Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-15
SPLENDID NEW HUSTON
PLANT AT PORTLAND


bunk to. the far-ofr Canadian border the
name of Huston for a half century has
played most important part In the NE
Of f,. Names citizens sn , The p proposes
Huston & Company. to be built in Pors.
land as an adjunct to their Auburn
plant offers an opportunity to remmlscs
over the long life Of this Maine concern
controlled in the Huston family since
its inception.
The rirm was founded in the year
1S69-tifty years aso-Oy Mr.. T. A. Illus.
coart ana Turner Streets AG in
now the site Of the National Shoe q
Leather Bank. The elder Huston start
ed in very unpretentious way. making
crackers and running his machinery by
the old-fashioned but picturesque horse
power, the horse running on treadmiD
With patience and foresight that
could do nothing but spell SUCCESS even VEN
the idea OF producing. crackers not IN
quantity but of a higher quality than
the country had seen up to that time.
Furthermore he developed the ldea OF
measure has been responsible for the
remarkable success OF the firm that
bears his name.
The Turner street legation ion, was o ecu,
moved to North Main street. the pres
end location, and a brick building was
erected t.:ere. installing the first reel
oven operated III the SldlS VI ENoihS
which at that time was a very recent
invention. The business at this period
! was operated under the name OF nus.
ton & Boynton but within the space OF
the name Of the concern was changed
TO T. A. Huston & Company and it has
been cond1cte under that title ever
ace. ,, -,
! leaps and bounds and in the year 1872 a
confectionery department was added
| that jumped into instantaneous success
| and constant additions to the plant nave
p preS ha1 time. The Huston concern
serves about $500 customers scattered
! over Maine. Vermont and eastern Mas.
saehusetts. They employ nd,o. aoG brs 10
| in Bangor and another in Portland 70
distribute the Huston product In their
cracker and fancy goods department
varieties Of fancy cakes. crackers and
! biscuits, all produced by modern ma
! chinery, as well as making full Inc
of marshmallow goods with practlcallv
reaches the consumer. The confection--
cry department manufactures a grea.
many varieties OF candies. high grade
chocolates, cocoanut biscuit in the form
It was inevitable that new factory
must be obtained because in the las1
few years the demand for the Huston
line was mucn greater tildn tic pu.Sos
of the Auburn plant. and it was decided
to build the last word in modern rae
tory in the city of Portland with pro
duction that would double ia tn the s .a1,is,
which in 1915 reached H,2'eor. inns
factory will be located where a great
MANY Of the cars into ard out of Port
land will pass in front OF the bulidlns,
and the building and grounds VIII pe
made a veritable show nlace to Portland
as we'll as an advertisement for he
concern. Visitors will be welcomed and
intelligent guides will explain the vari-
Gus processes of operation. The build
ing itself will be of the most moder1
reinforced concrete construction and
electricity. and the entire production
will be from top floor down. the ovens
being located on the top floor where al
raw materials will be taken and sub
! iected to the rigid test for purity that IS
one of the strict rules of the Huston
business, and after being baked will go
down to the lower floors by gravity.
with a series of conveyors in spiral
| chuteS.
! A marked innovation will be the use of
! Gil in the ovens instead of coal. thereby
eliminating all dust. dirt, and gases,
and, insuring product with all the
goodness Of ia taste 60. Of the original pure
| The good people of the State OF Maine
may we'll be proud of this organization
that is a by-word throughout the entire
that a large measure Of interest will be
| evinced in the new factory as it nears
completion. Construction work will be
started almost Immediately and the new
e eant p snf0 % s rSe name preo
selected for the new factory is the
Latin motto on the seal OF the State Of
Maine. the literal translation being Il
lead" which by the way is the key
note of the entire Huston organization.