The Incredible, Edible Pretzel:
The Evolution of the Pretzel and Its Role in American Street Vending

Origins: World's Oldest Snack Food?

Legends suggest that the pretzel was first created by an Italian Monk around 610 A.D. The monk, the legend states, decided to reward his students for good behavior and proper prayers with baked scraps of dough. Furthermore, the design represented the student's arms crossed in prayer. This design would later symbolize good luck and prosperity.

The pretzel then continues to reappear throughout history. In 1510 when a group of Turkish invaders attempted to seize Vienna, Austria, pretzel bakers heard the attack approaching and alerted the city. They stopped baking their pretzels and helped defend the city. Their actions were rewarded with a commemorative seal that depicted a lion and a pretzel.

By the 1800's, pretzels made the Atlantic Crossing to America's east coast with European immigrants; thus, beginning the pretzel's birth in American society and culture.

Similar to the very first pretzel in history, the origins of the first commercial pretzel in America is also surrounded by legend. In the late 1850's, legend suggests, a tramp, passing through Lititz, Pennsylvania, stopped at a bakery to request a free handout. The baker, Henry Rauch, gave him a meal and as a token of appreciation, the traveling tramp gave the baker a recipe for a hard pretzel. This recipe eventually fell into the hands of Julius Sturgis. With his top secret recipe in hand, Sturgis established the First Commercial Pretzel Bakery in 1861. Pretzels were delivered on routes within a day's driving distance, by horse and wagon, regardless of rain, snow, or hail.

(Obtained from a Lititz, PA historical newsletter)

The Sturgis Pretzel Factory: The First Commercial Pretzel Factory in America, 1861

Obtained from the Pennsylvania State Archives

In this factory, Julius Sturgis perfected his pretzel manufacturing skills; from culturing yeast to baking and kiln drying the pretzel dough. Production was at its height with four bakers and five twisters producing 5,000 pretzels a day. With the success of efficient production methods, pretzel retail was then extended to local stores.

Lititz Springs Pretzel Company, Lewis C. Haines and Bob Haines, November 1942

Obtained from the Library of Congress Archives

After managing "The Only Genuine Lititz Bretzels" (Sturgis' Brand) factory from 1885 to 1890, Thomas H. Keller established his own pretzel manufacturing bakery, it was known as the Lititz Springs Pretzel Company. Eventually Lewis C. Haines came to own this pretzel company. He is captured here loading a tray of pretzels that has just come up on a dumb waiter. The tin packaging barrels served as a way to market and sell pretzels outside of the Pennsylvania region. By the early 20th Century, the opportunity to make an income by selling pretzels also became an attractive venture to arriving immigrants.

East Side Street Peddler, 2/24/1917



For immigrants arriving in America with only a limited amount of supplies, street vending became the perfect entry level job. The pretzel, with its relatively low production cost, became a staple food that was offered by street vendors and peddlers. Both as the producer and consumer, street vending and peddlers became a business that the lower classes (often the immigrant classes) maintained.




Obtained from the Library of Congress Archives

New York City Immigrant and Pretzel Vendor, c 1896
Obtained from the Library of Congress

Vendors included immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Greece, Poland, and Romania. These vendors, many of whom did not speak English, benefited from this neighborhood based market that facilitated a familiar cultural and linguistic setting. Street vending and peddling provided immigrants with jobs, as well as a place to purchase inexpensive goods close to home; sometimes even a little snack- the pretzel!

Modern Day New York City Pretzel Vendor

Obtained from http://www.flickr.com/

Modern Day Pretzel Vendor Utilizing the Traditional Pretzel Basket
Obtained from http://www.flickr.com/photos/chang-er/219493491

Pretzel Vendor on Wheels

Obtained from http://www.flickr.com/photos/meltingnoise/1809032315

Although over 130 years have passed since Julius Sturgis established the commercialization of the pretzel, not too much has changed in the way that people enjoy this snack. Whether it is in a bag, out of basket, or off of a flashy hot dog cart, modern customers still enjoy the pretzel presumably as much as the 7th Century Monk's students, the families of Lititz, Pennsylvania, and the many immigrants that bought and sold them. Considered a symbol of good luck, long life, and prosperity, it is no small wonder that the pretzel has survived since the 7th Century.