For Hager, the 1900's opened with not a creak, but a bang. The early 1900s brought a pivotal moment for Hager, the first of its kind — the first change in Hager's leadership as Charles Hager stepped down from the company's presidency and his son, August W. Hager proudly took up the mantle. From blacksmith shop assistant to company president, August was the first in a long line of Hagers to do what we're still honored to be a part of… making Hager a genuine family company. This legacy of family, of shared values and commitment, is what makes Hager more than just a company, but a community. 

In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt launched the famous Panama Canal project, which would open up the sea trade between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Hager was contracted to produce massive quantities of custom hinges for the locks on the canal. With the start of World War I, government orders for hinges were never-ending, keeping the factory producing around the clock. Producing at maximum capacity nearly all times, it seemed there would be no end to the productivity. 

And with this, Hager entered a new era of innovation and growth. Growth was abundant, and opportunities seemed limitless for product and machinery development. But then, in 1929, the Great Depression struck, testing Hager's resilience like never before. Yet, even in the face of such adversity, Hager stood strong, a testament to its unwavering spirit and commitment to excellence.