Village Squire, 1980-09, Page 18Culbert's Bakery
A Goderich tradition for 103 years
Culbert's Bakery (above) has been in the same location for 103 years. Barry (pictured
below) the oldest son Is shown removing baking from the coal fired oven with a
capacity of 300 loaves at one time. (photo by Gun by)
PG. 18 VILLAGE SQUIRE/SEPTEMBER 1980
BY SHEILA GUNIBY
Fresh warm bread, honey dipped
doughnuts and apple pie - all this and
more is at Culbert's Bakery, in
Goderich, already known for their
excellent bakery products. It's a veri-
table institution in Huron County - and
they've been baking for 103 years.
The bakery started in 1877 by a man
named Cantelon; he, in turn, sold it to
D.J. Curry. His son A.J. Curry became
the next owner and Melbourne (Mel)
Culbert purchased the store from him in
August of 1942 - 38 years ago. At that
time, there were five bakeries in
Goderich.
Today, Culbert's Bakery is making
the same products as they were then,
plus other tempting treats.
"It was A.J. Curry who taught me a
lot about the bakery business," Mel
says. "I'll have to give him credit for
that."
Mel has also learned from other
bakers and at bakeries he worked at
before he bought the store.
"Some of the recipes at the bakery
have come from housewives. We've just
converted them into larger amounts for
our use," Mel says.
When Mel started, sugar, fats and
butter were rationed because of the
war. But the bakery was supplying the
Port Albert Air Force Base with baked
goods, so they were able to secure
rationed ingredients. At that time,
sugar was less than 55.00 for a hundred
pound bag; flour was less than $3.00 a
hundred weight; bread sold at l0c a loaf
and doughnuts, 35c a dozen.
"We do most of our work the same
way as any housewife does," Mel says.
"Our pies are made by hand - but we do
have large mixers for making cookies."
The equipment used in the bakery