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Page & Shaw facts for kids
Page & Shaw was once one of the biggest candy makers in the United States. It was active for many years, from 1888 until around 1960. This company was famous for its delicious chocolates and candies.
Early Days and Growth
Page & Shaw began as a small candy shop. It was located at 9 West Street in Boston. The company grew quickly. In 1911, it opened a large factory. This factory was in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Page & Shaw also opened stores in other countries. These included England, France, and Canada.
During World War I, in 1918, there was a sugar shortage. The government needed to control how much sugar companies used. Page & Shaw's factory and five stores were temporarily closed. This happened because the company had more sugar than allowed by the United States Food Administration. They were able to reopen after a week.
Big Expansion and Success
Around 1920, a lawyer named Otis Emerson Dunham took charge of Page & Shaw. He had big plans for the company. He wanted it to grow even more.
By 1924, Page & Shaw was very successful. They sold over 2 million pounds of chocolate each year! At its best, the company had 35 shops. They also had candy factories in many cities. These included New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco. They even had factories in Montreal and London. The Cambridge factory alone made over 6 million pounds of chocolate candies every year.
Challenges and End of an Era
The company faced tough times after 1929. This was when the stock market crashed. Many businesses struggled. Page & Shaw's sales went down a lot.
In 1930, Mr. Dunham and some others faced legal issues. These issues were about how they handled company money. That same year, Page & Shaw went out of business. It was bought by another company, Daggett Co., in 1931. Later, in 1960, Daggett Co. was bought by Necco. Around that time, Page & Shaw chocolates were no longer made.
Today, the MIT's Wiesner Building stands where Page & Shaw's factory used to be. This is on Ames Street in Cambridge.