New exhibit explores crunchy piece of Vermont history

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A museum in Montpelier is paying tribute to a crunchy snack that’s made in Vermont. The Widespread Cracker exhibit opened Thursday on the Vermont Historical past Museum.

The Vermont Nation Retailer nonetheless makes them. However that’s in comparison with the ten or so bakeries throughout Vermont that used to show them out within the nineteenth century.

It began with the invention of equipment to make crackers. That began a complete business again in 1835.

By 1884, 10 bakeries throughout the state discovered the best way to make them together with Cross in Montpelier and Seashore’s in Burlington.

They’re described by the exhibit as oyster crackers on steroids. Product of flour, yeast, leaf lard, salt, baking soda and water– they have been the least costly crackers of the nineteenth century.

They have been a staple in most Vermont properties.

“There’s a extremely neat story right here and that’s of the bakery out west that stole the baker from out east to duplicate the cracker. However they couldn’t duplicate it, it simply didn’t come out proper. And that’s as a result of they didn’t have the Montpelier water,” mentioned George Edson of the Montpelier Historic Society.

Many Vermonters used to get pleasure from these crackers on a Sunday night, in a bowl with milk.

Whereas they’re not identified for his or her expansive taste profile, there’s a lot to be mentioned for these items of Vermont historical past.

Historian George Edson’s household used to make the crackers. Watch the video under to see my full dialog with him.

There’s a reception for the brand new exhibit on the cracker on the Vermont Historical past Museum on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 pm. The exhibit will stay open for viewing till January 2023.

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