G. H. Bent Company

G. H. Bent Company Factory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	7 Pleasant St., Milton, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°14′44″N 71°4′08″W / 42.24556°N 71.06889°W / 42.24556; -71.06889Coordinates: 42°14′44″N 71°4′08″W / 42.24556°N 71.06889°W / 42.24556; -71.06889
Area	less than one acre
NRHP reference No.	00000075[1]
Added to NRHP	February 10, 2000

The G. H. Bent Company, better known as Bent's Cookie Factory and recognized as bakers of "cold water crackers" since 1801, is a business specializing in cookies that has been operating in Milton, Massachusetts. ^[2] Bent's also sells a number of other baked goods, including their George and Martha Washington pies (both have powdered sugar on the top, the George with a cherry filling, and the Martha with a lemon filling). In addition, Bent's has expanded its menu to include a variety of sandwiches named after Milton-based themes.^{[citation needed]}

History[]

Josiah Bent began selling "water crackers" (biscuits made of flour and water that would not deteriorate during long sea voyages) in 1801 from facilities in Milton. His company later sold the original hardtack crackers used by troops during the Civil War.^[3] His grandson, George H. Bent, built the 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame factory building at 7 Pleasant Street. The top two levels of the factory are where the cookies and other baked goods are made; the storefront is at street level.^[4]

On February 10, 2000, the G.H. Bent Company Factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places.^[1] In April 2001, Senator Ted Kennedy visited G.H. Bent Company to unveil the official National Register plaque and make remarks in honor of the bicentennial of the Bent cracker.

A gas explosion at Bent's in early 2006 blew out all the windows, but the company was up and running again within weeks. In December 2013, Dr. Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal purchased the building and leased operations of the factory and coffee shop back to Sean Christie and Chris Twyman (operating as the Kiwi Bakery, LLC).

See also[]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Milton, Massachusetts

References[]

External links[]

• [G. H. Bent Company website.]
• Milton Times article on ownership change