The Candy Cane Kitchen in Martinsville, Indiana

In the small town of Martinsville, Indiana there is a place likes no other that is called The Candy Kitchen. The pictures behind the counter tell the story as well as you can say. From the black and white film to photos in a gradually improving color film, the owners of the past pour out a sweet and a syrupy mixture from a kettle onto a marble slab. To be shaping the business's most popular product, the famous candy cane. The owner's name have changed, but the standard is still there the same kettle, the same marble slab.

In the early 2004, the Martinsville Candy Kitchen doors nearly closed for good. The owners Bob and Karen Boyce had announced that their plan to sell or close the business they purchased in 1966. They were both in their early 80's, and the heavy work involved in maintaining the business had taken its toll on them. When John and Pam Badger heard about the couple's plight at a historic preservation society meeting, they couldn't imagine that Martinsville could be without a Candy Kitchen. They said they didn't want to lose it; it's been in Martinsville for so long, since around 1919. They didn't want to lose this, because it has been a lot of work, more than anyone ever expected. The Badgers purchased the business, recipe book and all, and they started it in April 2004.

At first, making the trademark candy canes was a very difficult task to do. They watched the Boyce's and then they tried it. At first they weren't doing very good at it. There were a few more times and then they tried it on their own. They were not to pretty so they had to work on it, but they thought it was getting pretty good after awhile. The business always picks up around Christmas time, so the Badgers third running the Candy Kitchen. They had to prepare orders for around thousands of customers and they had produced over more than 30,000 last year and the estimate is a similar number this year and the Badgers begin filling orders in October

Candy Canes can come in all colors and sizes.

Credit: Lu Baker

Copyright: Lu Baker