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Bibliography

“Filed Senate Resolution 0005.” Filed Senate Resolution 0005. 7 Jan. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.

Stradley, Linda. “History of Sugar Cream Pie.” History of Sugar Cream Pie, Hoosier Sugar Cream Pie, Indiana Cream Pie, Sugar Pie, Finger Pie. 1 Jan. 2004. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.

“Sugar Pie.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Oct. 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.

“Wick’s Pies, Inc History.” Wick’s Pies, Inc. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.

Acknowledgements

Mike Wickersham, Wick’s Pies, Inc.

K Lynia Coates, Xerox Services

Cathy Aper, Xerox Services

Dennis Ichiyama, Purdue University Professor

nc.

ledgements

am, Wick’s Pies, Inc.

ates, Xerox Services

per, Xerox Services

nis Ichiyama, Purdue University fessor

D.E. “Wick” Wickersham,the man behind the iconic pie

HONORIN

OF

When asked about his late father, Mike Wickersham had the following to say: “He established the product, the product quality, and I guess the culture of caring about each other, caring about the people, and caring about the product.”

Our fi rst attempt at pie was mildly disastrous. Wean unstable graham cracker cwas our initial mistake. Then our inner Paula Deen and sicestimated the amount of butin the pie. Lacking the propercorn starch, we used our culito dedcut that waffl e mix woadequate substitute. Apparenwrong on all accounts. The cthese factors spoke as a trueour lack of culinary expertiseawful taste test, we began amuch more care this time. Opening our tight costrings, we splurged on a precrust as well as proper ingredrecipe called for. Handling thedistribution with extreme carable to make an edible sugarwas certainly no Wick’s Pie, bbe master bakers.

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After so much research about the legendary sugar cream pie, it only made sense that we as a team should try our hand at baking. Full of quite extensive knowledge about the pie, we tried making one ourselves. The recipe we used for our own personal experience called for a 9 inch pie crust, 4 tablespoons of corn starch, 4 table-spoons of butter, 2 1/4 cups of half-and-half cream, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and a 1/2 teaspoon of cinammon and nutmeg.

BAKINGOUR

ATTEMPT

After so much research about the legendary sugar cream pie, it only madesense that we as a team should try our hand at baking. Full of quite extensive

OUR

ATTEMPTSugar Cre{SHooger krem pi}

Noun: A single pie crust withfl our, butter, salt, vanilla, and a texture similar to fl an and isoriginate from Quaker’s in th

See also: Hoosier pie, fi nger desperation pie, Indiana farm

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HISTORY

Sugar cream pie is known by many names. It has been called “fi nger pie,” referencing a method of stirring the pie’s ingredients with one’s fi nger. “Desperation pie” is a slight misnomer- the pie was generally made in rough fi nancial times because it lacked sweeter ingredients like fresh fruit. However, rather expensive commodities like a cow would still be necessary to make the pie. The sugar cream pie has a consistency similar to that of custard or fl an. A good sugar cream pie should have a mildly sweet taste with a smooth texture.

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LESSON

the culture of caring about eacaring about the people, and the product. I’ve just been abthat and grow it. And I hope my other children do the sam Unfortunately Wick’sWickersham passed away in 2008- just weeks shy of seeipie become an offi cial symbo

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Fast forward to present day- Wick's Pies produces 19 million pies and pie shells annually. Sugar cream pie is their signature baked good for sale in both Mrs. Wick’s as well as in stores. Wick's Pies still remains in the family with Wick's son, Mike Wickersham, in charge. When asked about his fi rst memory of sugar cream pie, Mike laughed quietly and smiled. He explained he was helping make and bake sugar cream pies in his father’s bakery in 1958. “When it was time to take them out, I was pulling mine out and I dropped it on the fl oor. I think that was the fi rst and only sugar cream pie I’ve ever made.” Wick’s was in the heart of it all when the resolution was proposed and passed at the State House. Mike and his Wick’s crew took about 50 sugar cream pies from Winchester all the way down to Indianapolis to serve all of the senators a slice. He chuckled and mentioned with a smile, “Interesting note to that is that they [the senators] had to meet in session to debate whether or not our providing them a free piece of pie was considered a bribe prior to the vote. And they voted that it was small enough that it didn’t [count as bribery]. They all tried it and I don’t know how many liked it, but they all wanted something free that day.”

