Frank Townsend - The Popcorn Man
The Stoughton
Courier Hub in 1946 printed an article that was dictated by Frank Townsend
describing his history of selling fresh popcorn in downtown Stoughton from
about 1908 until he sold the wagon in 1943.
Excerpts below:
“The popcorn
wagon that I used to operate was bought through Pat O'Day who at that time was
running a stand on Kronke's corner in Madison.
It was a brand-new Dunbar wagon and I was pretty proud of it, having
paid $950.00 for it. It was ordered in
the winter and I opened up for business on March 2, 1908 in Stoughton.
My first
location and my last one was what they now call the K & H. corner. I moved once across the street on the Shelby
Corner. I was there possibly four to five
years and then I moved back to the old stand.
You see I move fast!
My oldest
son, Henry Webster Townsend, was my first helper. he worked after school and evenings. he was later in WW I and is long since
deceased. Later my sons, Claire and
Verne, helped me; also a numerous school of boys. They all stuck by me until they
graduated. They were good helpers and
are all holding good jobs today. I like them all.
I bought my
popcorn from many different firms and individuals, but chiefly from the Baby
Rice Co. During the first World War we
were hard hit and I had to buy corn 'catch as catch can.' I advertised for corn in the Stoughton Courier-
Hub.”
“I always
used the best good pure butter, using an average of 75 pounds a week. I paid from 50 cents to 75 cents a pound for
it. There was not rationing then and no
limit as to quantities. We bought what
we wanted and paid for it. It took money
to buy the best popcorn and the best butter but it was what the people
wanted. They were willing to put their
money into circulation . Trade was
wonderful.”
“Many of my
good old customers are dead and gone. A panorama
of their faces comes before me often--faces I shall never forget. Among them are the old staff of workers on
the Courier- Hub. I was always sure of
their patronage every day and every day.”
As dictated
by Frank Townsend when asked to give an account of his life as popcorn man in
Stoughton once retired and living at the Odd Fellows Home in Green Bay. Originally typed by Miss Gertrude Winbigler,
secretary of the Home and reprinted in the Courier Hub. Frank Townsend died in 1949 at the age of 74.