Startup Candy Factory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Startup Candy Factory
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Startup Candy Factory, September 2011
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 Startup Candy Factory
Location in Utah
Startup Candy Factory
Location in the United States
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| Location | 534 South 100 West Provo, Utah United States |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1900 |
| Built by | William Startup |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003973 |
| Added to NRHP | October 28, 1983 |
The Startup Candy Factory is a special old building in Provo, Utah. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Guess what? Some of the very first candy bars in the United States were made right here!
Contents
The Amazing Startup Candy Factory
The Company's Sweet Start
The Startup Candy company was started by a man named William Startup. He built this factory in 1900. He wanted to make his family's candy business even bigger. It was one of the first candy companies in Utah. The dry weather in Utah was perfect for making candy.
This company made the first candy bars in the U.S. They were also the first to make and sell ice cream! Thanks to this factory, Utah made more candy than all the other nearby states put together. The Startup Candy Company was also the first in Utah to share its profits with employees. This is called profit sharing.
The Startup Candy Factory became a special historic landmark in Provo City on March 21, 1996.
What the Building Looks Like
The Startup Candy Factory building has two floors and a basement. It looks like a mix between a warehouse and a small shop. The south side of the building is quite plain. It doesn't have many fancy decorations.
The middle part of the building is more decorative. It has a cool Roman arched doorway. There's also a stone band, called a belt course, around the building. Some brick panels are set back into the wall. These panels frame the windows and doors. The north part of the building has a special brick pattern. This pattern, called a corbel, runs along the second floor.
The Startup Family Story
William Startup was born in England on September 8, 1846. As a child, he helped his dad make candy in their basement. William later became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was the only one in his family to move to the United States.
On November 14, 1869, William married Hagar in Salt Lake City. They first lived in Salt Lake, hoping William could be a teacher. But in 1874, they moved to Provo. In 1875, they started making candy in a factory next to their home. Sadly, William died in 1878. He was hit by a heavy stone slab used for cooling candy.
Hagar, his wife, had four children to care for. She decided to keep the candy business going to support them. By 1892, the store was very successful. It became the third biggest candy maker in Utah. Three years later, Hagar's sons, Walter, George, and William, took over the business.
In 1896, the first candy bar in the United States was sold from this factory. It was called the "opera bar" and cost ten cents. Later, during tough economic times, Walter Startup bought out his brothers. But he eventually lost the business to the bank. Luckily, he found more money. Walter was able to buy back the northern half of the factory. The company kept making candy there.
The Startup Candy Factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
