Rite in the Rain was founded in the early 1900s in Washington State to solve a simple problem: how to record lumber measurements in the wet Pacific Northwest. Alec Polson of Polson Lumber asked Jerry Darling if there was a better way than using tally boards, which were cumbersome and required significant storage.

Jerry teamed up with printer Herbert Buffington, who had experience developing water-resistant paper, and founded a company to produce all-weather paper. Early production involved hand-dipping sheets in waterproofing solution and drying them on racks with a hand-crank system. The company initially shared space with Tacoma Printing & Binding Co. before moving to its own facility near Browns Point, Tacoma, WA.

Rite in the Rain’s innovation created durable, weatherproof paper that could withstand severe rain, revolutionizing outdoor record-keeping.