Artifact of the Month: February 2025

A "Sweet" Business

Whether as a gift, a surprise for a loved one, or a sweet indulgence, chocolate is timeless. Lewis C. Gosnell had long dreamed of creating a candy making business, but equipment was hard to come by during World War II. In the booming post-war period, Gosnell moved to Ketchikan and started making candy out of his two-car garage at Mountain Point in 1947.

What started out as a hobby turned into a full-fledged business within a matter of months. In its first year, the Totem Candy Company manufactured 10,048 pounds of candy! The operation quickly expanded into a two-story addition next to the family home and employed Gosnell, his wife Grace, and a crew of 5-6 people. They made over 60 different fillings for chocolate candies including popular flavors like cherry cordial, mint, and nut varieties. The confections were popular with Ketchikan residents and were sold throughout the state and markets "down south." The last hand-dipped chocolate went down the assembly line in 1968 and then the business shifted to a wholesale model.

A one-pound box of Totem Chocolates is this month's featured artifact. The pale green box with iridescent texture features the company's logo consisting of a totem pole and mountain design along with text in gold and black lettering. The candy box was found in long-time resident Minnie Grant's attic and donated to Ketchikan Museums in 1995.


Object ID #: KM 95.2.38.83 A&B