New Promo Video of the P. Graham Dunn Factory Store

Ambassador Harry

If you have visited our factory and store in Dalton, Ohio chances are you've run into a gentleman named Harry. If you were to ask me to identify the heart of this company, I could make a very strong case that it's Harry. Harry has been with us for nearly 8 years and has performed in a variety of roles. As of the last few years, Harry has been acting ambassador for P. Graham Dunn. Stop in with a group large or small and Harry will walk you around the shop and tell you all about the place. I can't tell you how many people stop in on a daily basis and ask for Harry by name. It takes a special guy to make such a memorable impact.

P. Graham Dunn talks about the origins of Graham

Click the image to view Peter's vlog about the origins of his middle name.

Made in the USA

I remember a time in which there was a great push to buy American. It seemed like every TV station in the nineteen eighties aired commercials about checking the tag for the Made in America logo. Since then it seems we get nearly everything from overseas. Without treading too far into the debate about the pros and cons of a global economy, I think it is important to focus attention back on those businesses creating products and jobs right here in the USA.

At P. Graham Dunn we employ nearly 100 people. Many of our staff are hard working Amish and Mennonites, though we employ people from nearly every walk of life. When you visit our factory, you will never see someone leaning on a broom, or the shop floor in disarray. We take pride in our jobs and we take pride in the products we make. The 5% of products we do import are laser engraved and packaged in Ohio. The packaging is often done at home by local Amish women. When I walk through the factory it makes me proud to call this community home.

Traveling around this area of the country you'll find domestically made products at places like Homestead Furniture, Lehman's Hardware, Walnut Creek Cheese, and Coblentz Chocolate. Smuckers is headquartered just down the road, and the Cat's Meow just a little further. We have over 1000 shops manufacturing Amish made furniture, and the hills are covered in 100 acre farms making the landscape look more like a quilt. Speaking of quilts, you'll find none better made than right here, and while you're here pick up various food products like Amish Peanut Butter, Eggs, Pastries, Pickled Garlic, Trail Bologna, Bulk Foods, and the world's best cheese (sorry Wisconsin). Stuff it all in a homemade Amish basket.

Whatever you find around here, it's a good chance it was made by the very hands of the person you're purchasing it from. And while you may find some nice prices, you won't get that at Wal-Mart.

Peter Dunn Vlogs About the Factory Store

Runaway Pony

First let me say this is not the horse in question, though he looked similar. This evening I headed in towards Kidron, OH on my way to church league softball practice. My favorite route takes me up, down, and around these curvy two lane roads. I pass by countless small Amish farms and see lots of buggies. What I saw today was a little out of the ordinary. As I crested a hill I see this miniature pony running in my direction down the center of the road. Moments later I notice a couple of kids about a mile further running after him. I did a most English thing (English is what all us non-Amish are), I blocked the road with my car, waved my arms out the window and spooked the pony back in the other direction. Following behind the pony I kept pushing him towards the kids until about 20 feet from capture, the pony jumps a ditch and tears across a field! The kids laughed, waved and headed off after the freedom craving miniature pony. After softball practice about an hour later I am driving the same road home. Those poor kids, walking along the road and looking a little less enthusiastic, continued to chase down this stubborn pony. Just another day in Amish country...

An Unlikely Family

Every day when coming to work, or leaving to go home I always slow down or pull over to check in on the newest members of the family. Our facility uses a retention pond to collect rainwater and we have deliberately begun to plant native plants to Ohio around the perimeter. It's surprising that before any of our efforts have really taken root, we already host about a dozen Canadian Geese, two species of ducks, and a variety to mosquito eating, dive bombing birds! Early this spring a mating pair of Canadian Geese gave birth to 4 little goslings. They started as 4 little puffs of yellow and are now displaying that characteristic Canadian Goose color. When the weather is sour, the mother covers them with her wings and her mate is always nearby. Interestingly, about 3 weeks ago this white goose decided to adopt the whole family as his own. After some early feathery fights, this unlikely family is now inseparable.

New Website

If you're stopping by the blog via our website, you've probably noticed something a little different. Last week we unveiled our new website. Some of the new features include more organized categories, full screen images on the product detail page, greater detail in copy and description, customer reviews, and much more. Take a cruise around. While we still have a few glitches and unfinished pieces, I think you'll agree it was an improvement on the last design. Enjoy!