| travel |
A Family Tree
Dipped in Chocolate
words & photography by Kay & David Scott
During a fall road trip through North Dakota a resident of Grand Forks mentioned a local candy shop operated by a fourth-generation member of a family known for crafting fine chocolates . This was valuable information for a couple of chocoholics who headed downtown to put in practice former President Ronald Reagan ’ s famed proverb “ Trust , but verify .”
Visiting the store we met owner Dan Widman and learned the family has been in the candy-making business since 1885 when his great grandfather William Widman opened a bakery and candy shop in Dubuque , Iowa . William ’ s son , George , worked for the Pearson Candy Company ( home of the famed “ 7-Up candy bar ) before opening his own store in Crookston , Minnesota . Family descendents continued in the business with Dan ’ s sister now operating Carol Widman ’ s Candy Company in Fargo and brother , George III , runningw Widman ’ s Candy Shop in nearby Crookston , Minnesota . You might say the Widman clan has emerged as “ The Sweet Triangle of Chocolate of the Upper Plains .” We had passed through Crookston earlier in the day before learning about George ’ s chocolate shop , but after talking with Dan we made plans to visit Carol ’ s store in Fargo .
36 TiftonScene | MAY 2023