Now You See It, Now You Don't!
TellzAll's subject for October is Penny Candy
Can you imagine being able to buy something with just a penny? Throughout much of American history, children looked forward to the treat of penny candy when they went to the store. Unfortunately, the penny will not buy anything in most stores today. In fact, many people who drop a penny on the ground will not bother to pick it up! Penny candy emerged in the 1800s for the first time. Prior to the industrial revolution, candy was expensive to make. As the candy industry developed in the nineteenth century, manufacturers were able to produce large quantities of very inexpensive candies. Many stores across the United States carried penny candy, and children shopping with their parents always looked forward to the sweet treat. Often, the jars of candy were located near the counter where customers would pay for their purchases.
In the nineteenth century, penny candy was not wrapped in anything—store owners placed the candy in large glass jars that had either glass or metal lids. Most early candies were hard candies, such as lemon drops, peppermint lozenges, and striped candy sticks. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, many other types of candies were making appearances in these jars, such as licorice, gumdrops, marshmallows, chocolates, caramels, chewing gum, and jellybeans. The first penny candy to have a paper wrapper was the Tootsie Roll. Amazingly, many of these candies cost only three, five, or ten pieces for a penny originally! It was always difficult to decide how to spend those pennies, when there were so many options from which to choose.
By the latter part of the twentieth century, it became more and more difficult to find penny candy. In part, the types of stores that had carried penny candy, commonly known as general stores because they carried so many different items, were disappearing. Grocery stores and other retailers took their places, and these stores did not have employees available to count out individual pieces of candy. In addition, inflation meant that it took more money to purchase the same items as in the past. Penny candy started costing a nickel or dime instead.
Although penny candy is no longer common as it was in the past, it is still possible to find it occasionally in general stores that target customers who are nostalgic about the past. There are companies that also sell penny candy in bulk on the internet. The glass jars that store proprietors once used to display penny candy are now collectibles.
