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The Wonder Bread Years

On July 7, 1928, the Chillicothe Baking Company in Chillicothe, Missouri, made history by selling the first loaf of sliced bread. The inventor of the first bread-slicing machine, a former ophthalmologist and jewelry-store owner named Otto Frederick Rohwedder (weirdly, he was born on the same date, July 7, 1880, in Des Moines, Iowa) was right there at the baking company to see the first loaf of Kleen Maid Sliced Bread go through his invention's patented cutting bands to be automatically wrapped in wax paper for sale.

Two years later, Wonder Bread made presliced bread the best thing to happen since ... whatever.

The Continental Baking Company opened its Wonder Bread Bakery in Tacoma in 1934 at 703 S. Sprague Ave. The building actually dates back to 1913 when it was built for the Matthaei Bread Co., the makers of Matthaei's Honey Bread.

The Wonder Bread Building still stands near the corner of South Sixth and Sprague, but many wonder for how much longer. The building's owner has requested a rezone from R-4 (multiple family dwelling district) to C-2 (community commercial district) for future development of a two-story retail/office building with parking. The existing Wonder Bread Building will be demolished as part of the project. 

Public hearing has been scheduled for May 28, 9:30 a.m. inside the City Council Chambers at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, on the 1st floor.  Concerned citizens may testify at the public hearing or submit comments in writing prior to the public hearing to the City staff. Direct your comments to Dustin Lawrence via dlawrence@cityoftacoma.org or 253.591.5845.

Tuesday's Tacoma City Council meeting

Tuesday, May 18, the Tacoma City Council will consider a resolution that would authorize the procurement and operations agreement with ACS, Inc. to implement a turnkey parking pay station system in the core area of downtown Tacoma. For more information about the parking pay station program, visit www.tacomaparking.com.

The City Council will also consider a resolution that would express opposition to Arizona's State Law Senate Bill 1070, "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act" and calling for a boycott of the state of Arizona and Arizona-based businesses