Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
MODERN BREAD MAKING
METHODS EMPLOYED By THE
HAVENNER BAKING COMPANY.
History Of This Commercial Landmark
and the Wonderful Growth
Of Its Business.

Bread making Is an art and has been
since the earliest eyes, when primitive man
baked his dough in the heat OF the sun or
devoured 1t in an uncooked state. Bread
making today as illustrated at the thor
oughly up-to-date plant OF the Havenner
Baking Company on street between ~
and 9th streets northwest Is marvel
That this model bakery with its modern
contrivances and machinery for producing
bread and kindred products Is one OF the
sights Of Washington is evidenced by the
large number OF visitors who daily call at
the establishment to witness the interest
ing and almost magic process Of producing
for the multitudes vast quantities Of the
staff Of life"
Cleanliness is said to be next to Godn-
ness, and the appearance on every side In
the Havenner bakery indicates that the
managers require their employees to strictly
live up to the good old adage. The excel
lent quality of the bread produced Is at
tested to by the many thousands who daily
use the companys product.
The Havenner Baking Company Is COM
posed of Edward and Benjamin g. Graves
The business was established in 1915 by
Thomas Havenner. who opened little
bake shop, as it was called in those early
days, on a portion OF the site where the
present extensive modern bakery now
business was continued by his son-n-law,
Benjamin Charlton. In 1875 Mr.. Charlton
associated with him as partner his
nephew Mr.. Edward Graves. The death
of Mr.. Charlton occurred In 1884, ana tne
business has since been carried on by
Messrs. Edward and Benjamin 8. Graves,
so that for period of eighty-three years
1t has been in the control Of the one family.
chased wide frontage adjoining their
bakery establishment and on this they
erected a building 90x140 feet, which was
equipped as a model bakery. The interior
of the building Is attractive and arranged
with a view to the very best sanitary con-
dition. There is a free entry Of life-giving
air and light into the large work room on
the first floor. which covers the entire
ground space This apartment is lighted
by wide windows in the front and rear and
by skylights In the roof. Atnight 1t Is bril-
liantly Illuminated by electric lights fur
nished by the company's own generator.
The patent ovens which are used are the
invention Of Mr.. George Thorn. the superin-
tendent Of the company. These ovens.
which are immense affairs. are arranged on
each side Of the room. and the feature
which appeals to practical bakers Is the
fact that they can be Theoretically sealed,
so that the bread can be baked in its own
aroma.
In the space between the ovens are the
snowy wooden tables on which the bread
Is nodded into loaves. and this Is the only
place where the dough is handled by the
bakers, the other processes being done en-
tirely by machinery. Here the cleanliness
and sanitary arrangements are at once ap-
parent to visitors.
The -four used is thoroughly sieved and
aerated and is mixed with water supplied
by an artesian well. This well was drilled
by the firm, and the water, which was ana
lyzed by Prof. New, was pronounced pure
and free from any organic matter. The
new building Is used exclusively for the
manufacture of the pure, sweet bread for
which the company Is noted
The old structure adjoining has been re-
modelled and is used for the manufacture
of crackers and biscuits, for which the Ha-
venner Baking Company is celebrated. one
Of their specialties being the well-known
cream biscuit
This company does not belong to any
trust or combine and Washington Is for
tunate In having such an institution and in
numbering among it's solid business men
such progressive gentlemen as Messrs. Ed
ward and BENJAMIN 8. Graves whose
splendid business Is veritable landmark Of
picturesque Washington.