Fresh-roasted peanuts since 1909 --- at least

Chariton's Courthouse Square National Historic District will be packed Friday evening for Dazzle Fest, the city's annual celebration marking the start of the Christmas season. The Christmas walk, featuring holiday-themed windows, costumed elves, business open houses and other attractions, begins at 6 p.m. and the lighted parade, at 7 p.m. After that, open houses continue and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus can be arranged.

Volunteers from the Lucas County Historical Society will bring a bit of living history to the square by distributing (free, of course) sacks of peanuts roasted on Friday by other volunteers during a session at the museum that lasted from practically the crack of dawn until noon. That crew consisted of (clockwise from left) Loren Burkhalter, Jim Secor, Rex Johnson and Bob Ulrich.

The peanuts were roasted in the 1889 Royal peanut and coffee roaster that's lived at the museum since 1985. Before that, commencing in 1909 when Joe L. Piper brought it second-hand for his grocery store on the northeast corner of the square, it was used to roast the sacks of peanuts popular on Saturday nights --- and at other times --- when crowds thronged the square to do their weekly trading.

Piper's Grocery and Candy still is in business and going strong on the northeast corner of the square, but the late Bob Piper --- Joe's son --- gave the roaster to the historical society not long before his death in 1987. It's been used every year since to produce fresh-roasted peanuts during the historical society's annual June "Peanut Day" and, of course, prior to Dazzle Frest.

It's now fueled by propane and turned by an electric motor, but still operates on its 1889 founding principle. And it's been turning out peanuts for crowds in Chariton for at least 109 years and perhaps longer --- chances are Joe Piper purchased the machine from someone else in business on the square at the time. So these peanuts may be part of a tradition that stretches back nearer 130 years, to not long after the patent date on this amazing piece of technology.

We're always grateful to Hy-Vee which provides us with the bulk raw peanuts necessary for this tradition to continue.