Baking bread for a living has never been considered an especially hazardous occupation. However, that may not always have been the case. Looking back to 1930, when aviation was new and Niagara jumped to the forefront of the fray, one of three airplanes owned by Lockport citizens belonged to Allen W. Van DeMark of Maple Street. Van DeMark, could have been called a baker by trade, an officer of the Niagara Baking Company. It would seem that baking provided him the “dough” to follow his heart’s true desire, aviation.

By 1930, Mr. Van DeMark had purchased a Ryan Brougham monoplane that would carry four passengers besides the pilot and was equipped with a Wright Whirlwind motor capable of maintaining a speed of 110-130 mph. The story is told that Mr. Van DeMark strived to make lemonade when handed lemons, and sometimes combined business with pleasure if the right circumstances arouse. Such was the case when he was called upon to use his new plane to make its first commercial delivery of baked goods. It would seem that an Albion baker was unable to get out a special order of muffins in time for the Albion Ad Club dinner and a “rush” order was placed with Niagara Baking. Van DeMark, always up to the task, put muffins in hand and took to the air. After circling over Albion twice he landed the plane in a field and rushed the muffins to a waiting automobile that delivered them for the dinner, just in time. It must have been his “can-do” spirit that later flew Van DeMark into the forefront of community life as Mayor of Lockport in 1937

Douglas Farley, Director
Erie Canal Discover Center
24 Church St.
Lockport NY 14094
716.439.0431
CanalDiscovery@aol.com
www.NiagaraHistory.org