19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, December 25, 1914: << no entry>>
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Since Grandma didn’t write anything a hundred years ago today, I’ll share a 1914, Christmas-themed advertisement for Necco Wafers.
It’s always fun to come across an ad in an old magazine for a product that still available. I did a little research on Necco wafers and was stunned to discover that they’ve been around for 167 years. According to Wikipedia:
Necco Wafers date back to 1847. Oliver Chase, an English immigrant, invented a lozenge cutting machine with which he produced the wafers. At the time of the Civil War, these were called “hub wafers” and were carried by Union soldiers. In 1901, Chase and Company merged with two other companies to incorporate the New England Confectionery Company. By 1912 the wafers were being advertised as “Necco Wafers”, a name they still carry today.
During World War II the United States government ordered Necco to produce its wafers for soldiers overseas. As a result of this action, Necco saw its sales of the wafers peak. Upon returning home, many former soldiers became faithful customers who continued to buy the wafers.
A Hundred Years Ago 
Merry Christmas, Sheryl! (I was hoping Grandma would have written a post for Christmas…perhaps she’ll give us a recap tomorrow!)
Do you like Necco wafers? I never cared for them, but it’s interesting that they’ve been around for so long. Obviously, I’m in the minority!
Taste-wise, I suppose that I consider them an average candy; but I have warm memories of people giving them to me when I was a child. 🙂
One of my favorites. The company tried to change the colors and got feedback. I hope the link works.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/10/26/141732915/customer-outrage-forces-necco-to-put-artificial-ingredients-back-into-wafers
What a fun story! Sometimes change isn’t good, and people just want an old favorite–even if it does include some artificial colors. 🙂
I don’t know that I have ever seen these. Lifesavers are familiar to me, though.
I’m often amazed how many products that have been made for more than a hundred years are available in both the US and New Zealand. This apparently isn’t one of them . 🙂
Not that I know of. Actually I should ask my father if he remembers the US servicemen with Necco wafers.
I had no idea Necco wafers had been around so long. I loved them when I was a child and would probably still love them today. So interesting that Civil War soldiers carried them and then soldiers later too. Merry Christmas to you Sheryl and thanks so much for sharing this “find.” 🙂
I also find it really interesting how some products have been around for so long. Have a wonderful holiday season!
wow now that’s product longevity!
Diana xo
I agree!
i remember something like this but can’t remember what it was called.
These candies seemed old-fashioned to me–even back when I was a child.
Another great bit of sleuthing! I always liked the brown and black ones. Merry Christmas!
The green ones were my favorite. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas in PA.
Happy Christmas Sheryl and Helena!
Thank you! I hope that you also had a wonderful Christmas.
I didn’t know they’d been around so long. Interesting history.
>
It’s amazing how long some foods have been around.
Hope you have had a Very Merry Christmas! Love Necco Wafers. Thanks for the history lesson!
I had a wonderful Christmas. I hope that you also had a fantastic Christmas.
My mother, who was Helen’s oldest daughter, Marjorie loved Necco wafers. When she was older and did not feel well, I often gave them to her. Like so many others, I did not like them. Maybe it reminded her of her youth.
I also remember that my dad really liked them. Maybe Grandma gave Necco wafers to them as treats when they were children.
I love the chocolate ones!
The licorice ones were my least favorite.
favorite candy – didn’t know it has been around so long! 🙂
It’s amazing how long they’ve been around.
As a child, I loved these wafers! I’ll have to see if I can find some when I get the groceries tomorrow!
Funny thing is my wife put some in my stocking this year.
I have never heard of Necco Wafers. At first I thought they were a cookie but it seems they were a candy 🙂
Someone who never heard of Necco wafers? Wow! Anyway, this is a great entry, and it also points out how little it apparently took to make a child happy with the contents of the stocking.
I’m a bit late with the wishes, but I do hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day, Sheryl. 🙂