Baldwin continues 115-year tradition.

By David VerziPrint Story | Email Story
WEST STOCKBRIDGE - Among the oldest continuous retail business in Berkshire County, the 115-year-old Charles H. Baldwin & Sons extract company views its venerable past and promising future as one and the same, according to its owners. With pure vanilla extract as their lead product since 1888, the business has been led, since 1996, by it's fifth-generation, Earl Baldwin Moffatt and his wife, Jackie. The Moffatts have grown the Center Street business to both retail and wholesale international success, and, as generations before them, have been sure to heed Charles H. Baldwin's stern 19th-century admonition: "Never tamper with the recipe or use inferior beans." Thus, the Baldwin's only use costly "Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans," which are cut, then steeped twice at 120 degrees Fahrenheit in a mixture of water and alcohol within a 75-year-old electric copper percolator. The percolator was considered an "innovation" at tradition-based Baldwin, when it replaced a coal-fired type in the 1920s. Several days later, the vanilla extract is drawn off, poured into antique mixing barrels, then aged for a month in 100-year-old-plus oaken casks that never go dry - so, theoretically, drops of vanilla over a century old still remain. The vanilla is bottled in 2-ounce-to one-gallon amber glass containers that filter out light and preserve flavor. The family produces 1,000 gallons of vanilla extract per year, which is 20 times the 1888 production and a five-fold increase over 35 years ago. "Our 'secret' is that everything here is done by hand. We use traditional methods and antique equipment," said Jackie Moffatt. She said she was happy to be in an old-fashioned business in a high-tech world and has been fond of recollecting that the company was built by tenacious Yankees who succeeded by pursuing excellence, not seeking compromise. In the quaint shop, where the business has been located since 1912, visitors are immediately met by the deep, rich aroma of vanilla, above which floats the fragrance of other products being blended, ground, filtered and packaged. In addition to vanilla, Baldwin's, through its long history, has formulated products to meet all sorts of culinary, beauty and health needs. Among the items it prepares are Worcestershire sauce, rose water, witch hazel, bay rum cologne, cane and maple table syrup, walnut russe and extracts of almond, peppermint, coffee, root beer, orange, anise, lemon and spearmint. Baldwin's rarest flavoring mixture is "cherry heart." "Now it's mother is pure vanilla,"Moffatt explained, "but dad's a mingle of lemon, wintergreen and orange - and we make 'romance' blossom by adding pistachio, strawberry and cherry." Initially, products were peddled from horse-drawn wagons, which made months-long treks as far as the Catskills. Later, trucks introduced Baldwin products to Boston and Canadian border towns. Today, Baldwin's offers its worldwide clientele 35 items, including 23 extracts, chiefly through parcel post. "Our future looks bright today and for a great many tomorrows," Moffatt said. "We've been doing something right for 115 years,. We hope to be doing the same 115 years from now." Somewhere, Charles H. Baldwin must be smiling.
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Weekend Outlook: Carnival & Free Fishing Weekend

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Check out the events happening this weekend including free fishing this weekend courtesy of the state, First Fridays, carnival, and more.

Editor's Pick

Lego Flag Build
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 10:30 a.m.

Help the library build a giant Lego American flag to be showcased at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. All ages are welcome to participate and there will be snacks included.

More information here.

First Fridays

First Friday at Five
Downtown Pittsfield
Time: 5 p.m.

Downtown Pittsfield will be alive with activities, including a maker's market and family fun zone on North Street, live music at Persip Park, a dance zone at Dunham Mall, an art walk, and more. 

More information here.

North Adams First Friday
Downtown North Adams
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.

Music, art, and games will fill downtown North Adams for its First Friday event, themed "Celebrate Pride!" 

There will be games, art, special events, and downtown and businesses will have extended hours.

More information here.

Multiple Days

Dalton Carnival
June 3 through 7
Behind the American Legion on Route 9

Enjoy rides, games, food and more. Fireworks will be held Friday and Saturday at dusk.

More information here.

Friday

Switch and Snacks: Teen Programming
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The Nintendo Switch at the library will be available to play a variety of games for kids to enjoy with free snacks.

More information here.

Common Craft Night
165 East Main St., North Adams
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Bring a craft you have been working on and join others to socialize.

More information here.

Friday Karaoke
Dalton American Legion
Time: 6 p.m.

More information here.

Saturday 

National Trails Day

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