P. Marlin 2021

 

The site of the birthplace of Jell-O, "America's Most Famous Dessert," sits quiet and nearly abandoned between an old railroad track and a cemetery in the small town of LeRoy, New York. Jell-O, a gelatin dessert, began production at this site in 1900 after the owner of Genesee Pure Food Company, Orator F. Woodward, purchased the rights to Jell-O from P.B. Wait, a carpenter and cough syrup manufacturer who had trademarked the gelatin dessert.

To promote Jell-O sales, Orator Woodward and his staff began an aggressive Jell-O advertising campaign. Beautiful ads were placed in magazines and salesmen on horse-drawn carriages traveled into communities, fairs, country gatherings, and church socials providing Jell-O samples. As Jell-O became more successful, the Genesee Pure Food Company was re-organized and re-named the Jell-O Company.

In 1964, Jell-O was moved from LeRoy, New York to Dover, Delaware where it is manufactured by Kraft/General Foods.

One of the original Genesee Pure Food Company factories in LeRoy, New York (now gone).

The site of the Genesee Pure Food Company in Leroy, New York (Jell-O site) in 1923. Sanborn Map Library of Congress

Jell-O truck in front of the Jell-O office in LeRoy, New York.

Remains of the Jell-O office today. P Marlin 2021

“Grain-O,” a cereal-based dietary drink by Genesee Pure Food Co., and Jell-O factories located on the LeRoy, New York site.

Remains of the Jell-O factory today in LeRoy, New York. P Marlin 2021

Remains of the Jell-O factory in LeRoy, New York. P Marlin 2021

Horse drawn carriage. Source

Jell-O advertisement. Hathitrust

Jell-O advertisement.