By Bob Cudmore

   Rotterdam reader Paul Miknavich proposes another column on Amsterdam’s bakeries.

   Miknavich said, “When I was a teenager I used to help my dad deliver groceries from my uncle's store, the Forbes Street Market. One of our duties was picking up the warm loaves of rye and pumpernickel (from Maldutis Bakery) for re-sale. Stuff was fantastic, never had any that came close, I suspect it may have been sourdough. Crust like leather and crumb like a damp sponge.  Legend has it he took his recipes to the grave.”

   Maldutis Bakery was founded in 1926 in a section of Amsterdam’s East End where many Lithuanian immigrants lived. The founder was Lithuanian Peter Maldutis,

   According to Maldutis relative Dave Northrup, Chuck Maldutis was the last to take over the family business in 1947.

   Chuck died in 1967 at age 51, a short time after suffering a hemorrhage while driving back to Amsterdam from a Schenectady bread delivery.  Maldutis Bakery closed in 1968.

   Northrup said, "Nabisco wanted to purchase the bread recipes from (Chuck’s widow) Jean.  Despite several offers, she steadfastly refused to sell, and the recipes died with her when she passed in 2013.”

   Park Hill native Tom Pikul wrote that Third Avenue in his neighborhood adjacent to the Bigelow Sanford carpet mills was baker's lane.

   Park Hill had a large population of Polish Americans a generation ago who patronized Belmont Bakery, Allen's and SD Bakery.

   Ray Piech operated the Belmont Bakery after World War II, specializing in rye bread but also making wedding and birthday cakes.

   Miknavich said, “Belmont was the place for sweet goods - excellent Danish pastry, all

good cakes and cookies.”

   Pikul said, "He had the most delicious rye in town in my humble opinion.”  Piech died in his nineties in Florida.

   Allen's Bakery was at Third Avenue and Grand Street.

  Pikul said, "They had an excellent, very tasty rye loaf and were also known for their delightful pastries, especially the spice cake.”

   The third bakery was SD, at Third Avenue and Park Street.  Pikul said the bakery was run by a Polish family and made excellent rye bread.

   John Vidulich, a native of Austria, operated Vidulich’s Bakery at 63 Guy Park Avenue.  During the Depression he would give his youngest daughter the key to the shop when St. Mary’s played basketball at home.

   After each game, his daughter Virginia would lead a parade of ball players and girlfriends to the bakeshop where they enjoyed the treats inside.

   “It helped with my popularity,” said Vidulich.

   Izzy Demsky, who became the actor Kirk Douglas, came in to the bakery frequently for his favorite doughnuts.

   Miknavich said he enjoyed Streeter’s Bakery on Market Street hill, “My experience with Streeter's was limited.  It was located a few

doors away from Joe's market on Market Street.

   “Our family mostly got two products there; One I believe was called White Mountain Rolls which we used for hamburger buns when going on picnics to the state parks up north on Route 30, so it was in-and-out quick.

   “Now that I'm thinking about it, they also had really good jelly doughnuts.”

   My parents were regular customers of Paul’s uncle Ray Miknavich of Forbes Street Market.

   My mother grew up on Forbes Street and my father lived nearby on Eagle Street. 

   Mom made a list my father would take to the market after he worked the day shift as a weaver at Mohawk Carpet in the East End.

   This may be squeamish inducing but the list often included calf kidneys.  Our cat enjoyed them and so did we in the traditional English dish beef and kidney pie.

Monday, July 31, 2023-Story behind the story-Amsterdam’s rye bakeries.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023-From the Archives of Focus on History from the Daily Gazette-Hero was a shoemaker

Wednesday, August 2, 2023-From the Archives- Episode 115, June 10, 2016-Historic Site Manager Wade Wells on “The Price of Loyalty: The Confiscation of Johnson Hall in Johnstown” at the start of the American Revolution.

Thursday, August 3, 2023-From the Archives of Focus on History from the Daily Gazette-Great graves of Upstate New York

Friday, August 4, 2023- Episode 486-Bob Cudmore has Focus on History columns on soda bottlers, walking for sport, a submarine rescue, Amsterdam’s clock tower building and more.

Please contribute to the 2023 Historians Podcast fund drive. Please donate online at The Historians Podcast, organized by Bob Cudmore  or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302.  Thank you and on the way to Episode#500 this fall.

On the road to our 500th episode.  Larry Gooley wrote the history of Adirondack serial killer Robert Garrow.  Gooley was interviewed in March 2015 on Episode 49 of The Historians Podcast.

Mohawk Valley  Weekend Weather, Sunday, July 30, 2023

57 degrees in The City of Amsterdam at 6:28AM

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