On the business side of things, the resolution helped Wick’s see a 67% spike in sales in their fi rst quarter in 2009 which is usually pretty slow since theholidays are over. Mike received plenty of attention for it, with people asking for interviews and comments concerning the sugar cream pie. A radio station in Chicago wanted to speak with him, and at the time, Illinois legislature was trying to impeach their governor. “Their legislature was doing an impeachment process while our legisla-ture was naming a state pie, and they [the radio interviewers] were contrasting that. It was a pretty cool deal,” Mike said. When asked what the company meant to him, Mike thoughtfully pro-claimed, “It’s my life basically. I’ve been blessed with having the opportunity to join in a family business. My dad founded the company in 1944 and he worked a heck of a lot harder at it and a lot longer at it than I’ve ever had to do in developing the idea.” Mike commented on a long standing ques-tion of what it feels like to be a successful entrepreneur by explaining, “I’m really not necessarily an entrepreneur. I’m more of a grower. I’ve grown the business and we’ve been successful, and I’ll take credit for the growth, but [my father] he established the product, the product quality, and I guess

All in the Family The offi cial resolutiosugar cream pie as Indiana’s pie was presented on Januara part of it was read as stated

First Regular Session 116th GAssembly (2009)SENATE CONCURRENTRESOLUTION No. 5A CONCURRENT RESOLUTIthe adoption of the sugar creIndiana’s offi cial state pie.Whereas, The Indiana Foodw“a statewide nonprofi t organdedicated to the celebration,and preservation of the autheculture of Indiana,” would likesugar cream pie adopted as tstate pie of Indiana and to nathe Hoosier Pie;Whereas, Sugar cream pie isshell spread with layers of crand maple or brown sugar cosprinkling of fl our, fi lled with cream and baked;Whereas, If the sugar creamIndiana’s offi cial pie, then Winsugar cream pie capital;Therefore, Be it resolved by tof the General Assembly of tIndiana, the House of Represconcurring:SECTION 1. That the Indiana Assembly urges the adoptioncream pie as the offi cial pie oIndiana and its renaming as tPie.

byby ttememblbly y ofof t t

HHouousese o of f ReReprpresesccururriringng::

SESECTTCTTIOION N 1.1. T Thahat t ththe e InIndidianana a

anana a anananand d itits s rerenanamimingng a as s tt

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IFA Influence

and restaurant "Mrs. Wick's would become a staple of thcommunity. Sticking with famWick’s currently has four famemployed. D.E. Wickersham’in charge. Mike’s sister, Marssales manager. Mike’s son, Dassociate. Mike also has his Kelley, as a production super

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During the 1940s through the 1960s, Wick’s was primarily a fresh baked pie company that delivered locally. It wasn’t until 1962 that Wick’s began freezing pies, expanding their market commercially. In 1964, Wick’s patented their sugar cream pie recipe. Fear of a large competitor from Ohio prompted Wick’s to protect their prized product. This secured and protected Wick’s legendary recipe from any and all potential competitors seeking an edge on the up and coming Wick’s Pies, Inc. The company expanded in 1986 with D.E. Wickersham honoring his beloved wife, Ruby, by naming the new outlet store

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mixing the pie shell ingredients

preparing the pie shell dough

forming the dough to the pie mold

sending the pie shell to be fi lled and baked

fi lling and baking the pies

taking the pies of the oven

cooling and packaging the pies

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Senator Allen Paul, whose district includes Randolph County, introduced the resolution. Randolph County is home to the small town of Winchester, Indiana. This community of less than 5,000 people has been deemed the Sugar Cream Pie Capital of the World. Nestled in this quiet town is the legendary Wick's Pies, Inc.

WICK’STHE

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resolution. Randolph County is home to the small town of Winchester, Indiana. This community of less than 5,000 people has been deemed the Sugar Cream Pie Capital of the World. Nestled in this quiet town is the legendary Wick's Pies, Inc.

D.E. "Wick" Wickershhis company in 1944 making hand a day and then deliverin1934 Buick sedan. Using a surecipe passed down from gegeneration in the Wickershamrecipe from the 19th century sense of authenticity to its pi