For those of you that may not remember the Dugan man he delivered, to your home, bread,cakes,pastries and potato chips among other bakery items.
I remember seeing his truck pulling into the yard. He was a friendly man and always spoke to me. My name is Ben and he called me B E up and down. That came from the fact I couldn’t remember the letter N when he asked me to spell my name. So I became B E up and down forever. Of course forever in a childs view may have been two years or so. The company, Dugan Brothers Bakery went out of buisness in 1967. A victim of grocery stores and the cost of home delivery.
I have a particulary fond memory of the Dugan man. On one of his visits to my Grandmothers house she purchased a bag of potato chips. Potato chips were a bit of a novelty item then and came packaged in a wax paper bag that was stapled shut. I was given this bag of chips and kid fashion tried to open it by using my teeth to remove the staples. I cut my lip on the staple and combined with the salt from the chips it stung like crazy! I cried to my Grandmother about this and she told me she would tell that “Dugan Man” about it. She assured me something would be done.
The very next time the Dugan man came he called out to me,hey B E up and down I have something specialy made for you. I ran over to him and he presented me with a bag of potato chips. I looked at that bag and the top was sealed shut with a crinkled apperance. The Dugan man explained to me that because of that staple cutting my lip the Dugan Company changed the way they sealed the bag. In fact he said all the other companies would too ! Whats’ more he gave me that bag free of charge.
For a very long time I firmly believed that was the reason bags were sealed the way they are now. Sounded reasonable to me.
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111 responses to “The Dugan Man”
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My grandfather had a delivery route and I still have half a dozen of the metal (rusted) baskets
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My dad was also a Dugan man. He worked from 1942 or so until they closed. He had 25 years in and lost it all, including his security deposit. He even turned in the cash collections in his pocket. He was around 50 years old and went to work at Con Ed. He loved that job.
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I remember the cupcakes with the flat icing, I use to peel it off and eat that separately. They were delicious! Great memories! ❤️
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My step-dad worked as a driver for Dugan's in Clifton. During the summer break my brother's and I used to go to work with him and help make deliveries. We'd look for the big “D” card in the homes' windows, grab their regular orders and while my dad drove real slow we'd jump out, make the delivery and then run back to the truck and get ready for the next delivery.
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My Dad drove a truck for them in Bklyn back then.
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The only competition Dugan’s had was Elfenbines Bakery in Far Rockaway,NY
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I used to scoop the cream off the milk.. fun times, fresh food and friendlyness
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I grew up in an apartment house in Brooklyn. I don't recall a delivery truck, but absolutely have memories of that chocolate icing. I used to eat the cake part first, then savor the chocolaty goodness. My big brother snagged it once, that was the only time I remember him being chastised. I've tried to find a recipe online. I know the NYT has some, but they're behind a paywall, and this is the only one I have any interest in.
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As a small boy in the very early ‘60’s, I remember the Dugan’s truck delivering milk to our home on Belmont Terrace in Yonkers, NY. Funny the things you remember. That was over 60 years ago.
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The Dugans warehouse was on the corner of Larkfield Road and Jericho Turnpike. I used to live just south of there. There was a cornfield across the street!
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My Dad Buddy Kaufman was a Dugans driver in the late 1950's. We lived in East Meadow, LI not sure where the bakery that he picked up his goods.

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