Local history buffs enthusiastically gathered at the Warsaw Historical Society Museum on June 29 for the final presentation in the Mondays at the Museum series. Jennifer Wiese-Haskins shared Teresa Beeler’s comprehensive research on Warsaw’s bakeries as unforeseen circumstances prevented Beeler from attending. This is part one of her presentation, which basically covers much of the 1800s.
Platted in 1834, Warsaw experienced tremendous growth over the next 25 years with numerous flourishing businesses, including a “string of bakeries.” Despite a strong opening, Beeler noted that most only lasted two to five years. She regretted that “not much is printed or archived regarding these aromatic businesses.”
In 1840, W. Swinton opened Warsaw’s first bakery – W. Swinton Bakery – in the rear of Woodard’s Grocery on Main Street’s north side. On Nov. 25, 1840, a Western World article noted that Swinton carried “a quantity of Abernethy Biscuit, which was recommended by eminent physicians for sick people.” He also used 2/3 flour and 1/3 Indian Meal to bake 3 pound, 8 ounce loaves of bread for family use for 12 ½ cents.
Situated inside the “provision store,” Henry Glazier’s bakery opened in 1859 above the Empire block on the corner of Fifth and Main streets. Considered the “ultimate one stop shop,” the store offered baked goods and farm and household supplies. Glazier stated in a Warsaw City Bulletin article on June 16, 1859, “I also keep country produce, and a general variety of provisions, which I will sell cheap for cash.” Despite his endeavors to offer items at an affordable price, his bakery only lasted one year.
Warsaw endured a year without freshly baked goods until Conrad Nagel opened his bakery at 412 Main St. in 1860. The two-term Warsaw mayor also supplied the Army with bread. In 1924, Thomas Russell sold his bakery in Keokuk and bought back the bakery in Warsaw, which he previously sold to P.R. Rohner in 1922. Rohner ‘s bakery expanded when Mrs. Thomas Russell opened the Warsaw Coffee Shoppe in 1917. With the opening of the Warsaw Mercantile in 2025, and the continued offerings of muffins, breads, cookies, gluten-free items, and homemade frozen pies, the 412 Main location has had the longest run of selling baked goods in Warsaw history.