Our History
Fredrick Vorm and his son Charley Vorm established American Oak Preserving Company in North Judson, Indiana.
1916
Charley Vorm “retired” in Scottsdale, Arizona. His two sons, Fred and Nels, took over the business.
1959
Charles Vorm, son of Nels, became the president and chairman of the board. He had previously started working at American Oak in 1972.
1985
The company was honored to have hit 100 years of business.
2016
1928–1935
Other foliages were added to the processing method, requiring year-round operations. Those additions generated a long period of expansion through the 1930s.
1962
Nels died in a plane accident and Fred took over the operations.
2009
Charles opened a local pumpkin farm named CEKA Farms, American Oak’s sister company. It continues to grow each year for various grocery and hardware chains.
2023
Charles passed away in June 2023. Charles’s three daughters, Erika, Kirsten, and Alyse, now collectively run the company, following in their father’s footsteps and carrying on their family’s legacy.
Our Story
American Oak Preserving Company, located in North Judson, Indiana, was established in 1916 by Fredrick Vorm and his son Charley Vorm. The company launched selling preserved oak leaves where the preserving method originated in Europe, processing beech leaves. Due to the abundance of oak trees, North Judson, Indiana was chosen as the location for the processing plant. In the first years, American Oak only sold oak leaves and operated from May through November. Charley Vorm, a tinsmith by trade, then sailed back to Denmark for the winter months. From 1928 to 1935 other foliages were added to the processing method, requiring year-round operations. Those additions generated a long period of expansion through the 1930s.
Charley Vorm traveled around the world searching for new products through the 1950s. He soon became one of the most renowned big game hunters in the world. He hunted all corners of the globe for animals as diverse as polar bears, kudu, lions, tigers, elephants, and gazelle.
In the 1950’s Charley’s two sons, Fred and Nels, were brought into the operation and in 1959 Charley “retired” in Scottsdale, Arizona, while his sons took over the business. In 1962, Nels died in a plane accident and Fred took over the operations. In 1972, Charles Vorm, son of Nels, started working at American Oak, and became the president and chairman of the board in 1985.
Charles Vorm served as the president and chairman of the board, working alongside his three daughters Erika Vorm Johnston, Kirsten Vorm Martin, and Alyse Vorm Albers, who all joined the company in the early 2000s. Charles developed a new product of cinnamon scented pinecones along with expanding into processing and selling many dried flowers. In 2009 he opened a local pumpkin farm, named CEKA Farms, American Oak’s sister company, which operates in Indiana. CEKA Farms continues to grow each year for various grocery and hardware chains. When Erika, Kirsten, and Alyse began working at the company they traveled overseas in search of new designs. American Oak went from producing a few holiday decorations to selling a wide variety of seasonal items. Charles served as the president and chairman of the board until he sadly passed away in June 2023. Charles’s three daughters, Erika, Kirsten, and Alyse, now collectively run the company, following in their father’s footsteps and carrying on their family’s legacy.
As the market changes, American Oak continues to expand. While still manufacturing in Indiana, American Oak now imports many products from all over the world including Kenya, Italy, India, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Africa, Indonesia, Canada, Madagascar, and many others.
American Oak prides itself on remembering and celebrating its past, but more importantly, we anticipate the future. We look forward to continued success and thank our customers for their continued support and loyalty.
We are honored to have hit 100 years of business in 2016. Here’s to 100 more!
