History of the Potato Chip

Saratoga Springs is a resort town in upstate New York. In the 19^th century visitors were lured to the area by its mineral springs. Drinking and bathing in the water was considered a health treatment. Resorts grew up in the area, at first just for people seeking a healthy rest. But soon casinos and race tracks were developed in the area.

By 1853 Saratoga had many resorts with fine restaurants. One of these was the Moon Lake Lodge and it was in the resort restaurant that the potato chip was born. French fries were, in those days, considered an elegant size dish. Thomas Jefferson himself had brought the recipe back from France and served them at Monticello.

Soon, the potato chips were being made and sold in small cardboard boxes in the area. Later they were sold throughout New England. Crum soon left the resort and opened his own restaurant with chips prominent on the menu. Each potato had to be hand peeled and sliced so mass production wasn’t really possible and chips remained a hand made, regional product.

This changed in the 1920’s when a machine was invented to quickly process the chip. The new mechanization made the chips cheaper, but they were still just a local favorite.

This changed when Herman Lay, a travelling salesman, was able to introduce the chip to the American South. He sold the chips out of his car and soon his name was synonymous with potato chips. Lay’s chips were the first successful national brand. By the 1960’s Lays had merged with Frito, a Texas corn chip company.

Today, this accidental invention is one of America’s most successful snack foods.