Business & Tech
The Twinkie Connection
Find out how the snack cakes got their start in town from a chain-smoking, Twinkie-loving resident of Oak Park and River Forest.
Americans love their Twinkies—the company that creates these everlasting treats claims it sells over 500 million a year.
But no more.
Hostess Brands Inc., the makers of Twinkies, Wonder Break, Ding Dongs and Ho Ho's, will begin the process of selling off these brands in a court in New York on Monday, according to the Huffington Post.
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That's good news for Twinkie fans—it means the iconic snack cake will likely live on, as other companies look to purchase the brand for its name recognition and significant sales.
However, even with all this talk of Twinkies of late, what you might not know is that the snack cakes actually got their start very close to home—in River Forest.
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According to the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest, the inventor of the Twinkie was none other than James Dewar, of Oak Park and River Forest.
Dewar would have been skeptical of all the recent discussion surrounding the Twinkies dubious health record—he died at 88 years old, a proud chain-smoker who ate three Twinkies with milk before bed. He also credited his sons' athletic abilities with their growing up eating Twinkies. One even managed to play for the Cleveland Browns.
According to the historical society, Dewar invented the treat in 1931 when he was the manager of the Continental Baking Co. plant in River Forest, which was eventually renamed the Hostess Cake Company. He was the guy who got the great idea to fill up shortcake with a creamy white filling.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Dewar got the name for the Twinkie from a billboard for Twinkle Toes Shoes, which he then shorted to simply, Twinkie.
See a timeline of the Twinkie's history in Chicago on the Chicago Tribune website by clicking here.
Share Your Story:
Tell us your Twinkie memories in comments below. When did you eat your first Twinkie? Were they a standard lunch treat in your bag? Anyone remember the first Twinkies in River Forest in the early 30s?
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