In Today’s History Bit, we take a closer look at another of the Webster Museum’s permanent exhibits, the Webster Candy Kitchen.
Located adjacent to the Witmer’s Variety exhibit, the Candy Kitchen is the second stop for museum visitors as they stroll down the Village of Webster’s recreated Main Street.
Founded in 1908 by Charles Papapanu, the Candy Kitchen was located at 14 East Main Street, and was a fixture in the village for 65 years. It was a popular teen hangout and beloved sweets shop, known for its dizzying selection of penny candies, including taffy, peanut brittle, nougats, ribbon candy, caramels and dozens more. It was especially known for its molded chocolate Easter bunnies, and every year the owners donated a huge chocolate rabbit for the annual Kiwanis Easter Egg hunt.
In 1940 the owners added a classic soda fountain, further cementing the Candy Kitchen’s popularity among both young and old.
Tragedy struck in September 1973 when a discarded cigarette sparked a fire which destroyed the Candy Kitchen. Not having enough insurance to cover the damage, the owners had to close the shop.
But the beloved Webster Candy Kitchen lives on at the Webster Museum, where many of the salvaged items from the shop are on display. The recreated soda fountain, complete with soda and topping dispensers and ice cream dipping cabinet harken to a time when kids would gather after school. Candy molds, a taffy pulling hook and ribbon candy maker remind us of when just a few pennies would buy a bag filled with sweets, a treasure beyond compare for any child. You can see them all – and read about them all – at the Webster Museum.
Stay tuned for our next stop along Main Street in the next few months, when we remember another beloved and long-standing village business. In the meantime, you can find out more about the Webster Museum on the website, webstermuseum.org. Or stop by for a personal tour.
The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the village, and is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. There’s no admission charge.
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(posted 3/2/2025)
