NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS The Holden Cook Book | 1904 Antique Cookbook | Norton MA Congregational Parish Community Cookbook

RARE! The Holden Cook Book of Tried Recipes, 1904 revised edition, was compiled and issued by the Ladies' Church Aid of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Church of Norton, Massachusetts.  

In our experience, community cookbooks this old (118 years and counting) are very hard to come by. The community cookbook genre appears to come into its own around the 1930s and 40s, then exploded in popularity from the 1950s to today. This one from Norton, Massachusetts was named after the pastor of the Unitarian church at the time, Reverend Francis W. Holden. As Pastor Holden's wife explains in the preface...

"These recipes have com from the homes of the ladies of the Unitarian Church Norton, Mass. They have been tried and found to be true. The book, while not complete in all its parts, has come from the hearts of many homes. The object in compiling the book is double in its nature: First, to help the church; and second, to help each other by bringing the choice of each home to the knowledge of every other home, and thus, bring happiness and good cheer. Errors or omissions, if any, were not intentional; to overlook them would be a kindness." ... Mrs. F.W. Holden

Enjoy New England-inspired fare that your great-great grandmother would have made in her own kitchen including classic recipes you'd expect and many we have never heard of including Green Corn Cakes, Oyster Short Cake, Rennet Pudding for Invalids, Nantucket Gingerbread, Daisy Cake, and so many more.

Of note: We happen to have two copies of this beautiful book, purchased in Norton, Mass. Though we have no way of knowing for sure, to us this suggested the original owner may have been a congregant of the Unitarian church in 1904, if not a contributor to the cook book itself!

We love community cookbooks because they represent the hard work of caring people coming together around a common cause. And, let's face it. When you know your neighbors are going to be reading this, you're going to contribute your best recipe!

BIXLEY NOTES
• The Holden Cook Book
• Rare, Antique Community Cookbook from 1904
• Compiled & published by the Ladies Church Aid of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Church of Norton, Massachusetts
• 81 page hardcover book of recipes with 15 pages of local advertising at the back
• Measures 7 3/4" x 5"

VINTAGE NOTES
• In beautiful condition for a book over 100 years old
• Some light scuffing and fraying around the edges of the covers
• Binding is tight
• A few moments of spotting and soiling on a few of the pages
• Pages have yellowed a bit but otherwise are clean and unmarked

At Bixley, forgotten treasures are looking for a home to call their own. We love the "as is" quality of vintage pieces and hope you do too. Please read our description carefully and take a good look at our photos. We'll do our best to point out any of the bumps and bruises of age.

Browse for more great vintage finds here on Bixley or at Bixley on Etsy.