Editorial about Brownie's in Parkerburg WV. sentinel

Remembering history of Brownie's By JOAN PRITCHARD One of the saddest events in Marietta's history was the recent fire that destroyed Brownie's Bakery. The Brown family has worked so hard to provide its special bakery goods for local consumption, and both the family and the items they produced brought a smile to all who dealt there. Being a baker is not an easy job. When you think of the hours Neil Brown spent producing his breads, coffee cakes, cookies and sweet rolls - hours when the rest of the town slept - you realize this job takes a special man. I remember when Neil's father started the bakery. As I recall he had worked for many years for the Pfaff Bakery, and when it closed its doors he went out on his own, doing a super job. Then Neil joined the crew, eventually taking over, and Marietta still had a bakery of which it could be proud. When I was growing to adulthood there were several bakeries in downtown Marietta. Schramm's and Pfaff's were on the same side of Putnam Street and in the same block. The New System Bakery, also on Putnam Street, was located across the street from the other bakeries. Bentz Home Bakery was in the 400 block of Warren Street. Three of the four were owned by families with German backgrounds. Bakeries now are found in grocery stores, but their products will never compare with the homemade goods produced by the early bakeries or by Brownie's. Some smart real estate owner would be ahead of the game to offer Neil and Dixie Brown a building (rent free for a year) and help them get restarted in the bakery business. And I bet a lot of town folks would pitch in and do whatever Browns would permit - paint, hammer or even sweep. I know I'm available.