What would holiday season be without hot chocolate, cookies, and candy canes? The Over-the-Rhine Museum is excited to announce our ninth Three Acts Program: Over-the-Rhine's Sweet History, on Thursday, December 7th, at Empower at 15 East 14th Street. Just in time for Christmas, we will explore Over-the-Rhine’s legacy candy businesses and the neighborhood’s sweet new arrivals.
Three-Acts in Over-the-Rhine is an innovative series designed to expose attendees to stories of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Each event features three fifteen minute-talks on history of Over-the-Rhine. All three presenters answer questions together about their presentations.
On December 7th, our speakers will be:
Greg Clark and Chip Nielsen, Doscher Brothers
Greg Clark bought Cincinnati's oldest continually operating candy company, Doscher Candy (founded in 1871), from Harry Doscher in 2004. Armed with the secret recipes of the Doscher family’s signature candy canes and French Chews, Clark followed in the footsteps of his father, a partner in Cincinnati’s Marpro Marshmallow Product Company. Chip Nielsen came on as partner in 2015, from the real estate development industry. But he also has candy in his DNA. He is the great grandson Frank Pfaff, one of the founders of the Buhr & Pfaff Candy Company that operated in Cincinnati from 1874 to the late 1920s. Both are committed to continuing the long legacy the Doscher family started at their factory on Central Parkway in Over-the-Rhine.
Paul Picton, Maverick Chocolate Company
Paul and Marlene Picton are the founders of the Maverick Chocolate Company, Cincinnati's first and only bean-to-bar chocolate maker. Paul travelled the world as an engineer in the aircraft industry – always bringing chocolate back home to his wife Marlene. After Paul's travel stopped in 2013, Paul and Marlene experimented with making chocolate at home. The chocolate impressed family and friends who encouraged them to start the Maverick Chocolate Company. Their shop in Findlay Market is a full bean-to-bar chocolate factory, showcasing and selling award-winning chocolate bars. Paul and Marlene's eldest son, Ben, also works for Maverick.
Sherri Prentiss, Velveteen Chocolates
Sherri Prentiss is an executive at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, an aspiring food stylist, photographer, and a bit of a wanderer. She founded Over-the-Rhine's newest chocolate business, Velveteen Chocolates, in 2016. After travelling to Valrhona, France, and becoming a certified maître Chocolatier, she participated in the inaugural Co.Starters: Kitchen Edition entrepreneurs program at Findlay Kitchen. She then started selling her handmade chocolates to enthusiastic people and at local shops like OTR Candy Bar. Chocolate is her passion and allows her to express her creativity through unique flavor combinations and presentation. She believes chocolate can heal the soul and connect people and communities.
As an extra sweet treat, Over-the-Rhine Museum Board Vice-Chair, Dann Woellert, will be on hand to sign copies of his brand-new book, Cincinnati Candy: A Sweet History, with a portion of all sales going to support the museum.
Doors will open at 6:00 pm for sweet refreshments and conversation, and the lecture will start at 6:30 pm. A $5 donation is suggested. Reserve your space here and let us know you're going on Facebook.
The program is generously funded by Fuel Cincinnati.