Did you miss Sweetest Day? It's Saturday, October 17 (today as posted) this year, and it has a nearly century-long history with northern Ohio roots.
On October 7, 1921, the Sandusky
Register and the Sandusky Star
Journal both featured several articles and advertisements to promote “National
Candy Day,” which was celebrated in Northern Ohio on October 8, 1921. This event later became known as Sweetest Day, now celebrated on the
third Saturday in October. Sweetest Day was begun in Cleveland in the early
1920s when a group of local businessmen provided thousands of orphans and
elderly residents with boxes of candy. Silent film star Theda Bara assisted in the distribution
of candy in Cleveland.
According to the 1921 Sandusky City Directory, at that time
Sandusky had two candy manufacturers, two candy wholesalers, and thirteen
retail confectioners. All these businesses sold or distributed candy and other
sweet treats. The Catawba Candy Company, located at southwest corner of Decatur
and Water Streets, was known for its “Catawba kisses.”
Fred A. Martin was the
proprietor of Martin’s Confectionery, which dealt both in wholesale and retails
confections, ice cream, and baked goods.
Several Sandusky drugstores and groceries also carried a
wide variety of candy to help Sanduskians celebrate the sweetest day or the
year in 1921.
Back in the late 1950s, while walking home from Campbell School kindergarten, I can remember stopping at an in home penny candy store called "Schultz's". I believe that it was on Ging St.
ReplyDeleteGreat Memory Matt,
ReplyDeleteI walked home with friends from Campbell School as well, Kindergarten through 4th grade in the early 70's, we lived on Campbell St by Taylor St. Schultz's was actually on the southwest corner of Lindsley St. and Polk St., 1401 Lindsley to be exact. There was a small bump-out on the back of the house on the Polk St. side. She was very nice and we often stopped there whenever we could get a few pennies and talk with her. The house was last sold in February of 2017 and some restoration and repairs were being done the last time I was by there. Good memories of those little neighborhood places that are gone. Another was Long's Grocery on Third Street off Sycamore Line, right across from Sycamore School, by the time I stopped there in 5th grade around 1974, Mrs. Long was down to just running a penny candy counter. The building/house is gone now, but the large brick garage on the alley remains.
"Walking home from Campbell School Kindergarten" in the 1950s. My time was the 40s. In winter, or when it rained, I rode the city bus...unaccompanied; for a nickel. How tragic it is in these troubled times, that our own children will never experience the freedom and safety we elders once enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteAnd Oh yes, how I do remember those little penny candies. White teeth, or red lips of chewable sweet wax, and the little wax containers with just a tiny amount of sweet juice.
This blog has a wonderful way of refreshing so many memories of my childhood. Thanx again.
Those penny candies were sold, by and large, unpackaged and unwrapped. For about a nickel, does anyone remember candy cigarettes and bubble gum cigars? Try to find those items today. Lots of fun back then though. Great memories.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the Miss Long store on Third st across from Sycamore school I would love to know some history on the candy store