Westminster Cracker Company facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Food industry |
| Founded | Westminster, Massachusetts, United States, 1828 |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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| Products | Crackers, Oyster crackers |
The Westminster Cracker Company is a very old company from New England. It started in Westminster, Massachusetts, way back in 1828. The first building where they made crackers is still there in Westminster. You can even see it on some of their product labels! Today, the company's main office is in Rutland, Vermont. They are famous for making different kinds of crackers, especially Oyster crackers.
Contents
The Story of Westminster Crackers
How It All Began
The Westminster Cracker Factory opened its doors in 1828. It was located in a red wooden building in Westminster, Massachusetts. They started by making at least three types of crackers. These included "common crackers," "butter crackers," and "oyster crackers."
In the early days, a horse on a treadmill powered the factory's machines. This was how they mixed and baked the crackers. Later, they switched to steam power. By 1922, the bakery used electricity to run everything.
Growing and Celebrating
In 1909, a picture of the decorated cracker factory was shared. It was in a book celebrating Westminster, Massachusetts's 150th anniversary. The company's owners, C. C. Dawley & Sons, were part of the celebration. They had five decorated teams in the parade. These teams showed off the baking business.
By Christmas of 1912, the factory was making a lot of crackers. They produced about 100 barrels of crackers every day! A 1913 book about Massachusetts businesses listed the Westminster Bakery. It showed that C. C. Dawley & Sons still owned it.
Around 1922, the company had a popular saying. Their slogan was: "Westminster Crackers: As good as can be made."
New Owners and Popular Crackers
The Dawley family owned the Westminster Cracker Company for over 100 years. In 1982, a part of their business was sold. However, Peter Dawley kept the rights to make Westminster Crackers. He started a new Westminster Cracker company in Rutland in 1988.
The oyster cracker is now their most popular product. Many restaurants across the United States serve these crackers. They are often enjoyed with soups like Clam chowder.
The Cracker Festival Today
Since 2015, the Westminster Village Foundation has hosted a special event. It's called the Westminster Cracker Festival. This festival celebrates the company's long history and achievements.
In 2018, thousands of people attended the festival. It featured a 5K race and live music all day. There were also food vendors and fun games. One popular game is a photo contest. People take creative pictures of Westminster Crackers far from home. Photos have shown crackers in Alaska, on beaches, and even on cruise ships!
As of 2025, the Cracker Festival is still a free event. It happens every October, rain or shine. Everyone is welcome to join the fun.
See also
- Clam chowder, a yummy soup often served with oyster crackers
- Cracker
