The Sweet History Of The Baker Chocolate Company

Discover the fascinating history of the Baker Chocolate Company at a free slide lecture by historian Anthony Sammarco, author of The Baker Chocolate Company: A Sweet History.
In 1765, Dr. James Baker of Dorchester met John Hannon, "a penniless Irish immigrant," crying on the banks of the Neponset River. Inquiring as to his obvious distress, Baker learned that Hannon was destitute but that he possessed the skill of making chocolate, having learned it in England. Baker financially backed Hannon in a leased, wood-framed mill in Milton Village, and later established the Baker Chocolate Company in 1780. The history of the company is an interesting time capsule of American history, as it is the oldest manufacturer of chocolate in the United States. Three generations of the Baker family operated the business and by the mid-19th century it was one of the world's leading producers of chocolate and cocoa.
Copies of Mr. Sammarco's book will be available for sale.
Location: Main Library Community Meeting Room (ground floor)