According to a newspaper article
dated January 1916, in the Warwick Advertiser, this business
was started early in 1916. The original building was described
as frame structure 30x60 feet built by the Welch brothers
for a man named Conrad Haaren. They hoped to complete the
construction by March of that year and production of milk
chocolate was to begin in April. " The new industry
will be a most welcome one, for although its force of men
will not be very large, it will afford a new market for
the dairymen, and it is understood that the price which
will be paid for the milk will be somewhat above the ordinary
market price."
Mr Haaren said he expects to
use at least seventy-five cans of milk a day.
Business must have prospered because it looks as though
the building was enlarged from the original size of 30x60
feet.
Mr. J. Richard Gove wrote in
to tell me that his father was the Stationary Engineer at
the Chocolate Factory prior to his birth in 1925 and that
his family lived across from the Conklin and Strong Store
which was managed by Harry Bradner at the time.
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