Our Story

Maple Landmark's roots trace back to the mid-1970s, when founder Mike Rainville began woodworking in his parents' basement using scraps from his grandfather's carpentry projects. What started as a hobby making items such as cribbage boards, spool holders, and small crafts became Maple Landmark in 1979. The business professionalized into a full time operation after Mike graduated from college in 1984. Using the early profits, he and his grandfather, Fletcher Brown, constructed the original building on their family's land named Maple Landmark Homestead.

Over the years, the company grew steadily through smart acquisitions and innovation. In 1987, the acquisition of Troll's Toy Workshop introduced alphabet toys and letter cars, a precursor to the popular NameTrains line which launched in 1993. The following year, the addition of rainbow colors to the already popular NameTrains drove rapid growth. In 1996, Maple Landmark moved from Lincoln to a larger facility in Middlebury, and in 2001 the company acquired Montgomery Schoolhouse, a Vermont maker of classic baby and toddler toys. With the addition of laser engraving, pad printing, and later direct digital printing, the product catalog never stopped expanding.

A pivotal moment came in 2007, when widespread toy recalls of imported toys drove American families toward safe, domestic alternatives. Maple Landmark earned national media coverage and saw new customers. With families searching for toys they could trust, Maple Landmark launched Schoolhouse Naturals: a finish-free collection of simple, natural toys. 

Today, Maple Landmark operates from a 28,000-square-foot facility in Middlebury, Vermont, employing over 40 people and offering more than 1,000 products to gift shops and toy stores nationwide. Mike's son Adam joined the business in 2014, ensuring the family legacy continues. In 2025, the company expanded further with the acquisition of Green Mountain Tap Handles, a maker of custom tap handles for craft breweries, and Treeline Terrains, a maker of custom 3D wooden maps. 

What started more than 40 years ago with scraps from a grandfather's workshop is now more than 1,000 products, still designed and crafted in Vermont. 

Timeline 

1970s — A hobby begins in a basement Teenager Mike Rainville starts woodworking with scraps from his grandfather

Fletcher Brown's carpentry projects — making cribbage boards, spool holders,

and small household crafts.

1979 — First sales

Mike begins selling at local fairs and nearby shops. Cribbage and tic-tac-toe

games are early bestsellers.

1984 — Maple Landmark Woodcraft is born

After graduating from Clarkson University, Mike and his grandfather build a

proper woodshop. Paying homage to his grandparent’s maple sugaring and dairy farm -  Maple Landmark Homestead. The business goes full time.

1987 — Troll's Toy Workshop acquired

Mike purchases Troll's Toy Workshop of Barnet, VT, bringing in alphabet toys,

letter cars, blocks, and signage letters. The company grows quickly from a

family operation to several full-time employees.

1993 — NameTrains launched

Responding to retailer requests, Maple Landmark debuts NameTrains —

personalized wooden name trains designed to connect with existing wooden

track systems.

1994 — Rainbow stain sends sales soaring

The introduction of bright rainbow-stained NameTrains becomes a defining

Moment. Sales take off and push the original building to its limits.

1996 — New home on Exchange Street

After a year of construction, Maple Landmark opens a new facility in

Middlebury, Vermont and moves from the mountainside to a more practical

valley location.

1996 — Laser engraving & pad printing

Maple Landmark adds laser engraving and pad printing to its production

process, dramatically expanding the range of artwork and designs that

can be applied to products.

1999 — First building expansion

Growing popularity driven by new printing capabilities leads to the first

expansion of the Middlebury facility.

2001 — Montgomery Schoolhouse joins the family

Maple Landmark acquires Montgomery Schoolhouse, another long-established

wooden toy company, located in Montgomery, Vermont. Operations

are consolidated in Middlebury.

2007 — Nationwide spotlight & Schoolhouse Naturals

Widespread recalls of Chinese-imported toys for lead paint send American

families searching for safe alternatives. Maple Landmark earns national

media coverage and its fastest-ever sales growth. In response, the

Schoolhouse Naturals line is born — maple toys with no finishes or inks,

for families wanting complete peace of mind.

2010s — Direct digital printing on wood

Maple Landmark adds direct digital printing to its capabilities, opening

up entirely new design possibilities and continuing the company's tradition

of adopting new technologies.

2014 — The next generation arrives

Mike's older son Adam graduated from Clarkson University graduate and

joins the company to lead production management.

2015 — 28,000 sq ft facility completed

A major expansion brings the Middlebury plant to 28,000 square feet,  home

to over 40 employees producing more than 1,000 different products.

2017 — Andrew joins, family legacy secured

Younger son Andrew, an RPI graduate, comes on board to lead communications.

Both brothers have been immersed in the business since birth.

2025 — Two new Vermont businesses join

Maple Landmark expands into new markets with the acquisition of Green Mountain

Tap Handles (custom tap handles for the craft beer market) and Treeline

Terrains (3D wooden topographic maps carved from elevation data).