Featured images:  photos of Richard Groman Jr. speaking at the Kemerer Museum, a photo from the Baked into Bethlehem exhibition and a 1967 photo of Richard Groman Sr. with the large cake he made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of North and South Bethlehem merging into one city. The cake was assembled in front of Hotel Bethlehem and plates of cake flowed freely throughout the crowd.

Richard Groman Jr. of Groman’s Bakery to Speak Followed by Tour of ‘Baked into Bethlehem’ Exhibit 

BETHLEHEM, PA–Many Lehigh Valley residents still remember fondly the cakes, pastries and other sweets from Groman’s bakery that marked major milestones in their lives, from their wedding day to their children’s birthdays.

Now, the community has a rare opportunity to relive some of that sweet joy on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. as Richard Groman Jr. visits the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts to talk about his family’s baking history followed by a tour of the Baked into Bethlehem exhibition that features original machinery and treasured objects from the Groman family collection. Tickets for the event are $15 for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) Members and $25 for the public; they are on sale now  at HistoricBethlehem.org and 610-360-TOUR (8687).

Founded in the 1920s, Ezra D. Groman Bakeries grew from a Moravian mint recipe into a regionally beloved business known for its elaborate tortes and cakes, often adorned with Richard Groman Sr.’s signature bowtie. Although the bakeries are long gone, today the Groman family continues to bake their original-recipe sugar cookies once a year for the holiday season, available exclusively through HBMS.

Baked into Bethlehem, on display at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem through July 26, traces the evolution of baking as a cornerstone of community life, spirituality and creativity in Bethlehem for nearly three centuries. From the beehive ovens of early Moravian Bethlehem to the custom-crafted wedding and birthday cakes of the beloved Groman’s bakery, the craft has long been woven into the city’s history and identity.

The Kemerer Museum is located at 427 N. New St., Bethlehem. Tickets to the Richard Groman 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. events include admission to both the Kemerer and Moravian museums on Jan. 17. Museum hours that day are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For additional information, please visit historicbethlehem.org.

Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko