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Few stories capture the spirit of industrial innovation quite like the history of Necco Wafers, born from Oliver Chase’s mechanical ingenuity in 1847.
These simple chalk-like candies became steadfast companions to Civil War soldiers, Arctic explorers, and WWII troops, their durability matching the resolve of those who loved them.
Oliver Chase’s 1847 invention of a mechanical lozenge cutter was a pivotal moment for American candy making.
The machine pressed and sliced dough into uniform discs, creating what we now know as Necco Wafers.
A modern marvel for its time, where other candy was hand made one by one.
These chalk-like candies, originally called “hub wafers,” were first used to fill soldiers’ pockets during the Civil War.
Their sturdy shape and long shelf life were perfect for the horrors of the battlefield.
While Necco Wafers claim the title of oldest American candy brand still made today, production has not been continuous.
In 1913, Arctic explorer Donald MacMillan packed Necco Wafers for his Crocker Land expedition.
MacMillan discovered that these candies provided quick energy for his team while also fostering goodwill with local Inuit children.
Admiral Richard Byrd later followed MacMillan’s lead to stock two tons of the wafers for his own polar venture.
The Arctic deployment demonstrated Necco’s stability in temperature extremes, long shelf life, and resilient packaging.
In 1899, the U.S. government incorporated Necco Wafers into military rations.
Just like its early use in the Civil War and polar expeditions, the candy provided concentrated calories and withstood harsh conditions without spoiling.
The government’s commitment to Necco Wafers deepened during World War I.
In 1917, military planners purchased the company’s entire annual production run, redirecting every wafer into soldiers’ ration packs.
And by World War II, under direct government orders, the company ramped up production specifically for troops’ rations again.
Returning soldiers, familiar with the candy from their service years, became loyal customers in peacetime.
The post-war period would become the company’s strongest sales period.
In 1927, Necco set up shop in the industrial district of Cambridge with a brand new eight-story factory.
The building’s steel-framed construction and modern mechanization set new standards for American candy manufacturing.
Assembly lines rolled out millions of Necco Wafers daily.
The factory’s water tower loomed above Massachusetts Avenue for decades as a utilitarian landmark.
In 1996, painters scaled its heights to transform the gray cylinder into a 40-foot-tall roll of Necco Wafers.
The tower’s new design had a white background striped with the candy’s signature pink, yellow, and brown bands.
In 2009, the wafer manufacturer replaced artificial ingredients and dyes with natural alternatives.
The new formula failed in the market.
Customers reported dissatisfaction, leading the company to restore the original recipe in 2011.
Today, the wafer line maintains its core eight flavors:
These flavors match the original formula from the 19th century, preserving the product’s taste profile.
The brand’s fortunes shifted dramatically in modern times.
Sales declined as consumers sought natural ingredients over artificial flavors and dyes.
In 2018, NECCO declared bankruptcy and ceased production, ending 171 years of continuous operation.
However, the brand was not dead yet, Spangler Candy Company purchased the brand and restarted production in 2020.
They maintained the original recipe while updating manufacturing processes.
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