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In 1934, the Rich Manufacturing
Company moved to Clinton from Morrison, Illinois and located in the former J. A. Kelly Furniture plant at 1230 - 19th Street.
For three decades the name "Rich" meant visions of attractive wheeled toys, doll houses, toy boats and wooden
rocking horses. The toys were sturdily built and attractively designed, which sparked consistent growth by the company.
Rich Toy Company scored a major national business advantage by obtaining the world rights to produce a miniature of
the $435,00.00, Colleen Moore Doll House which toured the U. S. during the 1930's to help raise funds for crippled children.
Colleen Moore's Doll House is now on permanent display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois.
At the out break of World War II, Rich Industries shifted production to the war effort. Following the war, the toy
line was expanded to include plastic rocking and hobby horses.
In 1953, Rich Industries decided to relocate to
Tupelo, Mississippi, to be close to oak and pine wood supply. On April 11, 1962, a dam broke near Tupelo and the plant was
flooded to a depth of four feet within only four minutes - it was never rebuilt. |
