Do You Know How One of lllinois’ Most Favorite Potato Chips Got Started?
When it comes to products made here in Rockford, Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips always tops the list as one of my favorites. Some forced recipe changes might have changed their taste a bit in the past few years, but I don't care, I could still eat a bagful in one sitting if I allowed myself to.
My entire family has been chowing down on Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips for as long as I can remember. My grandparents always had buckets of these chips sitting on their dining room hutch when I was a kid, and it feels like just yesterday that I was sneaking handfuls full of them when no one was looking. For all these reasons and more, I am ashamed to admit that today was the day that I learned my favorite potato chips once went by a different name and that the name change was a result of a broken marriage.
According to Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips' website;
Ethel and Eugene Fisher began making these potato chips in 1932 from their home at the corner of Charles and 7th street. Originally it was named Mr. Fisher’s Potato Chips, but when Eugene left Ethel during the depression she changed it to Mrs. Fisher’s. When she needed more room the business moved into a small brick building at the corner of 6th St. and 5th Ave.
I was also fascinated to learn that Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips has managed to stay owned by the same family for all of the 80 plus years they have been in business. If you want to know what inspired the Fisher family to begin making their deliciously fried slices of potatoes, this Rockford Reminisce post is pretty interesting too...