Postmark Calendar

American Icon

Smokey Bear is America's wildfire prevention icon. He has educated generations of Americans about their role in preventing human-caused wildfires. Created in 1944, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign is the longest running public service advertising campaign in U.S. History.

As one of the world's most recognizable fictional characters, Smokey's image is protected by U.S. Federal Law and is administered by the USDA Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council.

The campaign's original catch phrase was "Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires." In 1947 it was changed to "Remember... Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires." Most recently, in 2001, it was again modified to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires" in response to a massive outbreak of wildfires in natural areas other than forests. The term "wildfire" applies to any unwanted, unplanned, uncontrolled outdoor fire.

Despite the campaign's success over the years, wildfire prevention remains one of the most critical issues affecting our country and Smokey's message is as relevant today as it was in 1944.

It was the shoe industry that first made Haverhill's mark on the world. In 1811, 20,000 pair of shoes were being produced. By 1830, the number of pairs of shoes produced had grown to 1,500,000. In 1890, over 11,000 people were employed in the shoe industry and that number continued to grow well into the early 1900's. Haverhill became a world leader in the shoe industry and was called the "Queen Shoe City of the World". At the shoe industry's peak, Haverhill had over 200 shoe establishments with a fine complement of support businesses.