KEY CITY STEAM CANDY COMPANY

Photo courtesy: Katherine Sullivan

Logo unchanged except for the addition of William Lawther's name

KEY CITY STEAM CANDY COMPANY. J. H. ROACH became known to the candy trade in 1864 when he opened the KEY CITY CANDY COMPANY for the sale of confections and bonbons at 58 Main Street adjoining the GERMAN BANK. His increasing business required more space which was found at 182 Main Street, where he moved his business in 1875. Again the space was found insufficient, and he purchased the site at 136 Main on April 1, 1880.

The Key City Steam Candy Company at 136 Main was listed in local directories from 1885 to 1890. In the preparation of his candy, steam was exclusively used leading to the company's unique name. Roach employed sixteen people who earned a total of $120 weekly. The trade was largely in Dubuque and vicinity. Sales in Minnesota, Iowa and Dakota, increased the annual revenue to $50,000. In 1891 a fourth floor was added to the three story building as trade expanded locally and into South Dakota, Minnesota, and northern Illinois. (1) In 1892 the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas saw the company employing between fifty to sixty workers with a weekly payroll of $330. (2)

William LAWTHER, Sr. purchased the business around 1891 and owned the company until 1921. He maintained the company's logo with the exception of renaming the firm the WILLIAM B. LATHER COMPANY.

A fire in 1906 destroyed the building at a loss of $150,000. (3) Lawther reported within thirty-six hours that he would rebuild. To ensure that customers could continue to rely on his candy, he opened temporary quarters around the city to continue production. Lawther sold the business in 1921 to Clem SHERIDAN. William LAWTHER, Jr. owned the building until 1958.

Trade Card. Photo courtesy: Cathy's Treasures, 156 Main, Dubuque

Trade card

Trade cards.

Former home of three candy companies and a paper company, this building was known in 2010 as the Platinum Building.

Trade Card. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Box of candy (back).

Box of candy (front).

Trade card.

Trade Card

Trade Card

Trade Card

Candy dish: "Wm. LAWTHER CO's PURE CHOCOLATES

---

Source:

1. "Municipal Molecules," Dubuque Daily Herald, March 31, 1891, p. 4

2. "Lawther's Candy Factory," Dubuque Daily Herald, December 20, 1892, p. 4

3. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-22-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml, p. 201

Displays in the Platinum Building