Westminster Cracker Company

Apr 21, 2026 - 04:12
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Westminster Cracker Company

History: Removed content that made no sense and was lacking a citation.

← Previous revision Revision as of 22:41, 20 April 2026
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Circa 1922, their slogan was "Westminster Crackers: As good as can be made."
Circa 1922, their slogan was "Westminster Crackers: As good as can be made."


Westminster Cracker Company was owned by the Dawley family for more than 100 years. Dawley & Shepard, Inc., headed by President David Dawley, sold its breading factory to the [[Pillsbury Company]] in 1982.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} The rights to make Westminster Crackers were retained by Peter Dawley who started a new Westminster Cracker company in Rutland in 1988.{{cite journal|url=http://vbsr.org/documents/VBM%20May%202008%20Business%20Snapshot.pdf|journal=Vermont Business Magazine|date=May 2008|volume=36|issue=5|title=Business Snapshot|author=Schmidt, Joe|accessdate=2009-06-02|archive-date=2011-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728153159/http://vbsr.org/documents/VBM%20May%202008%20Business%20Snapshot.pdf|url-status=dead}} Historically, the most famous cracker was the common cracker that filled Cracker Barrel country stores in New England{{according to whom|date=April 2013}}. The company makes other types of crackers, but the most popular contemporary product is the oyster cracker, which is served by restaurants throughout the United States.
Westminster Cracker Company was owned by the Dawley family for more than 100 years. Dawley & Shepard, Inc., headed by President David Dawley, sold its breading factory to the [[Pillsbury Company]] in 1982.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}} The rights to make Westminster Crackers were retained by Peter Dawley who started a new Westminster Cracker company in Rutland in 1988.{{cite journal|url=http://vbsr.org/documents/VBM%20May%202008%20Business%20Snapshot.pdf|journal=Vermont Business Magazine|date=May 2008|volume=36|issue=5|title=Business Snapshot|author=Schmidt, Joe|accessdate=2009-06-02|archive-date=2011-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728153159/http://vbsr.org/documents/VBM%20May%202008%20Business%20Snapshot.pdf|url-status=dead}} The company makes other types of crackers, but the most popular contemporary product is the oyster cracker, which is served by restaurants throughout the United States.


Since 2015, the Westminster Village Foundation has hosted the Westminster Cracker Festival, which celebrates the company's achievements. In 2018, thousands were in attendance, and the event featured "a [[5K run|5K race]], live music throughout the day, food vendors, games and [[[Cook-off|chili cook-offs]] topped with the crackers], and a [[Beer garden|beer and wine garden]]."{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Steve |title=Thousands help celebrate Westminster Crackers |url=https://www.thegardnernews.com/story/news/2018/10/21/thousands-help-celebrate-westminster-crackers/9494841007/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Gardner News |language=en-US}} One game is a photo contest titled "Westminster Crackers are Everywhere," wherein residents are encouraged to submit creative photographs of them being served the cracker far from home; pictures have included the crackers in Alaska, on beaches, and on cruise ships. As of 2023, the Cracker Festival continues to be hosted as a free October event for all, rain or shine.{{Cite web |title=Westminster Cracker Festival |url=https://www.crackerfestival.com/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Westminster Cracker Festival |language=en-US}}
Since 2015, the Westminster Village Foundation has hosted the Westminster Cracker Festival, which celebrates the company's achievements. In 2018, thousands were in attendance, and the event featured "a [[5K run|5K race]], live music throughout the day, food vendors, games and [[[Cook-off|chili cook-offs]] topped with the crackers], and a [[Beer garden|beer and wine garden]]."{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Steve |title=Thousands help celebrate Westminster Crackers |url=https://www.thegardnernews.com/story/news/2018/10/21/thousands-help-celebrate-westminster-crackers/9494841007/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Gardner News |language=en-US}} One game is a photo contest titled "Westminster Crackers are Everywhere," wherein residents are encouraged to submit creative photographs of them being served the cracker far from home; pictures have included the crackers in Alaska, on beaches, and on cruise ships. As of 2023, the Cracker Festival continues to be hosted as a free October event for all, rain or shine.{{Cite web |title=Westminster Cracker Festival |url=https://www.crackerfestival.com/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Westminster Cracker Festival |language=en-US}}
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