The "Hammond's Pretzels - Favorite of Generations! - Part I" Story

These houses at 716-718 S. West End Avenue were the homes to
the owners of Hammond's Pretzel Bakery in Lancaster, PA.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in the offices of Karen Achtermann and Brian Nicklaus, siblings who are direct descendants of the founder of Hammond's Pretzels in Lancaster, PA.  On the wall to my left is an old black and white photo from 1931 when the bakery was first opened in a garage at the rear of 716 S. West End Avenue.  Karen and Brian's grandfather, William Lichty, and William's grandfather, William Hammond, who lived side by side on S. West Avenue, began the business during the Great Depression.  Bill had lost his job and had an idea to open a pretzel bakery.  

William Hammond, whose hand-made pretzel recipe
was used to found Hammond's Pretzel Bakery.

He went to his grandfather, who had been a pretzel baker in the late 1800's and asked if he would help him with his idea.  Soon after they turned their adjoining garages into a bakery.  Mr. Hammond said they could use his recipe that he had used years before and in no time they were baking pretzels.  Name the business Hammond Pretzels since the recipe was from the elder of the two gentlemen.  The pretzel was originally known as a "pretiola" and dated back to 600 AD when a monk in Europe formed left-over dough in a bakery into arms crossed in prayer.  The baked goodie was given to children and eventually spread to other monasteries in the area and became known as the "pretzel".  The pretzel became the symbol of marriage which was broken  during the wedding ceremony.

The door leading into the "garage" where Hammond's Pretzels
are made.  It is at the rear of the above pictured houses

 It also "saved" the town of Vienna when their pretzel bakers heard the Turks burrowing under their walls in 1510 and warned the citizens.  The pretzel made it's way to America in the mid-1600s and the Pennsylvania Dutch Hard Pretzel was made and sold in Lancaster in the early 1800s.  In the 1850's Julius Sturgis, using the recipe from a drifter who had been treated to a meal and in return gave him a pretzel recipe, opened a bakery in nearby Lititz, PA.  That recipe for hand-made pretzels is what has made Hammond's so successful since 1931.  Hammond's is the oldest continuously family operated hand-made pretzel bakery in America.  As soon as I came in the door of the "garage" at the rear of 716 I could smell the aroma of dough baking in the ovens.  

1931 photo showing the Hammond employees and trucks.

My trip today is two-fold.  One - to take a tour of the facility so I can share the pretzel business with you; and Two - to buy a bag of chocolate-covered Hammonds pretzels.  Back in the late 1960s, just after Carol and I had married, we moved to the Manor House apartment complex which is about a half-mile from Hammonds.  Most every week I would stop and buy a few chocolate-covered pretzels.  

Inside the front door of the store are all the awards that have
been won over the years as favorite pretzel bakery in Lancaster.

The clerk would open the refrigerator and retrieve my order and I would be off again.  After moving to the other end of town after a few years, my weekly practice was forgotten.  Recently I read an article in the Lancaster Newspaper about Hammonds Pretzels and I told Carol I had to make a stop for some of those chocolate pretzels that were our favorite back then.  While talking today with Karen and Brian I could see they love being a part of this business that their grandfather and great-grandfather started long ago.  They told me they grew up working at the bakery and can pretty much step in and do any job in the bakery if needed.  Brian told me that he comes in on Sunday to prepare the sourdough that gives their pretzels their distinctive taste.  

My treat for the day.

The dough must set a day before it can be used to make the pretzels.  I asked them if there is another generation being prepped for the business and Karen told me her youngest son loves coming in and helping with some of the jobs.  As for me, after my tour of the "garage", I bought my chocolate-covered pretzels and thanked them for their hospitality as I slipped out the door and away from the aromatic scent of baking pretzels.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Tomorrow's story will take you on a tour of Hammond's Pretzel Bakery, showing you the procedure used to prepare the dough, roll the pretzels, bake the pretzels and package the final product.  You can visit their webpage at www.hammondpretzels.com