Dutch Maid Bakery
Dutch Maid Bakery is a historic bakery located in Tracy City, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1902 by Swiss immigrant John Baggentoss, it is widely recognized as the oldest family-owned bakery in Tennessee.[1]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bakery |
| Founded | 1902 |
| Founder | John Baggentoss |
| Headquarters | Tracy City, Tennessee , United States |
| Products | Breads, fruitcakes, cookies, pastries |
| Website | www |
35°15′41″N 85°44′13″W / 35.26138°N 85.73682°W
The bakery has been known for its traditional breads, fruitcakes, cookies, and pastries—many prepared using recipes and equipment passed down across generations. It continues to operate in its original location more than a century after its founding.
History
[edit]The bakery was founded in 1902 by John Baggentoss, a Swiss immigrant who brought European baking traditions to the Cumberland Plateau. He opened the bakery in downtown Tracy City and passed his recipes, hand-written in a large notebook, to his sons.[2]
Fire destroyed much of the original building in the early 1920s, and the family used brick and some of the original structure and equipment used into modern times.[3]
After serving in World War II, all six of John’s sons—John, Robert, Herman, Fred, Charlie, and Albert—returned to Tracy City and ran the bakery together. Each took on a role within the shop, maintaining the original recipes and working with many of the same tools their father used.[4][5]
The bakery remained in the Baggentoss family for much of the 20th century and became a regional institution, particularly known for its fruitcakes and rye breads. During the Great Depression, the family reportedly gave away bread to locals in need.[3]
Ownership and modern era
[edit]
In the early 2000s, ownership passed to Cindy Day, a baker with prior experience in the grocery sector.[3] She purchased the business after learning of its availability, committing to preserve its legacy while introducing new offerings such as artisan breads and updated versions of traditional fruitcakes.[6][7]
The modern product "Russian Christmas Cake" is a revised recipe of the bakery's longtime favorite fruitcake, renamed because, as Day says, "Many of the younger generation just cringe at the words fruit cake."[8]
Day reopened a second location in nearby Monteagle and continued producing the bakery's signature products, including cookies and cinnamon rolls. Many of which are still made with original Baggentoss family equipment such as wooden proofing cabinets and early 20th-century bread tins.[9]
Products and traditions
[edit]
Dutch Maid is particularly known for its:
- Traditional and updated fruitcakes, including the "Russian Christmas Cake"
- Black olive and roasted red pepper bread
- Onion dill and rosemary olive oil loaves
- Hand-cut cookies and iced sugar cookies
- Mail-order holiday goods shipped nationwide
The bakery has become a local and regional landmark, appearing in news features, holiday guides, and a 2025 film shoot.[10]
Recognition
[edit]The bakery has been profiled in multiple regional and statewide publications for its longevity, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. Its continuous operation since 1902 has made it one of the longest-running bakeries of its kind in the southeastern United States.[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Keeping History Alive: Tracy City Bakery Overcomes Obstacles to Celebrate 120 Years". WTVC News Channel 9. 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ Roy Carrine (1976-01-18). "All in the Family for 75 Years / A Legion of Their Own". The Times – Lifestyle. Tracy City, Tennessee.
- ^ a b c "Dutch Maid Bakery: 120-Year-Old Living Legend". Sewanee Mountain Messenger. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Baking Bread the Old World Way". Southern Standard. Tracy City, Tennessee. 1982.
"This business was started with child labor and ended up with senior citizens." — Robert Baggentoss.
- ^ "Dutch Maid Bakery". The Tennessee Magazine. Tracy City, Tennessee. December 1994.
- ^ Margaret Hobbs (2009). "Bakery celebrates 107 years of traditional baking". Southern Standard. Tracy City, Tennessee.
- ^ Jerry Summers (2021-08-16). "Dutch Maid Bakery: At Tracy City". Chattanoogan.com. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^
Hobbs, Margaret (2010). "Dutch Maid Bakery Celebrates 108 Years of Traditional Baking". Southern Standard. McMinnville, Tennessee.
"Many of the younger generation just cringe at the words 'fruit cake,'" said Day. "So I've been working about three years to change that idea, and have come up with a moist and tasty diversion."
- ^ "Dutch Maid Bakery Rises to Fame". Tennessee Home & Farm. 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Dutch Maid Bakery's Sweet Debut on the Big Screen". WDEF News 12. 2025-03-24. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Keeping History Alive: Tracy City Bakery Overcomes Obstacles to Celebrate 120 Years". WTVC News Channel 9. 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Tracy City: Storied Mountain Town, Home to Tennessee's Oldest Bakery". Islands.com. 2025-05-11. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
See also
[edit]