User:AngelaRender/Sturbridge Yankee Workshop

Founded in 1953 in a 150-year-old mill in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, Sturbridge Yankee Workshop moved to Portland, Maine in 1981. The New England based company sells products inspired by their New England and coastal location. Many of their items are made locally in Maine or by US-based suppliers.

Drawing inspiration from over two hundred years of American design, they sell an eclectic and versatile array of Colonial, Shaker, Americana, Cottage Chic, Nautical, Mission, and Retro items to suit a wide range of decor styles.

History
Founded in Sturbridge, MA in 1953, the company moved to Portland, ME in 1981. Sturbridge Yankee Workshop's history is intricately tied to Sturbridge, Massachusetts's milling past. Named for the English town of Stourbridge, it was founded in the early 1700's and incorporated on June 24, 1738. Sturbridge provided young soldiers for the American Revolutionary War. Initially a farming community, in the 19th century, Sturbridge harnessed water power from the Quinebaug river to drive early industry: cotton milling. Sturbridge has kept as much of its early history as possible, though some early buildings and homes were destroyed by fire or demolished. Old Sturbridge Village opened in 1946 and put Sturbridge in the national spotlight for being the largest New England outdoor historical town. Sturbridge Village preserves the town's early 1790 - 1830 agrarian past and had plenty of early homes and buildings to visit.

Drawing upon its New England roots, for 60 years Sturbridge Yankee Workshop has focused on traditional pieces made locally. At any given time, at least 34 percent of Sturbridge Yankee’s sales are from locally made products. Two of their suppliers are Rhody Rugs – a Rhode Island-based rug manufacturer, specializing in hand-sewn, braided rugs – and Town & Country Cabinets – a Maine-based furniture builder which has created a line of Shaker furniture exclusively for Sturbridge Yankee.