About Us

The birth of The Rocking Man - Mr. Comfort

This winter night was exceptionally crisp in Columbia Station back in the 1930's. You can feel the cold as it pulls the warmth from your body; smell the frost in the air; see your breath with every exhale as you walk briskly to Gorman's Grocery. The cold seeps into every pore, making your muscles ache and every step an effort.

Even your rapid walking and wool winter clothes do little to release you from Old Man Winter's Icy Grip. You second guess yourself for the trip. It seemed such an easy decision when you left home 30 minutes ago. The chores were done, and you decided to meet your Uncle and other farmers at the local grocery. However, your doubts quickly disappear, as at last, you approach Gorman's, it's lights twinkling and calling out into the night.

You open the door with a rush and feel immediately the warmth radiate from the interior, basking your young body in its safety and comfort. You see your Uncle, he looks up, smiles and waves and you hurry over to him and the other farmers. Several sit rocking and relaxing around a pot-bellied stove, and even as you approach your Uncle, you can feel the heat radiating from its cast iron skin, and it seems to call out to you. You climb up on your uncle's lap and listen to the stories that make up such a large part of your life. The warmth from the stove works its magic on you now, entangling you in its web. Washing away the cares and worries of the day, filling you only with peace and comfort.

The farmers' voices fill your mind as you drift off to sleep. As the years pass, this same young man dreams of having his own company. Through hard work and the help of his family his dream became a reality and E. H. Roberts Co. was born. Throughout the creation of his company his memories constantly drifted back to he warmth and comfort he felt around the pot-bellied stove as a child, and to his Uncle smiling and waving for him to join him.

He thought that there could be no better way to remember his uncle, his past, and to express his ideal vision of comfort, than by creating an image of those days long ago. So in May of 1955, The "Rocking Man" was born and is still rocking to this day. Generations have driven by, looking forward to seeing him rocking on the side of his building in Elyria.

So many recall fond memories of the "Rocking Man", Mr. Comfort and although things seem to change at ever-increasing rates, it is nice to know that some things - value, safety, comfort and "The Rocking Man", Mr. Comfort never do.