Henry O. Peabody School Baking Department Acquires New Commercial Ovens-November 9, 1979

Federal Grant Funds Middleby-Marshall Rotary Oven for Student Training at Peabody School Commercial Bakery

The Henry O. Peabody School Commercial Baking Department received a federally funded Massachusetts Vocational Education Grant totaling $24,000 to update its baking equipment. The grant funded the purchase of a new Middleby-Marshall rotary oven, capable of high-volume commercial production including 128 pies, 18 sheet cake pans, up to 72 dozen rolls, 192 loaves of bread, or 72 dozen brownies at a single time.

Commercial baking instructor Steven Goodman noted that the new equipment ensures students train on professional machinery identical to what they will encounter in retail commercial bakeries. In addition to baking techniques, students receive hands-on training in retail merchandising skills.

Student Training and Public Bakery Hours

Under the supervision of instructor Steven Goodman, students prepare seasonal items—such as holiday cookies—for the school’s public bakery sales. Participating students highlighted in the training kitchen include Kevin McDonough of Norwood, Joanne Keaveney of Dedham, and Mark Merlis of Quincy (in a photograph captured by Larry Welsh).

The student-run retail bakery is open to the public on Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and on Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The bakery can be reached for inquiries at 762-8622.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger