Urban Archeologist: Penny Candy for Your Thoughts?

When it comes to Urban Archeology, age has nothing to do with it. This is a hobby for young and not-so-young. I don’t consider myself to be very old, but that has more to do with the Peter Pan Syndrome I suffer from (read: I won’t grow up). However, I did have the opportunity to spend summers in the vicinity of a penny candy store.

It may have been a nostalgic throw back for the storeowners because penny candy wasn’t all they sold. I do remember a sea of fish bowls some with familiar candy and some with the most mysterious candy I’ve never seen since. It was still a dream, both for me with a pocket full of change, and my dentist with kids to put through college.

When I found a catalog from the 1920s in a New Milford junk shop, I never guessed it would rattle my sweet tooth. I also never guessed that there were so many confections that have come and stayed and some that never lasted.

Take a look at some of the pages scanned from the catalog, or watch the video and see if you can recall ever seeing some of the discontinued candy that might still be interesting to try today. Would you care for a clove-flavored Life Saver? Or how about an “Oh Henry” relative, the candy bar that claims to be his little sister “Oh Mabel?”

After watching the video, fast forward to the 1960s and see if you can guess the candy in this ad quiz No. 19.

Greg Van Antwerp is a Brookfield resident and blogger, who can be found on the weekends in search of a good “dig” or a good story.  You can read more about his adventures by visiting his blog.

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