I’ve been to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia on three separate occasions, and if you’re ever in the area then you should definitely stop in. The town itself is a national park, a living history community dedicated to everyday life in the 1850s. (Shameless self-promotion alert: while you’re waiting for the shuttle bus down from the parking area, you can pass the time with this short story inspired by my first visit. There’s enough activities to satisfy the most active outdoorsman, but even if you don’t plan on hiking the Appalachian Trail you can still enjoy awesome views from the banks of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.
On our last trip, though, everybody’s favorite attraction was the True Treats historic candy shop. This shop bills itself as “the nation’s only research-based historic candy store”, and like everything else in Harpers Ferry the attention to detail is evident. The shop itself is laid out in chronological order, with the earliest recipes dating back as far as 1591. I got the impression that this place was just as much of a museum as it was a candy shop, and it was a cool opportunity to learn about the history of candy-making. And just in case you’re not into those “delicious” classics like Necco wafers or sponge candy, True Treats offers a wide selection of “retro favorites” as well.
A couple years back, I read a book called “Candyfreak” by Steve Almond. It’s an interesting story for sure, one where the author sets off on an epic road trip across the United States in search of the long-lost candy bars from his childhood. I honestly hadn’t thought about this book in years, but Mr. Almond was in the front of my mind as I dropped twenty bucks on a couple bags full of refined sugar. Dropping in to True Treats was a great experience for me and my family, and I found myself hoping that Mr. Almond, along with all the other candy freaks out there, might have the opportunity to visit Harpers Ferry someday as well.