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The Westminster Cracker Company is a
In 1828, the Westminster Cracker Factory was founded. They operated out of a red clapboard building in Westminster, Massachusetts. They began manufacture of at least three cracker varieties: "common crackers, the butter cracker," and the 
Circa 1922, their slogan was "Westminster Crackers: As good as can be made."
Westminster Cracker Company was owned by the Dawley family for more than 100 years. Dawley & Shepard, Inc., headed by President David Dawley, sold its breading factory to the
About Westminster Crackers
Food and drink companies based in Massachusetts Brand name crackers Food and drink companies based in Vermont Rutland, Vermont Westminster, Massachusetts 1828 establishments in Massachusetts Food and drink companies established in 1828
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the Can ...
-based company established in Westminster, Massachusetts
Westminster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. At the 2020 census, the town population was 8,213.
History
Westminster was first settled by Europeans in 1737, and was officially incorporated in 1759.
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in 1828. The original building, which is depicted in its product labeling, still presently stands in the center of Westminster, although it has not been used for manufacturing for decades. The company is now based in Rutland, Vermont.
History
In 1828, the Westminster Cracker Factory was founded. They operated out of a red clapboard building in Westminster, Massachusetts. They began manufacture of at least three cracker varieties: "common crackers, the butter cracker," and the oyster cracker
Oyster crackers are small, salted crackers, typically rounds about in diameter, although a slightly smaller hexagonal variety is also common. The crackers are often served with oyster stew and clam chowder and contain similar ingredients to sa ...
. During its early days, the factory's machinery was powered by a horse on a treadmill; steam power followed, and by 1922, the bakery was electrified.
In 1909, a photograph of the decorated cracker factory was published in the ''150th Anniversary Celebration of the Town of Westminster, Massachusetts
Westminster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. At the 2020 census, the town population was 8,213.
History
Westminster was first settled by Europeans in 1737, and was officially incorporated in 1759.
Westmin ...
'' by Wilbur F. Whitney. The company's owners, C. C. Dawley & Sons, were participants of that year's float, constituting "5 decorated teams representing the baking business." "Mrs. C. C. Dawley" was a member of the parade committee.
By Christmas of 1912, the factory was "turning out 100 bbls arrelsof crackers daily."
The 1913 ''Directory of Massachusetts Manufactures'' lists the Westminster Bakery as owned by C. C. Dawley & Sons.
Circa 1922, their slogan was "Westminster Crackers: As good as can be made."
Westminster Cracker Company was owned by the Dawley family for more than 100 years. Dawley & Shepard, Inc., headed by President David Dawley, sold its breading factory to the Pillsbury Company
The Pillsbury Company is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company that was one of the world's largest producers of grain and other foodstuffs until it was bought by General Mills in 2001. General Mills brands consist of Annie's, Betty Crocker, Nat ...
in 1982. The rights to make Westminster Crackers were retained by Peter Dawley who started a new Westminster Cracker company in Rutland in 1988. Historically, the most famous cracker was the common cracker that filled Cracker Barrel country stores in New England. The company makes other types of crackers, but the most popular contemporary product is the oyster cracker, which is served by restaurants throughout the United States.
Since 2015, the Westminster Village Foundation has hosted the Westminster Cracker Festival, which celebrates the company's achievements. In 2018, thousands were in attendance, and the event featured "a 5K race
The 5K run is a long-distance road running competition over a distance of . Also referred to as the 5K road race, 5 km, or simply 5K, it is the shortest of the most common road running distances. It is usually distinguished from the 5000 me ...
, live music throughout the day, food vendors, games and chili_cook-offs_topped_with_the_crackers.html" ;"title="Cook-off.html" ;"title="nowiki/> chili_cook-offs_topped_with_the_crackers">Cook-off.html"_;"title="nowiki/>Cook-off">chili_cook-offs_topped_with_the_crackers_and_a_Beer_garden.html" ;"title="Cook-off">chili cook-offs topped with the crackers">Cook-off.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Cook-off">chili cook-offs topped with the crackers and a Beer garden">beer and wine garden." One game is a photo contest titled "Westminster Crackers are Everywhere," wherein residents are encouraged to submit creative photographs of them being served the cracker far from home; pictures have included the crackers in Alaska, on beaches, and on cruise ships. As of 2023, the Cracker Festival continues to be hosted as a free October event for all, rain or shine.
See also
* Clam chowder, a Northeastern soup often served with oyster crackers * Cracker (food), CrackerReferences
External links
* {{Official, http://www.westminstercrackers.comAbout Westminster Crackers
Food and drink companies based in Massachusetts Brand name crackers Food and drink companies based in Vermont Rutland, Vermont Westminster, Massachusetts 1828 establishments in Massachusetts Food and drink companies established in 1828