The Baker Chocolate Company: A Sweet History

by Anthony Mitchell Sammarco

In 1765, Dr. James Baker of Dorchester stumbled upon Irishman John Hannon crying on the banks of the mighty Neponset River. Hannon, though penniless, possessed the rare skills required to create chocolate, a delicacy exclusive to Europe, and Baker, with pockets bursting, wished to make a name for himself. Using a mill powered by the same river upon which they met, the duo built America's oldest and most beloved manufacturer of this rich treat. Local historian Anthony Sammarco details the delicious saga of Massachusetts's Baker Chocolate Company, from Hannon's mysterious disappearance and the famed La Belle Chocolatiere advertising campaign to cacao bean smuggling sparked by Revolutionary War blockades. Both bitter and sweet, this tale is sure to tickle your taste buds.

Genres: History, Food and Drink

136 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Anthony Mitchell Sammarco is a noted historian and author of over sixty books on the history and development of Boston, and he lectures widely on the history and development of his native city. He commenced writing in 1995, and his books Lost Boston, The History of Howard Johnson’s: How A Massachusetts Soda Fountain Became a Roadside Icon, and The Baker Chocolate Company: A Sweet History
are among his many books that have made local bestseller lists.

Reviews

[Kerry Moran · Rating 1 out of 5]

The way this was written genuinely feels like a word count or page count was the goal. So many things are repeated over and over again and there’s long, overly detailed descriptions of things that have nothing to do with anything (did we really need almost an entire chapter describing in extreme detail the different fairs?). Overall this was not an enjoyable read.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another of Anthony Sammarco’s historical books about various cities and industries of Massachusetts. He has written about many Boston neighborhoods, and I heard him speak at the local library.

This is the history of the Baker Chocolate Company of Dorchester/ Milton. Dorchester is now part of Boston and Milton is nearby. Baker Chocolate is the oldest chocolate factory in the US, founded in 1765, and still operates today as part of Kraft Foods, though no longer in Massachusetts.

Right nearby Baker Chocolate were also the first in the US of gunpowder mills, paper mills, and playing card manufacturers, all run on water power from the Neponset River. The Neponsets were once a local Indian Tribe in the area.

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dry read. I would have enjoyed it more if it focused on the humans, as opposed to reading like a history report, but there were some neat little tidbits to relish. If you are familiar with Boston and it's neighborhoods, you will recognize much of the scenery set for you.