's 150th anniversary celebration In 1828, the Westminster Cracker Factory was founded. They operated out of a red clapboard building in Westminster, Massachusetts. During its early days, the factory's machinery was powered by
a horse on a treadmill; steam power followed, and by 1922, the bakery was electrified. In 1909, a photograph of the decorated cracker factory was published in the
150th Anniversary Celebration of the Town of Westminster, Massachusetts by Wilbur F. Whitney. The company's owners, C. C. Dawley & Sons, were participants of that year's float, constituting "5 decorated teams representing the baking business." The 1913
Directory of Massachusetts Manufactures lists the Westminster Bakery as owned by C. C. Dawley & Sons. Circa 1922, their slogan was "Westminster Crackers: As good as can be made." 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 race, live music throughout the day, food vendors, games and
chili cook-offs topped with the crackers], and a
beer and wine garden." 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. ==See also==