When I was growing up in The Bronx of the 1930’s a major controversy divided the Jewish population. It made the battles between Democratic Party loyalists-Socialists-Communists-Trotskyites seem very minor league. (No, children there was no such thing as a Jewish Republican. A Jewish quasi-Republican like Joe Lieberman would have been as rare a sight as a yamelkeh-wearing unicorn). What divided the Chosen People was the choice of pumpernickel bread. Some (stupid,gross) people chose the Stuhmer brand. Some (intelligent, elegant) people swore by Pechter. (these were not packaged breads like the dreaded Silvercup but delivered daily to grocers and bakery shops from lower East Side and Brooklyn ovens). Pechter, of course, was my family choice. The loaf sustained us. French baguettes? Feh! Bring back my Pechter (and my youth while you’re at it).
As you can see in this photo Pechter won this battle and still exists to this day in Southern NJ, while Stuhmer has gone the way of the cursed Stalinists…gone gone gone. http://www.flickr.com/photos/masi1028/746832283/
Just for fun I googled Stuhmer’s pumpernickel and found this site. Actually, I’ve been googling it for years unsuccessfully, but I was spelling it Steumer’s. We never got Pechter’s. The name is familiar, but that’s about it. But if they gave Stuhmer’s a run for their money and they’re still around, it’s worth a try. But what I would give for a thick slice of Stuhmer’s!
I would like some slices of Pechter or Stuhmer covered in chicken fat,chopped onion, coarse salt and pepper. Some chilled vodka to accompany.
My father, Joe Konwaler, worked for Stuhmers bakery for over 40 years until his retirement in 1965. He was eventually promoted to “foreman” and supervised the deliveries to various grocery stores in Brooklyn and Querns. I still have the fondest memories of the rye and pumpernickel bread but the best product (imo) was the chocolate donuts. I’m living abroad in Brussels, Belgium now and still searching for rye and pumpernickel breads as I knew from my childhood! I also still abide by my father’s opinion that “white bread (Silvercup in those days) is worthless in terms of taste and nutrients. And, yes, Pechters was the competition!
Anne,thanks for bringing back the taste memory of the wonderful Stuhmer’s products. Your father helped bring joy to many hungry New Yorkers.
Thanks Gerry! I have been trying to research who exactly George F. Stuhmer was since, as far back as I can remember, he was not involved in the running of the company. Since my Dad passed away many years ago, I wonder if anyone knows the history of this iconic staple of life in the 40’s and 50’s.
Don’t know, Anne. But, his memory is a blessing.
Hello there. My name is Angela Stuhmer. I’m a relative of George. He is(was) my great uncle. I’m glad to see these emails. I’m currently trying to gather the things needed to bring this wonderful bread back from us original hiding place and how to be making it soon.
Thank you again. This just inspired me all the more.
Sincerely, Angela C. Stuhmer. Incidentally, the C in my middle name is from Mrs. Robert Stuhmer. My grandmother, Beatrice C. Stuhmer.
Bring it back!! I want a slice right now.
My dad drove a route for Stuhmer’s bakery till they closed their doors in 1972 –great chocolate donuts and pumpernickel bread–went on his truck many a time as a kid
I think Entenmann’s chocolate donuts taste exactly like the Stuhmers chocolate donuts.
You are right. Wonderful hi-cal treats.
Oh my gosh…I thought I was the only one who thought so… But I never had one of the Stuhmer’s From the bakery. ?
my dad drove a route for stuhmers in the bronx from 1962 till they closed in 1972 greatest choc donuts ever -pumpernickel bread was the best — great stuff -then went to work for table talk pies until he retired in 1982
Did you in the Bronx not have the blessing of Orwashers rye and cornbread??
My son has begun baking bread and experimenting with various flour combinations and techniques, using a sour dough starter and just yesterday, baked a bread that I tried this morning and it reminded me immediatlely of the Stuhmer’s pumpernickel I enjoyed as a child in the Bronx. I have not recalled the name Stuhmer or the bread for as long as I can remember, but my son’s bread seemed just like I recalled it, in taste and texture (although my son used a starter and I doubt that that was Stuhmer’s leavening agent)
I remember it as round, distinguishing it from the more familiar loaf of rye bread from the local bakery that also made “corn” bread that was round (but definitely not a boule).
