The
legacy of the Traeger family stretches back across the centuries to the
Tauber River Valley of rural Germany, where Friederich Traeger and his
family immigrated to the United States settling in South Dakota. As the
Traegers became settled in their new homeland they tried their hand at
farming, blacksmithing, and operating a tavern, (responsible for the
family's passion for good German beer).
During the Great
Depression of the 1930's Joe Traeger, Sr. journeyed to Oregon, where he
fell in love with the bountiful land of the Willamette Valley. Writing
to the family in South Dakota, he convinced them to move to Oregon. The
rest of the Traeger family joined Joe, Sr. in Mt. Angel, Oregon.
In
1939, Joe Traeger, Sr. and his brother Tony opened a business called
"Traeger Brothers", a combination blacksmith metal fab shop, trailer
building facility and cabinet making operation. (In fact, the original
foundry building, which housed Traeger Bros., is still being used to
this day.)
Joe Sr., and Tony worked hard and along with their
perspiration came inspiration in the form of new inventions, including
the "stake setter", "pole bean stringer", and
"screw-in-the-ground-anchor". Tragically, Tony would pass away in 1953,
with Joe Sr. passing away the following year.
In 1959, Joe
Traeger Jr., began working in his cousin Leo's heating business located
in Mt. Angel. Three years later, Joe bought out his cousin's interest
and took over the business, which supported his growing family of nine
children. Sons Randy, Mark, and eventually Brian Traeger would join
their father in this growing enterprise.
Joe Jr., like his
father developed a knack for inventing. In 1978, he developed the Elf
Wood Furnace. The following year, Joe incorporated as EWF Corporation
and began production of wood-fired furnaces. The Elf line would grow to
a dozen different models.
Fate In A Bucket
In 1982 an old farmer walked into Traeger Heating with a tin bucket
full of wood pellets that he had picked up somewhere (most likely from
the original Woodex Pellet Mill in Brownsville), and asked Joe if he
thought he could figure out a way of burning them. Joe threw them in an
old wood fired boiler. They didn't burn well, so he added a blower and
it burned a little better. He then made a little firepot, it burned
even better, etc., etc. The first Pellet Fired Furnaces and Stoves were
installed in the local area in 1982. The business experienced strong
growth and the stove line was eventually sold to Earth Stove in 1987.
Traeger licensed their Central Heating Products line of commercial
and residential furnaces and boilers to Even Temp Company in 1992. Both
product lines continue to be manufactured and sold today.
Traeger Industries continues its business with Pellet Fired Grills,
Outdoor Products and new product development. Their remarkable success
is due to the innovative spirit of the Traeger family and ingenuity of
Joe Traeger who continually tinkers with new ideas.
Company History
1939 - Joe Traeger Sr. and brother Tony open blacksmith shop.
1959 - Joe Traeger Jr. learns metal trade.
1962 - Traeger Heating founded as HVAC contracting company.
1978 - Invention and manufacture of first wood furnace.
1979 - EWF Corp. formed to mfg. and market wood furnaces.
1980 - Elf furnace licensed to Earth Stove and EWF dissolved.
1981 - Company incorporated for mfg. of Elf and 400 series furnaces.
1982 - New 300 series wood furnace and development of pellet stove begins. First stoves and furnaces sold locally.
1983 - Omega model developed, new technology leader, wood fueled.
1984 - Line of pellet furnaces and stoves expanded.
1985 - Sales of pellet furnaces and stoves doubles. BBQ invented.
1986 - Sales again double, manufacturing expanded to accommodate, move to Abbey property.
1987 - Pellet Stove line licensed to Earth Stove. BBQ developed.
1988 - Continued mfg. of pellet furnace and BBQ grills. Traeger Heating sold.
1989 - Development of Pellet fired camp stove. National Distribution begins.
1990 - Outdoor line continues to grow, cook stove added.
1991 - Outdoor line sales doubles, TFP and THT added.
1992 - Pellet Furnace licensed to Even Temp. Boiler developed.
1993 - BBQ Sales increase, Canada opened, Commercial line expansion.
1994 - Diversification of residential grill line, commercial sales growth.
1995 - Constructed and opened Mt. Angel Brewing Company, food service operation and brewery.
1996 - Direct Sales program initiated, Sales growth, diversification.
1997 - Beverage business launched. Direct sales stabilize, general growth. Commercial research expansion.
1998 - Revamped commercial product line.
1999 - Reintroduced central heating furnaces.
2000 - Auto-start and grease drainage systems added as standard features.
2002 - Introduced Model 060 and variable thermostat control; introduced Smokeman line for mass market.
2003 - Introduced re-vamped BBQ101 and expanded pellet and accessory line.
2004 - New BBQ125 added, re-birth of BBQ100, Chimney caps, and Gloss finish.
2005 - Introduction of BBQ124, Smith & Wesson product line, and Cold Smoker.
2006 - Traeger partners with the Barish Fund. Company sales double.
