating the Mary Meyer Corporation on its 75th anniversary.
(H.C.R.192)
Offered by: Representatives Obuchowski of Rockingham, Partridge of Windham and Marek of Newfane
Whereas, the Mary Meyer Corporation of Townshend is the home of cuddly stuffed toys that have delighted several generations of children, and
Whereas, unlike many American corporations, Mary Meyer’s founding family continues to direct its operations 75 years after its establishment, and
Whereas, in 1933, Mary Meyer started to produce pincushions in the shapes of tomatoes and Scottish Terriers that her husband sold while traveling as a Fuller Brush salesman, and
Whereas, in the 1940s, Mary Meyer’s creativity as a designer was on display when she introduced her first teddy bears that, due to war-time shortages of other materials, were often made from either gingham grain sacks or camouflage, and
Whereas, later in the 1940s, the Meyer family moved to Wardsboro from New York City and built a toy manufacturing facility in the back of their home, and they later relocated their home and headquarters to Townshend, and
Whereas, in 1950s, Mary’s and Hans’s son, Walter, joined the company’s staff, and
Whereas, even after Hans’s death in 1965, Mary continued as an active manager until her retirement at age 78 in 1982, the same year her grandson, and Walter’s son, Kevin, joined the company, and
Whereas, until her death in 1999, at age 94, Mary Meyer remained a regular presence in her company’s factory store, and she enjoyed signing the now-stylish collector bears for customers, and
Whereas, the company’s inventory now encompasses over 400 stuffed toys, including lovable characters Sweet Mortimer Mouse, Froggy Belly Pufferbellies, Tobey Chocolate Lab Flip Flop, and Zany Maine Lion, and
Whereas, today, the Mary Meyer headquarters houses a toy museum, and
Whereas, in addition to president Kevin Meyer and corporate director Walter Meyer, Kevin’s brothers have assumed leading roles at Mary Myer Corporation, including toy designer Steven, warehouse supervisor Michael, and information technology coordinator Peter, and
Whereas, the fourth generation of young Meyers may well continue the family tradition, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly congratulates the Mary Meyer Corporation on its 75th anniversary, and be it further
Resolved: That the secretary of state be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Kevin Meyer in Townshend.