This
photo shows a Stockton Home Bakery delivery wagon in front of some
local homes.
The
Stockton Home Bakery was founded by Charles Pexler in 1883. He was
not successful and sold out. One of the owners was C. Sprague, who
employed M.L. Gravem as a driver when the latter came to Stockton.
Gravem
and his brother, O.L., natives of Norway, bought out the business
on May 12, 1887. The Gravem Brothers had no experience in the bakery
business, but learned the skills in about five months.
When
they began, their capital was only $900.00. In 1888, they bought
the lot, with improvements and fixtures, for $3,036.00. They each
worked sixteen hours a day and cleared $7,000.00 in the next two
years.
|
Stockton,
CA 
on the Move!