Hough Bakeries and Childhood

Talk to any Clevelander, and chances are it is with great fondness that the person remembers Hough Bakeries.

I am no exception. I have fond memories as well. However, for me, it is taken a step further. For my father worked a good portion of his life as a mechanic/engineer for the Hough Bakeries plant. Because of this, my childhood was filled with the wonderful tastes and memories of Hough Bakeries.

You see, my father worked the graveyard shift. This meant he got off work in the early morning hours. From the plant, he brought home the baked goods that were being prepared to be sent off to the various stores. I venture to say that I got to taste the baked goods before most Clevelanders got the chance to buy them.


My father would arrive home with the characteristic white box with blue swirls wrapped in string. He would leave the box on the kitchen table for me to discover. I would awaken, go to the kitchen and see the box. I would unwrap it wondering what wonderful things it might contain. Sometimes it would be chocolate cupcakes. Other times it was glazed donuts (no one made better glazed donuts), or a whole cake. My father would bring home a wrapped box of goodies several times a week. I can say that there was no shortage of lovely baked goods for me to choose from. It almost was like a bit of Christmas so many mornings.

As a child of one of their employees, I got the privilage at times to actually go inside the plant. For a child, being inside a large building filled with confections, sugar, vanilla, and chocolate is a bit like being in Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory. Of course, there were always the Hough Bakeries Christmas parties.

Sadly, Hough Bakeries has since closed and the delectable tastes are just a mere memory. But what a wonderful memory.

I do miss Hough Bakeries. I miss my father. And I miss his loving gestures that were white boxes wrapped up in string.