Candor's History by Carol A. Henry
Candor is a quaint, historical town. The first settlers came in 1794 enticed by the virgin timber and the ready source of water for the mills that they would need. The townspeople were industrious, religious, and educated people who immediately set up churches, schools, mills, and other industry and businesses as needed. Farming and timber were major occupations in the early days that kept the mills running. It was not until 1811 that Candor was redefined and separated from the town of Spencer. And in 1900, the two small villages of Candor Center and Candor Corners became the current village of Candor.
Like all small towns that grow with the changing times, so too did Candor. Still, the community is best known as a bedroom community where most residents find work outside of the town. But Candor maintains many small- to mid-sized enterprises and mid- to large-sized farming and specialty farming operations and businesses today. Grown in proportion and notoriety are AA Dairy, Iron Kettle Farm, Side Hill Acres Goat Farm, and several other dairy farms and organic vegetable farms. Many mills have gone by the wayside, but lumbering and feed mills are still a big part of Candor's diversity.
Famous or almost-famous people have left their mark on Candor. Kinney Street is a reminder that the founder of Kinney Shoes (now Foot Locker) once walked the streets of Candor. Louis "Moondog" Harden call Candor and New York City home, and even Harry Chapin wrote a song about the Mayor of Candor. Stories of visits from movie stars like Walter Huston, politicians like Theodore Roosevelt and Warren G. Harding, and even a ghost or two are topics of conversations. And the book: Small Town in Mass Society: Class, Power and Religion in a Rural Community is all about Candor in the 1950s, and still used in classrooms today.
Steeped in tradition, Candor's Fourth of July celebration goes back to 1889. The annual Candor Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival of Events, Memorial Day Parade, Masonic Father's Day BBQ and Breakfast with Santa, as well as other smaller church and organizational annual events continue to make Candor a great place to stop, visit, or find a place to call home.
Like all small towns that grow with the changing times, so too did Candor. Still, the community is best known as a bedroom community where most residents find work outside of the town. But Candor maintains many small- to mid-sized enterprises and mid- to large-sized farming and specialty farming operations and businesses today. Grown in proportion and notoriety are AA Dairy, Iron Kettle Farm, Side Hill Acres Goat Farm, and several other dairy farms and organic vegetable farms. Many mills have gone by the wayside, but lumbering and feed mills are still a big part of Candor's diversity.
Famous or almost-famous people have left their mark on Candor. Kinney Street is a reminder that the founder of Kinney Shoes (now Foot Locker) once walked the streets of Candor. Louis "Moondog" Harden call Candor and New York City home, and even Harry Chapin wrote a song about the Mayor of Candor. Stories of visits from movie stars like Walter Huston, politicians like Theodore Roosevelt and Warren G. Harding, and even a ghost or two are topics of conversations. And the book: Small Town in Mass Society: Class, Power and Religion in a Rural Community is all about Candor in the 1950s, and still used in classrooms today.
Steeped in tradition, Candor's Fourth of July celebration goes back to 1889. The annual Candor Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival of Events, Memorial Day Parade, Masonic Father's Day BBQ and Breakfast with Santa, as well as other smaller church and organizational annual events continue to make Candor a great place to stop, visit, or find a place to call home.