Unwrapping the Mystery of the Last Candy Factory in Cambridge

One of the most secretive sites on The Innovation Trail is a candy factory that is owned by Tootsie Roll Industries. Scott Kirsner reads a Boston Globe column he wrote when attempting to unwrap the mystery of what they make there. Can you smell the chocolate, caramel, or mint on the air? For more on The Innovation Trail, visit: https://theinnovationtrail.org For the first half of the 20th century, Cambridge was the rich, creamy center of the nation’s candy industry. Factories cranked out Charleston Chews, Necco wafers, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Sugar Daddies, and an array of chocolates and cookies, including the Fig Newton. According to the Cambridge Historical Society, 1946 was the apex of the city’s candymaking era, with 66 different companies dotted around Cambridge. At the time, the area in which Cambridge Brands is located was known as “Confectioner’s Row.” The Cambridge Brands facility was built in 1927 by the James O. Welch Company, and Welch was eventually acquired by Tootsie Roll Industries in 1993.