Sluys Poulsbo Bakery
Our History
History of Poulsbo Bread
So make sure you stop by Sluys Poulsbo Bakery to enjoy our fine products and see some of our new creations. All of the product from Sluys Poulsbo Bakery are hand crafted and made from scratch. We buy the finest grains, seeds and nuts and add them to our own unique recipes.
In 1974, Marion Sluys developed a bread inspired by God’s Word:
“Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and fitches or spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof…” -Ezekiel 4:9
Mr. Sluys named the bread after Poulsbo, “Poulsbo Bread.” Unable to keep up with the demand, selling over 100 loaves a day through Sluys Poulsbo Bakery alone, Mr. Sluys negotiated with The Lucks Company in Seattle to make a mix for Poulsbo Bread.
He then sold the rights to The Lucks Company to make the bread for national and international markets, as long as they maintained the scripture verse ( Ezekiel 4:9 ) and the name, “Poulsbo Bread” on each bag. Since 1981, many major bread manufacturers, like Franz and Langendorf, have distributed the bread across the United States, Canada, Hawaii, and internationally into Japan. Millions of families around the World are enjoying this delicious wholesome bread.
Sluys Poulsbo Bakery continues to make Poulsbo Bread as originally created. Sluys ’ is the only bakery that is allowed legally to manufacture Poulsbo bread from scratch. We do not use a mix like everyone else must do.
History of the Wooden Nickel
On December 5, 1931, Citizen’s Bank of Tenino, Washington (10-9-OH) failed and created a shortage of money. This left the merchants of the area unable to get change without traveling about 30 miles over mountain roads in automobiles ill-suited to that purpose, on roads that were built for horses and mules to traverse. The average round trip was about four hours, much too long for merchants to be gone from their stores. A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce resulted in the local newspaper printing up the first issue of wooden money in the United States. Sluys Poulsbo Bakery produced their own wooden nickel in 1970 and would hand these out to Customers who bought their children s shoes at Sluys Shoe Shop.
In 1933, Blaine, Washington issued round wooden coins when their bank failed. These were the first issues of wooden money in the U.S. Several other places, mostly in the Pacific North-West, issued wooden money after that. Some followed the flat (rectangular pieces) format of Tenino and others used round pieces. The Century of Progress in Chicago in 1933 was the first place to use wooden money pieces as souvenirs. Several issues were made – all around. Some are the size of a silver dollar and others are about three inches in diameter.
In 1934 a new use for wooden nickels was a found-a combination of advertising for civic celebrations and providing souvenirs of the celebration. Binghamton NY was one of the first places to embrace this concept. Wood continued to be used to enhance civic celebrations such as centennials through the mid-1930s and really started to be cranked out in 1938 when the J. R. Rogers Company of Fostoria, Ohio obtained a copyright on their design for the wooden money. While the Rogers Company had competition and the competition also issued wooden money, woods produced for Rogers continue to be the most readily found.
Sluys Poulsbo Bakery produced their own wooden nickel in 1970 and would hand these out to Customers who bought their childrens shoes at Sluys Shoe Shop. Today, that tradition is carried on with Indigo Plum and other local businesses.