Trick or Treat
IT’S my favorite time of year.
The weather breaks, the leaves change, our outfits become more creative, and the best foods and traditions throughout New England come to life again. I’m talking about autumn, of course, and nothing is better than fall in New England.
Twice I’ve engineered a Halloween themed Meals on Heels shoot, and honestly I wouldn’t surprise myself if there were more to come! With so much tradition, spooks, spirits, and candy right here in our own backyard, how could I not?
Here are a few fun facts to nibble on, that you may find yourself pulling out of your ‘trick or treat’ bags this year:
Did you know Boston was once called the candy capital of America?
In 1950, Boston and Cambridge, were home to 140 candy companies! Main Street in Cambridge, known as ‘Confectioner’s Row,’ was lined with New England candy makers: James O. Welch (Junior Mints), Fox-Cross (Charleston Chew), Jack Smiley (hard candies), Graylock Confection (Tweet) and Daggett (chocolates).
Did you know the first chocolate factory was right here in Dorchester’s Lower Mills?
In 1764, Dr. James Baker and chocolate maker John Hannon founded “Hannon’s Best Chocolate,” which was America’s first successful chocolate mill. The two revolutionized the way chocolate was packaged and distributed in America. Unfortunately, in a spooky twist, Hannon disappeared on a voyage to buy cocoa beans in the West Indies and was never seen again.
Did you know Charlestown was home to the largest candy factory in the world?
We all know the iconic Schrafft’s sign in Charlestown, but who knows the sweet and delicious history behind it?
The Schrafft’s building once reigned as the largest candy factory in the world, employing over 1,600 people! The old New England candy plant is a landmark and still visible today when driving through Boston. It was built in 1928 to turn out boxed chocolates.
William F. Schrafft founded the company in 1861, originally making gumdrops and candy canes. Frank G. Shattuck bought Schrafft’s in 1898 to run the company’s retail stores, which by 1968 evolved into 55 genteel restaurants, mostly in New York.
Corporate greed would eventually get the better of the Charlestown factory though, which closed for good in 1984 and was renovated into offices. The neon red Schrafft’s sign still remains, however, reminding us all of the company’s rich and sweet history!
Source: Boston Public Library, “A Candy Tour of Boston”
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Brittany started The Boston Food Journal in late 2015. With a degree in biomedical engineering and a background in software management, she wanted to create a platform that combined her skills and experience in technology with her long-time love of food and art. Growing up, eating was always a symbol of love, family and togetherness. When she moved to Boston in 2014, she was enamored by the authentic food scene and on a complete whim started The Boston Food Journal.
In late 2019, Brittany resigned from working her corporate 9-5 to pursue the Boston Food Journal full-time and launch her digital marketing agency, Eleven Seven Media. At Eleven Seven Media, Brittany and her team craft custom digital strategies for clients across multiple verticals, leveraging both creative expertise and analytical insights. Learn more →
