Lollipop The lollipop, an edible candy on a stick, has a long and interesting history. The idea of putting a sweet treat on a stick may have started in the 1800’s or even earlier. Small pieces of sugar candy were placed on the ends of pencils for children to enjoy as they wrote. But, it is George Smith, a candy maker from Connecticut, who is thought to be the inventor of the modern lollipop. In 1908, Smith came up with the idea when he noticed people enjoying Reynolds Taffy, a chocolate caramel candy on a stick. Smith decided to change the soft chocolate to hard candy, attach it to a stick, and sell it in his New Haven, Connecticut candy shop. This new candy which could be licked or bitten was given the name Lolly Pop. Smith is said to have named his treat after a racehorse he once saw at a local fair. Many companies have found ways to improve the lollipop over the years. The popular candy has been reinvented many times and now comes in different shapes, varieties, and flavors. Did you know? The world’s largest lollipop maker, Tootsie Roll, makes 16 million lollipops per day National lollipop day is July 20th.

Sewing Machine The sewing machine is mechanical tool that is used to stitch fabric and other material together with thread. This machine was invented as a way to produce a lot of clothing in a shorter period of time. Up until this point, women spent many hours hand stitching material. The original idea of the sewing machine had been around for a long time, but it was Elias Howe who had a company business in Bridgeport, Connecticut, who patented the first practical sewing machine. On September 10, 1846 Howe received a patent for his machine that used a special type of lockstitch design. This new design used a needle with the eye (hole) at the point instead of the top. The new sewing machines freed women from hand stitching and could make clothing more affordable for everyone. Did you know? Howe’s invention allowed people to sew in an hour what before took 14.5 hours to complete.. Early sewing needles were made of bone.

Hamburger The first hamburger was a bit of a delicious mistake. In 1895 a man named Louis Lassen owned a small lunch place called Louis’ Lunch located in New Haven, Connecticut. One day a business man came in to his restaurant to order lunch. The man was in a big rush and needed some food to take on the run. Lassen quickly cooked up a special blend of ground steak trimmings, placed them between two slices of toasted bread, and served it to the man. The creation was so tasty that it was later added to the regular menu. This hand held food grew in popularity and is now a bit of a phenomenon. Louis’ Lunch is still in business today and the Lassen Family still make their hamburgers the same way as they did more than a hundred years ago. Did you know? Lassen burgers are served on white bread, sliced diagonally, and served on paper plates. Cheese wasn’t added until 1950.

Tape Measure The tape measure, a flexible ruler made of cloth, plastic, or metal has been invented and reinvented many times. But, it’s a man named Alvin J. Fellows from New Haven, Connecticut who patented the first spring tape measure. Fellows wanted to improve on the original tape measure design, so he added a spring clip. The spring clip allowed the tape to be locked in any position to make measuring easier. When the clip is relaxed, the tape winds back up. On July 14, 1868 Fellows received a patent for his spring mechanism design. At first his tape measure did not replace the folding ruler because it was very expensive. His spring clip design is sill found in tape measures we buy and use today. Did you know? The longest tape measure in the world is 600 feet long? The first tape measure cost $17– about $300 in today’s money

Can Opener The can opener, a tool invented to open metal cans, has an interesting history. In the early 1800’s metal cans were made as a way to store food. At first, the metal used to make and seal the cans was thick and hard to open. People had to use a hammer and a chisel just to get inside the can. Later, thinner steel was used to make cans and a tool was needed. On January 5, 1858 a Waterbury, Connecticut man named Ezra J. Warner invented this tool. His tool had a pointed blade that pierced into the can and another piece that sawed off the top. His design was useful because it had a couple parts that could be replaced if they wore out. The one problem with his design is that the saw left a jagged edge on the metal when the top was removed. The first can openers never left the grocery store. A clerk would open the can before you left the store. Today, can openers come in a variety of styles and are found in every home. Did you know? Warner’s can opener was used in the U.S. Army during the Civil War? The first can weighed more than the food inside.

Frisbee The Frisbee, a plastic toy thrown through the air, started out as a container for pies. In 1870, a man named William Russell Frisbie owned a bakery in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His family bakery made pies in thin, reusable tin pans. As a way to market his pies he wrote the name of his bakery on the bottom of the pans. Families that bought the popular pies could see the word Frisbie printed on the pan when they were done eating the pie. Then, children discovered that the light pie pan could be thrown around and used to play a game of catch outdoors. Eventually people in college started doing the same thing with the Frisbie pie pans. One day a toy company named Wham-O noticed the college kids playing with the pie tins and came up with the idea for a toy. They changed the spelling of the Frisbie to Frisbee and the rest is history. Did you know? Frisbie Pie company was sold to Table Talk Pies? The Frisbie pie pans had a special aerodynamic quality

Submarine A submarine is a warship that operates completely underwater and can stay submerged for long periods of time. In 1775 a Yale college student named David Bushnell of Westbrook, Connecticut invented the first working submarine during The American Revolution. This submarine was later named the American Turtle because of how it looked floating in the water. Bushnell’s ship was 7 ½ feet tall and 6 feet wide and was made from oak reinforced by iron. His submarine was operated by a single person sitting on a stool inside. Water was kept out with an airtight latch. Bushnell designed the submarine to be used as a way to carry bombs used to attach to enemy ships. The submarine operator would be able to attach the bomb underneath the ship and move away without being noticed. Did you know? His brother Ezra was suppose to man the first Turtle Submarine, but died the night before. The Turtle looked more like a big walnut, than a turtle

Dictionary A man named Noah Webster from West Hartford, Connecticut was the first person to publish a dictionary. A dictionary is a book that lists words of a language in alphabetical order and gives their meaning. Noah Webster grew up during the American Revolution and wanted the United States to be an independent country and have our own American language. In 1806 Webster started working on defining words that Americans use and published the first Dictionary of English Language. He spent the next 26 years working on a second dictionary and was the first to document new American words such as “chowder” and “skunk”. Noah Webster’s second dictionary contained more than 70,000 words. Did you know? Noah Webster knew 26 different languages Noah Webster went to Yale Noah was also a teacher and a lawyer

Vulcanized Rubber . In the early 1800’s a material called rubber became very popular in America. Companies began making all kinds of products out of rubber not aware that these items wouldn’t last. In hot weather the rubber items melted and in cold weather the rubber items cracked. A man named Charles Goodyear from New Haven, Connecticut was determined to fix this problem. He began experimenting with rubber heating it up and adding material to it in order to create a better type of rubber. He wanted to change natural rubber and make it more durable. If rubber would keep its original shape and texture, then it could be used to make all kinds of things like tires, boots, erasers, balls, and life jackets. In 1846 Goodyear received a patent for his new substance called vulcanized rubber. Did you know? Charles Goodyear had no knowledge of chemistry Goodyear was so obsessed with creating a new rubber, that he lost all his money trying to invent it.

Can Opener Did you know?

The can opener, a tool invented to open