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Our Rich History: Fickenscher family celebrates 90 years of baking memories; today, Cookie Jar Bakery


By Dan Knecht
Special to NKyTribune

The Fickenscher family has been baking delicious memories for 90 years, since 1927. The iconic Cookie Jar Bakery, located at 919 Monmouth Street in Newport is the direct and proud descendant of this family’s long baking tradition. Today, the Cookie Jar is owned Chris Fickenscher, a 4th-generation baker, and the grandson of its baking founder, Michael Fickenscher.

Michael Johann Fickenscher was born on October 5, 1903 in Nuremberg, Germany, the son of Valentin and Margaretha Stoll (married 1899) Fickenscher. The Ficken/Fickenscher family name derives from a very old family of Franken (Franconia) in Germany. Its coat of arms was registered in the year 1400.

Valentin and Margaretha Fickenscher had four sons and a daughter: Johann Wilhelm (1900), Marie (1902), Michael Johann (1903), Reinhard (1908), and Wilhelm Heinrich.

Michael Fickenscher immigrated to the United States, arriving on the ship München on November 25, 1924. He was sponsored by his aunt and uncle, Elizabeth and Harry Buchholz, and went to live with them in Norwood, Ohio.

Michael John Fickenscher, Naturalization Document, January 1927. (Provided)

Michael made a declaration of intent to be naturalized on December 8, 1926. His address was listed as 4720 Section Avenue, Norwood, Ohio, a boardinghouse next to his aunt and uncle. Five weeks later, on January 16, 1927, he became a naturalized citizen, with an address at 307 4th street in Dayton, Kentucky. His occupation was listed as baker.

Michael’s bakery in Dayton eventually made him a very successful and respected businessman. He even served as president of the Dayton Businessmen’s Association.

In the 1930 census, Michael was listed as living in a boardinghouse in Dayton. His brother, Reinhard, had joined him by this time. In 1935, Michael Fickenscher married Katherine Beck. They had four children, Kami R., Robert M., Joan, and Dian.

Reinhard Fickenscher was born on August 20, 1908 in Nuremberg, Germany. He immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City on May 16, 1926 on the ship Berlin. His destination was listed as Norwood, Ohio.

At some point in the 1930s, Michael opened a second bakery in Newport. Eventually he closed the one in Dayton. His brother Reinhard, meanwhile, opened his own bakery in Bellevue. This caused some disagreement between the brothers, as Reinhard was using Michael’s recipes, as well as the training that he had received from him.

In the 1940 census, Michael and Katherine were living on Indian Avenue in Fort Thomas. Michael died on January 30, 1985, and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Valentin Fickenscher, 1875 Germany, Age 92 in this photo in 1967 (Provided)

Reinhard Fickenscher became a naturalized citizen in January 1933. He enlisted in the US Army on April 15, 1941. This was eight months before Pearl Harbor, and the United States was not yet at war. Reinhard worked as an interpreter in the special forces. It is not known if he ever went to Germany during the war.

After the war, Reinhard made a trip to Germany to try and free his father, Valentin, who had been arrested as a war criminal. Valentin had served as a Kriminalkommissar, a high-ranking police official in Germany. At the end of WWII, the Allies arrested any German citizen who had a government position or was a member of the police. Valentin was one of those arrested and sent to prison. Reinhard arranged for his release.

Reinhard opened his own bakery in Bellevue. He named it Reiny’s Pastry Shop. “Reiny” was a very popular business person and was a well-known bowler in the area, sponsoring several teams. In fact, he was known as “Reiny the Bowling Baker.” He married Helen Beck. Reinhard died on September 17, 1995, at age 87.

Marie Fickenscher was born in 1902 in Nuremberg, Germany. She came to the United States on July 28, 1923 on the maiden voyage of the ship München. Her destination was listed as Norwood, Ohio. She stayed with her aunt Elizabeth, the younger sister of her mother. Marie did not stay long, and by 1927 she was back in Germany where she married Joseph Bastl.

Johann Wilhelm Fickenscher was born October 5, 1900 in Nuremberg, Germany. Johann served in an artillery unit in the German army in WWI. He immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City on April 9, 1925 on the ship Lutzon. His destination was listed as Norwood, Ohio. He anglicized his name to John William Fickenscher.

Instead of joining his brothers in the bakery business, John went to the University of Cincinnati where he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. He worked for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati. John became a citizen in 1930. His first wife was Mary Lee Lyons. After he retired, they moved to Winter Haven, Florida. After Mary’s death in 1973, he married again. Johann William Fickenscher died on August 11, 1982 in Winter Haven, Florida, and was buried in Cincinnati.

Wilhelm Heinrich Fickenscher was born in 1914 in Nuremberg, Germany. He never immigrated to the US. Rather, he served as a German soldier during WWII, dying in 1944 in Budapest. He left a wife and two children.

Dan Knecht is a longtime Northern Kentucky resident and an avid history enthusiast.


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