Longtime Eastern Iowa Bakery Closing At End of the Year

Anything built in 1864 and still in use today could be described as a modern miracle. But being modern isn't what made an Eastern Iowa bakery so special for decades.

The Facebook page for Hahn Bakery in Middle Amana claims that its hearth oven was built in 1864 and is the only hearth oven still in use today. If true, that makes the fact that the bakery will soon be closing even sadder. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the 153-year-old bakery will be closing at the end of the year as its namesake owner prepares to retire. The bakery shared the news on social media.

The Gazette reports that Doris Hahn and Hahn Bakery's last day of business will be on December 31st. The bakery has been in the family for more than 60 years. Doris and her husband Jack took over the bakery in 1968. She continued on with the business after Jack passed away in 1997. The recipes Doris cooked in the big hearth oven were unchanged since the bakery's inception.

It will be sad to see the old hearth oven's glow go out at the end of the month. The Gazette reports that anyone hoping to stock up on freshly made bread, cakes, or cinnamon rolls needs to get their orders in as soon as possible. The bakery's Facebook page also encourages fans to send Doris Hahn a card to congratulate her on her retirement. Those cards can be sent to P.O. Box 23, Middle Amana, Iowa, 52307.