The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Imagine being 136 years old. Not an easy task since humans rarely live that long. However, the Binney & Smith Company, which later became Crayola, LLC, was founded in New York City on March 31, 1885. That makes today, Crayola's 136th birthday.

According to crayola.com, the company was launched by Edwin Binney and his cousin, C. Harold Smith. The pair started out in 1885 making red oxide pigments to paint barns and using carbon to blacken automobile tires.

In 1900, they opened a mill in Easton, Pennsylvania, to produce slate pencils for schools. They soon identified a market for safe, sturdy, and affordable coloring sticks. It was Alice Binney, Edwin's wife, who coined the Crayola name by joining the French word "craie," or chalk, with "ola," the Latin root for "oleaginous," or oily, because crayons are made from petroleum-based wax.

Binney & Smith produced the first box of crayons in 1903. That inaugural box sold for a nickel and contained eight colors: red, blue, yellow, green, violet, orange, black, and brown. Since that humble beginning, crayons have expanded to include a multitude of shades and hues. And as the world has changed, so have the names of these waxy creations. Last May, the company launched its "Colors of the World" Collection, which includes 24 new crayons designed to mirror and represent over 40 different skin tones.

"With the world growing more diverse than ever before, Crayola hopes our new Colors of the World crayons will increase representation and foster a greater sense of belonging and acceptance," said Crayola CEO Rich Wuerthele in a statement to the press. "We want the new Colors of the World crayons to advance inclusion within creativity and impact how kids express themselves."

Crayola describes itself as the "preeminent producer of hands-on products for creative personal development and fun." The company likely enjoys its longevity because of its continual innovation. Independent toy consultant Chris Byrne attributes their popularity to satisfying what he describes as an elemental childhood need to create. Nowadays, the company makes crayons that are twistable, erasable, and washable. Children can even color with Crayola markers that change colors and produce spider-web effects.

Parents, teachers, and people in general might wish to celebrate Crayola's birthday by employing one of their products in an art project or by reading the book The Day the Crayon's Quit.

Written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, this picture book raises many questions about obligation versus self-interest. As the story's plot unfolds, all of the colors in Duncan's crayon box have problems with their current positions and send letters to Duncan explaining why they are quitting. For example, red writes: "We need to talk. You make me work harder than any of your other crayons. All year long I wear myself out coloring fire engines, apples, strawberries, and everything else that's red. I even work on holidays! . . . I need a rest!"

Teachers have used the text to focus on questioning and making connections or to introduce an independent letter writing activity that is accompanied by a piece of artwork.

However you choose to celebrate March 31, be sure to have a colorful and creative day!