My Hometown Holiday Hero, The Candy Cane Man, Logan’s Candy, Ontario, CA, 2009
A warm blob of red-tinted and pepperminted spun sugar is displayed with great pride. From that sweet, striped, blob, and hundreds more just like it, the candy cane man, Jerry Rowley, skillfully pulls, twists, cuts and hooks more than 75,000 candy canes by hand every holiday season. Just moments before, the seasonal blob was flaming hot sugar boiling over in a copper kettle. When it bubbles just right he pours it out on a marble slab to cool down a bit just in time to be spun, divided, dyed and flavored.
Fresh, handcrafted candy canes have been the specialty of the house at Logan’s since it opened in 1933. Jerry began his apprenticeship there thirty-six years ago at the age of twelve. A few years later he bought the place and has been perfecting his sweet skills ever since. So much so he’s a master of his culinary craft. Who knew spun sugar could be SO iridescent….and SO tasty too! Several years ago he created the “world’s largest candy cane,” which hangs in the store reminding us all he’s not just the Candy Cane Man…He’s the Candy Cane King!
Rare in the world of candy making are handmade candy canes. It wouldn’t take a candy connoisseur to tell you that most of the worlds candy canes are machine made in giant batches in big industrial factories. If there are any other candy stores in the county that makes their own canes I wanna know about them!
Logan’s Candy is a tremendous source of my hometown pride. It simply would be Christmas to me without a one of Jerry’s fresh handmade candy canes to keep and a dozen or two more to hand out to friends and relations. Thank you, Jerry Rowley, for keeping the cherished tradition of candy cane making alive, YOU are my hometown holiday hero!
Who is your hometown holiday hero?
Here’s to Jerry, his candy canes and YOU!
November 26, 2009
P. S. Jerry will do a special candy cane making demo for my HOMETOWN HOLIDAY TOUR group, SUNDAY AFT, DEC, 13, click here for info & tix.
P.S.S. Next SATURDAY NIGHT, DEC 5th @ 8PM in PASADENA is my first RETRO HOLIDAY SLIDE SHOW of the season! click here for info & tix.
I grew up in Ontario and remember going here with my Girl Scout troop! We were all so fascinated by the giant candy cane they had displayed on the wall.
For Logan’s candy cane making schedule go to: to Logancandies.com.
I grew up in Ontario and Mr. Logan was my father’s friend. Logan’s Candy was located next to the Granada Theater on Euclid Ave. before moving to” B” street and I used to watch Mr. Logan make all kinds of candy from the window. Of course going inside and smelling all the yummy candy was also a treat. They were on “B” Street when I got married and he did the red and white mint patties for my reception.
My daughter and family went to see Jerry demonstrate candy cane making a couple years ago and we all would like to go this year. What other days is that happening besides Dec. 13th? Charlotte
I’m glad to hear that Logan’s is still crankin’ out the candy canes! Personally, however, I was more tempted by their fudge, picking some up on my many visits to the Village Model Shop across the street, riding my old Schwinn Orange Krate!
The Olympia Candy Kitchen in Goshen, IN is my favourite hometown holiday and everyday candy counter and soda fountain! About 40 miles East of South Bend – if you are ever in the area you will not want to miss it. We used to go by their back window and see the man making the hand dipped chocolates – just like in the painting on the website. Check out their menu – the nut olive sandwich is special. Valentine’s Day always included a giant, pink solid chocolate heart from Dad, and Christmas always included some giant Candy Canes, in a variety of flavors!
Are they still in the same location on “B” St?
McCord Candies in my hometown of Lafayette, IN, has been making yummy candy canes by hand forever. They have an old fashioned soda fountain as well.
Don’t miss Logan’s ribbon candy, either! It’s beautiful and tasty — a perfect little hostess gift to bring with you on those holiday visits!
Very cool. I often wondered how candy canes were made.