Peppermint Days 2007
Lyons,
New York
On the Erie Canal in central New York state, the village of Lyons celebrates its history as capitol of the U.S. mint industry every July during the mint harvest season. The H.G. Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company, largest supplier of mint essential oils in the world during the mid-1800s, was based in Lyons. In the 1980s, the Hotchkiss company was sold to the Wm. Leman Company of Indiana, and the Hotchkiss building, known as the "Peppermint Office," was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mint is no longer grown commercially in New York, but important landmarks remain in Lyons that tell of its mint history. One hundred and fifty years ago, the world's highest-quality peppermint and spearmint oils were distilled, bottled and crated in Lyons, carried to waiting boats on the Erie Canal, and shipped to European locations. Today, the beautiful cobalt blue bottles used to contain that oil are on display at the Peppermint Office, as well as the original certificates for quality and purity that were awarded to the company at European trade shows and signed by the likes of Napoleon and Prince Albert. To culminate the week-long Peppermint Days celebration, Lyons puts on a spectacular fireworks display, featuring minty colors of pink, white and green.
Bottling area for mint oil in the