earmuffs

Maine isn’t just about Stephen King and lobster rolls—we’ve actually contributed to civilization in ways that don’t involve scaring you senseless by dreaming up some pretty groundbreaking inventions.

We’ve all been there—bundled up for winter, feeling relatively warm… except for those two body parts that refuse to cooperate: your ears and your nose. Well, back in 1873, a 15-year-old from Farmington, Maine, decided he was done suffering and came up with a revolutionary invention.

Mainers have ingenuity, and here are 7 examples of things you may not know that Mainers invented.

A groundbreaking invention warms that certain part of your body that always seems to get cold in the winter.

On March 13, 1877, Chester Greenwood of Farmington, Maine was awarded a patent for the earmuff. According to the National Calendar Day website: After a day of ice skating in the cold, 15-year-old Chester came up with an idea to keep his big ears warm...