This is truly a "bit" of Rockport, MA, for Anadama Bread originated in this town many years ago. This is the true story of a local fisherman whose lazy wife always gave him steamed corn meal mush and molasses for dinner. One day when he came in from fishing, he found the same corn meal mush and molasses for dinner and being very tired of it, he decided to mix it with bread flour and yeast and baked it saying, "Anna Damn Her." The bread was so delicious that his neighbors baked it calling it Anadama Bread. Anadama was first baked by the Smith family at 5 Main Street in Rockport during the 1940's and then later at a modern bakery built by the railroad station in Rockport, MA. The company went out of business in 1972 dues to the death of William P.C. Smith, Melissa C. Smith's husband who ran the operation. The Smith Family owned several Rockport, MA and Gloucester, MA businesses from 1929 - 1998 including The Blacksmith Shop Restaurant, The Easterly Inn, The Faraday Inn, The Anadama Bread Bakery, and The Cable House Guest House. Many people still bake this bread but don't know the real secret to making it extra chewy and deeply molasses sweet that only the original old fashioned recipe can bring to the bread. This website is dedicated to all the people who remember this bread and want to bake it in the authentic style.

With Deep Respect,

Melissa Ann Smith