Four Patchwork Pinwheels

In 1847 an English immigrant name Oliver Chase invented a lozenge cutting machine that he used to create coin-shaped hard candies. The candies were eventually named “Necco Wafers,” an acronym for the New England Candy Company. Neccos came in eight flavors: orange, lemon, lime, clove, wintergreen, licorice, cinnamon and chocolate. Union soldiers carried the wafers into battle during the Civil War. They were also included in WWII rations and in care packages for prisoners of war. But Neccos have fallen out of favor. The company changed hands several times. Attempts at improving the recipe didn’t improved sales. Round Hill Investments (the company that rescued Twinkies) announced in May they’d given up on Neccos, and in July the country's longest running candy factory ceased operations. You probably didn’t get Necco wafers in your trick-or-treat bag last night, and you probably don’t care. But I’ll bet you’d notice next February if Valentine’s Day came around and conversation hearts didn’t.