Whatever Happened To Humpty Dumpty Potato Chips in Maine?

Now, before I get emails and Facebook messages, yes. I know that Humpty Dumpty potato chips are available in Maine. But their plant used to be right here in Maine. So, whatever happened to Humpty Dumpty Potato Chips?

Humpty Dumpty Founded in 1947 in Scarborough

According to Wikipedia, the Humpty Dumpty Potato Chip Company was founded in 1947 in Scarborough, Maine,  by George Robinson and Norman Cole. Their flavors were unique. They made regular and rippled potato chips, but also had flavors that New Englanders really loved. Ketchup-flavored chips and sour-cream-and-clam-flavored chips.

Shipped in Tin Cans

Large tins of regular potato chips were sold to restaurants and hot dog stands, as well as concession stands at high school sporting events.

I remember working in the concession stand at Oxford Hills High School and hauling over these tins of potato chips in the back of my grandfather's truck to serve up to spectators. All the proceeds were donations to the Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club.

Humpty Dumpty Gets Sold

Humpty Dumpty was acquired by Borden in 1989, but the plant remained in Scarborough even after it was sold again in 2000 to a Canadian owner, and the name changed to Humpty Dumpty Snack Foods

Another buyout occurred in 2006 by Old Dutch Foods, a Minnesota-based snack food company. After the acquisition, Humpty Dumpty potato chips were renamed Old Dutch potato chips, and the Scarborough plant was closed after 59 years of making chips and snack foods in Maine.

What the Former Plant Looks Like Today

It's barely recognizable today, and like so many other businesses that have closed, it's been turned into office space.

READ MORE: Whatever Happened to Smitty's Cinema in Biddeford?

The only good news since Humpty Dumpty left Maine is that the new owners are continuing the original company's tradition of unique flavors. I'm a big fan of Humpty Dumpty All Dressed chips.