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| Sidney also became an epicenter of the candy
industry in Ohio. It all started when Charles Hickok opened a fruit and vegetable stand
downtown in the 1880s. He had begun to experiment in the confectionery business by 1895.
Making chocolate candy was his specialty. By 1900, Hickok Candy Company had expanded to a
new 50,000 square foot location at 227 West Poplar Street, on what is now the parking lot
to the west of the city building. Its products included 'Hickok chips'- an oblong,
chocolate covered candy, other assorted chocolates, marshmallows, hard candies such as
caramels, and 'maple chews'. According to "Memoirs", "...during WW1, the company gave government orders
preference and tons upon tons of Hickok candies went to the boys in khaki." As was the case in other industries, success in the candy business bred local competition. Evans Johnson began making hand-dipped chocolate candies in his home at 729 Crescent Drive in 1919. Mr. Johnson purchased the assets of the Venus Chocolate Company in 1922. He expanded the business and it soon occupied a new structure on North Main Avenue, across the street from the present site of Sidney ‘Ace’ hardware. They installed modern candy-making machinery from France and imported raw chocolate from India. At the height of production, over two tons of chocolate candy a day was made and shipped to a market area covering four states. [Back] [Next] [Up] [New Search] Industry segment written in January, 1998 by Rich Wallace |