New England Confectionery Company Factory
The New England Confectionery Company Factory is a manufacturing plant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, built between 1925 and 1927. The structure features reinforced concrete with light brick and limestone details in the Moderne style and once operated as the world's largest candy factory.
The company's roots trace to 1901 when three candy firms in Boston merged to form the enterprise. The building replaced older production facilities in Boston and became the centerpiece of candy manufacturing for over a century until production moved to Revere in 2003.
The building sits on a large city block bounded by Massachusetts Avenue, Cross Street, Albany Street, and Lansdowne Street and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors can view the exterior architecture and distinctive water tower from street level, though current use limits interior access.
The water tower atop the roof was originally painted to resemble a roll of Necco Wafers, the brand's iconic product. After the complex's repurposing, the tower was repainted with a DNA strand pattern in soft pastel colors, symbolizing the site's evolution from candy production to new uses.
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