The Columbus Washboard Company keeps American craftmanship alive
The clang of metal striking metal echoes through the air, its sharp, rhythmic and familiar. Inside the Columbus Washboard Company of Logan, that sound isn’t just noise; it’s legacy.
American Traditions
In a century-old brick building, workers still cut, press and assemble each washboard by hand. Sheets of tin catch the light as wood frames are sanded smooth, fitted and fastened; all parts of a process that hasn’t changed since 1895.
What began as a household necessity has since become a collector’s item, a musical instrument and a living reminder of small-town craftsmanship.
The Columbus Washboard Company began in Columbus, Ohio, when the Martin family started producing washboards in their backyard.
“Solid wooden washboards date back to the 1700s, but the Martin family, owners of the company, started making them in his backyard before he actually opened the company in 1895,” says Diane Hopkins, the company’s manager.
More than a century later, the company remains American made, a point of pride that Hopkins believes has helped it endure.
In 1999, the business was sold and relocated to Logan, bringing its handcrafted heritage to the Hocking Hills region.
A visit inside feels like stepping back in time. Handmade goods from local artists fill the shelves, and an old-fashioned ice cream parlor sits just inside the door, serving unique flavors such as coconut, Biscoff, pumpkin and cookie monster.
Downstairs, visitors can tour the factory to watch the washboards being made in real time. Machines press metal ridges while stacks of Ohio-sourced wood wait to be shaped into frames.
The logo, developed in 1907, still adorns each board, though customers can now choose from a range of screen prints and styles.
Hometown Handcrafting
Four employees keep the tradition going today. Hopkins is one of the few who can work in every department, and she’s currently training a new hire to handle materials in the basement.
Hopkins has worked at the company for over 15 years, handling everything from Amazon orders to hands-on production in the shop.
“We are finding that more and more [people] are going back to the old traditional ways,” she says, noting that washboards have found new life as both laundry tools and instruments.
History has repeatedly reminded the company of its lasting utility. During World War II, Hopkins says, “over 1.2 million washboards were sold.”
Decades later, the coronavirus pandemic brought another unexpected surge.
“We come in on a Monday morning to 500 orders that morning alone,” Hopkins says. “The reason for that is when everything shut down, mostly people that lived in apartment complexes weren’t able to get out. Everything was closed. Laundry mats were closed, so they had to do laundry in their homes, and most of them didn’t have washers and dryers, so they used washboards.”
Global Scale
Over the years, the company’s history has reached beyond Ohio.
“The Color Purple, the musical, placed an order to use it [the washboards] as a prop in their musical. They wanted the original, authentic washboard, so we sent them some of those,” Hopkins says.
Tourism plays a major role in the company’s business. From May through October, the shop buzzes with visitors who come for the nostalgia, the craftsmanship and a scoop or two of homemade ice cream. Hopkins says she’s noticed a renewed appreciation among the older generation, though she hopes younger people will develop the same curiosity.
“A great way to get involved would be to put our name out there so people can come and support us,” Hopkins says.
At the end of the day, authentic craftsmanship has encapsulated the Columbus Washboard Company legacy, lasting years to come.
“Everything is American made here, we’ve always kept that authentic and we do good work,” Hopkins says
