Citizen Staff/Hank Snyder
Confectioners Steve Guth and his daughter, Katie Bohn, are the third and fourth generations of Guths who have been making candy in Waupun since 1921. "There will be a fifth generation of candy makers too, but that will be a few years away," said Bohn.
WAUPUN — Guth and candy have a long history in Waupun. Last week Steve Guth, owner of End of the Trail Candy Shoppe, helped extend that legacy when he bought the right to use his family’s name on his candy.
“My grandfather, Al Guth, started making candy for Edwin Yasger in Beaver Dam back around 1920 and started Trojan Candy in Waupun in 1921,” said his grandson Steve Guth. “In the 1950s the name was changed to Guth Trojan Candies, and in 1964, when my dad John took over, it became Guth Candies.”
Guth said in 1964 Highway 151 went through downtown Waupun right past the candy store and business was better than ever. In addition to candy, they also had a soda fountain and sold sandwiches. Many students worked there, and many teachers from the old high school on Franklin Street walked over to Guth Candies for lunch.
“It was a very popular place,” said Guth.
Guth said when Highway 151 was re-routed around Waupun, business slowed.
“That’s when dad told me there was no future in candy, so after graduating from high school I went to work at Mercury Marine.”
He worked there for eight years.
Meanwhile his dad sold the candy store and the Guth name, moved to Milwaukee and took a job at the Chocolate House.
But factory work wasn’t for Guth.
“In 1985 I had an opportunity to get back into the candy business. I had the knowledge of candy making and I’m more of a people person,” said Guth who returned to the business.
“After two years I owned my own shop,” he said.
Guth said despite rumors to the contrary, his dad never sold his formulas.
“The formulas are so old now you couldn’t even buy half the products to go in them anymore. And some ingredients the FDA wouldn’t let you use anymore,” he said.
Guth said he’s always thinking about candy, new ways to make it and new tastes. He said the candy he sells is from endless experiments for creating flavors, tastes and textures.
In a lighthearted moment, Guth said one of the reasons he’s pleased about being able to use his own name on candy is that “End of the Trail” candy doesn’t sell so well in hospitals.
“One time St. Mary’s sent the whole shipment back to us. The name Guth will sell better in hospitals,” he said.
Guth moved his business to the present location, 928 E. Main St. just a block off Highway 151, in 1997.
“We have 14 employees and make 50 kinds of candy, plus sell ice cream and gourmet coffee,” said Guth. “There have been six owners of Guth Candies since 1975 and I’m glad to have my name back.”
hsnyder@capitalnewspapers.com