In 1765, Dr. James Baker of Dorchester stumbled upon Irishman John
Hannon crying on the banks of the mighty Neponset River. Hannon, though
penniless, possessed the rare skills required to create chocolate, a
delicacy exclusive to Europe, and Baker, with pockets bursting, wished
to make a name for himself. Using a mill powered by the same river upon
which they met, the duo built America's oldest and most beloved
manufacturer of this rich treat. Local historian Anthony Sammarco
details the delicious saga of Massachusetts's Baker Chocolate Company,
from Hannon's mysterious disappearance and the famed La Belle
Chocolatiere advertising campaign to cacao bean smuggling sparked by
Revolutionary War blockades. Both bitter and sweet, this tale is sure to
tickle your taste buds.