Would anyone venture a guess as to the recipe for Stuhmer’s pumpernickel? If not available, my son could reproduce what he just made and I can savor it and the memories.
It was my great grandpa Emil S Bryjkczynskis recipie, brought over from Poland. A blend of rye, wheat flower, leavening, and polish sweat. My grandpa always told me polish sweat was the secret ingredient. But the real secret was the milling of the grains and chemistry. My grandpa had a state of the art laboratory in the bakery at 413 Park ave, and every loaf was held to the same standards, which was tough as the dough went from hand kneeding to machine.. A practice that led to the demise of the company. People just see bread as a food holder and not as a food itself. I teethed on heels of pumpernickel as a child.
What street was Pechter’s Bread on in the Bronx? My father worked there when he
got out of the service during WWII and went with them when they moved to Harrison,
NJ. He worked for Max Shreider and Mort Pechter.
Don’t know where Pechter’s baked bread in The Bronx. Only bought it in local bakeries and groceries. So good. Thanls for the memory, Linda.
I was a store keeper in brooklyn and sold pechter messing and sthumer products my drivers name was frank.stuhmer out sold them combined
We also carried wonder, silvercup,kosters,we also sold a Russian pumpernickel loose by the lb
I would have been a daily customer at your fine store.
I was just thinking of my youth and Stuhmers pumpernickel bread and Googled it. Low and behold I found this site. I was born and brought up in Hartford, CT. My mother came from the Bronx, NY. Every time we would visit my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in the Bronx we would stop and purchase a Stuhmers pumpernickel bread. Sure wish it would come back!!!!!
There was a guy that would come into Waldbaums on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn every Friday and scream out ” Wheres the Stuhmer’s Challah ” ?
What memories I always preferred a freshly baked challah from Butterbun Bakery on Nostrand Avenue, not Leon’s Butterbun was the best
Those were the days my friend …
Never had Stuhmer challah. Only pumpernickel bread. Other breads and rolls were products of local bakery on Kingsbridge Road in The Bronx. And, they were good. Yes, Greta,those were the days…
When I was growing up in Queens NY, my mom would take me and my sister to Brooklyn to buy Stuhmer’s bread. It was so good! I miss it till this day and now I see that it’s coming back. Can’t wait.
I remember getting Stuhmers pumpernickel at the local dairy store. It was never sliced like bakery pumpernickel. I was alway sold loose (unwrapped). We did not think it was unsanitary back then. My Zayda called it Steemers with his Galtitsianer accent. It had a very unique texture. I always remembers the union label. I also loved the chocolate covered donuts. They had the union label on the box. I don’t think the Entenmans come close.
Ms. Schweber: You are right. Stuhmers was the best. Given a lusty shmear of Daitch cream cheese, it was a Bronx treat of yesteryear.
My great grandpa Emil S Brykczynski fled Poland in 1888, began working for Otto stuhmer in 1892. In 1894 he ran the bakery, Stuhmer was a businessman not a baker. In 1904 Otto retired, his son worked for the company, my great grandpa ran the place and all the recipes were his. He built a huge bakery at 413 Park Ave Brooklyn NY in 1908. My grandpa and his brother were born in this building, my great grandfather lived there with his wife. My grandpa and brother ran the business with Emil, who passed away at 85. Ultimately the unions caused the business to close, my grandpa sold the building to a clothing manufacturer.
I have a photo of my grandmother, Marie LaGuardia, handing out free matzoh during the 1933 mayoral campaign of FH LaGuardia. A sign above says “Free Matzohs donated by Stuhmers Bread”. As many people here seem to know the history of Stuhmers, I would love to post the photo to see if any of the others can be identified (but site does not allow). She is accompanied by a woman who was quite prominent in the Fusion organization, along with others waiting to receive, and perhaps the bakers, and a few rabbis.
And, how did Stuhmers get involved with FHL’s campaign? (The union label did not hurt I am sure).
So wonderful to read this history, even if it got started over a rivalry.