By Marsie Hall Newbold
Enquirer contributor

Who: Leslie Betts of Forest Park, manager of Peter Minges & Son Inc., a wholesale bulk candy store on West Court Street in downtown Cincinnati.

Leslie Betts with her grandfather's sample case of candies and toys from the late 40s and early 50s. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

What: A sample case that belonged to Ms. Betts' great-grandfather, Peter, who started the business in 1905. Originally, the business was run out of his home and deliveries were made in a milk wagon pulled by a donkey.

Where: Safely stored in the back office of the sweet-smelling shop.

Sweet memories: "It resembles an old film projector case," Ms. Betts says, snapping open the hinges and removing the lid. "Some of the original candy is still in it. But you could never eat it now."

Both sides of the case lift up to reveal dozens of small trays where candy is arranged in sealed bags with typed labels with the name of the candy.

On the road: "Great-grandfather would take a price list with him that coincided with everything," she adds. "Some of the businesses he would call on were Hathaway's restaurant in Carew Tower; the post office and drugstores in Rabbit Hash, Ky.; the Golden Lamb gift shop in Lebanon; and candy stores in Nashville, Ind."

Sugary wares: The colorful display includes Jolly Rancher Wine Candies, Amish fruits, Horehound lozenges, sour fruit balls and Callard & Bowser licorice and butterscotch toffees. There are also novelty toy and candy items such as a race car, a skydiver and an airplane.

"Remember those little airplanes?" Ms. Betts asks. "It's powered by a rubber band. You just twist the propeller and let it fly."

Helping out: Ms. Betts, a fourth-generation Minges, started working at the store when she was about 11. She remembers "hand packaging candies with a heat sealer for the Trolley Tavern."

Her children, Nathan, 19; Jennifer, 17; and Jonathan, 16, work at the store when needed.

Family tradition: "Great-grandfather and grandmother ran the business almost up until their 70s," she says. "My grandfather purchased the business from my great-grandfather for a dollar. Then, my Uncle Pete came in around 1989 and helped grandpa for the next 11-12 years."

Family members sold the business to S.N.A.C.C. Distributing, but continue working there.

"I can feel the history of the company," Ms. Betts muses, "especially when I look at this case. It's a real family heirloom."

Share your prize possessions with Marsie Hall Newbold by mail: c/o The Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202: e-mail: marsolete@aol.com. Please include a daytime telephone number.