PLOWLINES TO AREA RUGS.

HFN: The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network, June, 1999 by Herlihy, Mentored by Janet; Schuka, Terrilynn

Innovative response to change has marked the Capel family business since its beginning. In March 1917, 17-year-old A. Leon Capel was the manufacturer of Gee-Haw Plowlines in the foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains of North Carolina.

Just a few months later, Capel saw a newspaper story about Henry Ford's newest invention -- a mechanical mule -- the tractor. Seeing Ford's invention as the eventual end of his own business, Capel set about finding an alternative use for his raw materials. He opted to buy braiding machines and, rather than twisting the rope into plowlines, he made braided lengths and stitched them into circles, creating rugs.

At first, only smaller throw rugs were made, but available sizes grew with Capel's experience, until a complete...