Carrie Ives Saunders’ High Art Baking Powder at the Fair[s]

“Mrs. Phil Saunders, of the west side, had for several months studied the baking powder question, and discovered a formula for a powder that is not only pure, but also efficient in it work.”  

-The [Saginaw] Evening News, June 21, 1892.

Note- This piece continues our exploration of the work of Carrie Ives Saunders, a multi-talented Saginaw resident. She was born in New York state in 1854 and by the time she passed away in Saginaw in 1906, she had risen to prominence as a lecturer, cooking demonstrator, author,  and had even developed and marketed a baking powder. Please check last week’s post.

We first became aware of Carrie Ives Saunders’ achievements while skimming the catalogue of exhibitors at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.  Her name is the first one to appear in the catalogue of displays at the Woman’s Building: “Dept A – Agriculture, Group 2, Bread, Biscuits, Pastes, Starch, Gluten, etc.; 1. Saunders, Mrs. Carrie W.,* Saginaw, Mich. Baking powder.”  

One of the earliest mentions of Carrie Ives Saunders’ High Art Baking Powder was an article about another fair – A Masonic fair held in 1892 to mark the completion of Saginaw’s new Masonic Temple. The newspaper reported:

Location of the 1892 Masonic Fair.

“High Art Baking Powder. A Saginaw Lady Has Solved the Problem of ‘Pure Baking Powder.’ To the ladies at least, one of the most interesting features of the Masonic fair is the exhibit of cakes and biscuits made with ‘High Art Baking Powder.’ Which greets all visitors to the miscellaneous booth. All housekeepers and pastry cooks are well aware of the absolute necessity of strictly pure baking powder, and are also cognizant of the fact that heretofore it has been an extremely difficult matter to secure a pure baking powder. Mrs. Phil Saunders,* of the west side, has for several months studied the baking powder question, and discovered a formula for a powder that is not only pure, but also efficient in its work. Visitors to the fair have the privilege of tasting delicious cakes and biscuits that are possible only when High Art baking powder is used, and the way, the powder has the unqualified endorsements of hundreds of Saginaw’s leading lady housekeepers. Six dozen cans have been donated to the fair and will be sold by the ladies in charge of the miscellaneous booth. Mrs. Saunders is also in attendance at this booth and will be pleased to give any further information to those ladies who are interested, and every lady should be interested in a matter which so greatly effects the happiness of the home.”  (The [Saginaw] Evening News, June 21, 1892.)

A few days later, the paper reported: 

“the true value of ‘High Art Baking Pwder. Which is the invention of Mrs. Phil Saunders of the west side, was made known to hundreds of people yesterday by means of the delicious short cake served at the Masonic fair. Better than the short cake ‘mother used to make,’ was the verdict of all who tasted it.”  (The [Saginaw] Evening News, June 25, 1892).

Although the formula for High Art Baking Powder is unknown – as is Carrie Ives Saunders’ method of production and packaging in her home at 1611 Court Street, newspaper articles record a robust promotional campaign. One so successful that by the end of the year, “Mrs. C.W. Saunders, 1611 Court Street had found it necessary on account of rapid increase in business to place a telephone in her residence. 945, 2 rings.”  (The [Saginaw] Evening News).

The [Saginaw] Evening News, January 17, 1893.

At the same time that Art Baking Powder was taking over the market, plans were being finalized for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair – Saginaw leaders were making certain the city and county would be well represented at the event. In the Michigan Building, Saginaw would furnish the Men’s smoking room. Throughout the fair the products and work of Saginaw residents were to be found. One of the special features of the fair was Woman’s Building, a place where the accomplishments of women were showcased. The Woman’s Building was organized, directed and operated by a special board - a female board of directors - even the building’s architect was a woman.  A local board in Saginaw, made certain the accomplishment of the county’s female residents were represented, and at June 3, 1892, meeting, almost a year before the fair was to open, “Considerable enthusiasm was shown and several of the ladies made stirring speeches in which united action was urged in order that the exhibit of woman’s work at the great exposition be worthy of them in keeping with the prosperous section of Michigan they represent. In the line of inventions a number of ladies from these parts have been granted patents on various labor saving and other contrivances, which will form part of the exhibit, and there is little doubt when the good work is well underway, that Saginaw will forge right to the front in this as well as every other enterprise her fair citizens undertake.” (The [Saginaw] Evening News, June 4, 1892.)

View of the 1893 World's Fair Court of Honor.

When the fair opened, the paper proclaimed, this is “The first of the exposition buildings which most visitors approach on entering the gates is the Woman’s building,” After describing the building, the writer describes the exhibits noting, “It is a marvelous array of woman’s triumphs in the fine and applied arts, in science, literature and industry that one beholds here.” (The Saginaw Evening News, June 1, 1893). Unfortunately, articles detailing the Woman’s Building and its exhibits fail to include the display of High Art Baking Powder. Actually, by the time the fair opened in May 1893, advertising for High Art Baking Powder was no longer appearing in the paper. However, Carrie Ives Saunders’s career was far from over. She was about to reinvent herself as a lecturer, author, proponent of pure food and much more. 

1892 Advertisements. The [Saginaw] Evening News.

This week’s recipe is a prelude to next week’s exploration of Carrie Saunders' career as a lecturer. During an 1894 demonstration of a line of stoves at Morley Brothers, Saunders was in charge of preparing refreshments: “1000 biscuits were baked every ten minutes, and the total number served to visitors was 2,000. The refreshments were in charge of Mrs. C.W. Saunders and the occasion served to prove her ability and the merits of her “High Art’ baking powder.” (The Saginaw Evening News, December 14, 1894).

*Carrie Ives Saunders used a variation of her name.  After her 1897 divorce from Millard Fillmore Saunders, she seemed to have settled on Mrs. Carrie Ives Saunders.

The Recipe: Mrs. Saunders Baking Powder Biscuits

BAKING POWDER BISCUIT

“Sift and measure one quart of flour, add one teaspoonful of salt and two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, sift again into mixing bowl, run into the flour a piece of butter size of egg, moisten with half milk and half water, have the dough as moist as you can possibly handle and handle lightly; roll out, cut with a small cutter, place about a half an inch apart in a baking pan, bake in a good hot oven. When done cover for three minutes with a towel, serve hot with good sweet butter.  (The [Grand Rapids] Evening Press, March 1, 1901.)

CTK Interpretation:

4 cups of sifted Flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons of baking powder*

4 tablespoons of butter (Yes, 4 tablespoons is equal to one 1901-ish egg)

¾ cup milk

¾ +/- cup water

Method 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sift together dry ingredients.

Using pastry blender, combine butter with dry ingredients – we blended until the largest pieces of butter were less than an 1/8” in diameter. 

Add milk and water and use a fork to mix – if you feel mixture is too dry add a little more water. Mix until combined, being careful not to overmix. (We used about  1 cup of water, and it seemed a little too wet).

Roll or pat out on a floured surface – about ¼ to ½ inch thick. Cut into disks. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet and place in oven immediately. 

Bake 12 – 18 minutes.

After removing from oven, don’t forget to wrap them in a towel for three minutes.

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CTK Notes:

-Although we have certainly not perfected this recipe, they were really quite wonderful. However, we still need to work on determining the correct amount of liquid. 

*High Art Baking Powder long ago disappeared from market shelves. Although you may use a commercial brand, you might consider making your own. baking powder. There is plenty of online advice.