The Walworthians: Walton, Margaret E.

The Walworthians: Walton, Margaret E.  

A collection of telephone interviews published in the Wayne County STAR Newspaper and Wayne County MAIL Newspaper, 1994-209

by Kate Chamberlin

Margaret E. Walton

March 06, 1996

March 06, 1996

Margaret E. Walton is one of the people in our neighborhood.

Peggy was raised in a family that believed ‘Nothing’s as loving as something from the oven’. She grew up in Montana where baking bread was a family event.

She met her husband, Jay Webster, in Missoula, Montana when he came out to visit a University friend. Jay is currently a tool and die maker. He is invaluable when it comes to repairing equipment such as an old bread mixer.

Jay is originally from Webster, so, after several years of living in Montana, they moved to Walworth in 1980.

“At that time, we felt Walworth would be a good place to raise our children. Also, no one in this area was baking bread like this,” Peggy said.  It seemed natural to keep on baking bread like I used to do in Montana.”

At first she sold to friends, then she got involved in the Fairport Farm Market and business increased. Her breads are now available at Schutt’s Cider Mill and the Topps in Panarama. Eventually, her breads will be available at the new Topps on Rte. 31.

Peggy wanted to stay home with her children. Her bread baking business allows her a flexible schedule so she can do things with them.

The Webster’s have four children. They  are Sam, 20; Robin, 17; Ben, 11; and Jesse, 9. Robin has been helping her mother in baking breads since she was 12. She started out as a part-time helper, but is now full-time help.

As Peggy’s small business grew, they built an addition onto their rustic country home to accommodate it. Now she can listen to her old, commercial Read Bread Mixer as sunlight streams in large windows overlooking the woods.

She bakes about 100 loaves of bread a day. The public seems to really like Peggy’s sour dough bread, which is also her personal favorite.

“But I also like the New England Anadama Bread,” she quickly added. “It’s made with molasses and cornmeal.”

I have tasted Peggy’s Whole Wheat Bread and can attest that it was absolutely delicious.

If you don’t find Peggy’s bread in the store, give her a call:  524-1946.

Thank you Peggy. You are a Walworthian with the accent on Worth.