Jacob F. Obrecht and Company Cigars and Tobacco records

The J. F. Obrecht & Company was a candy and tobacco distributor that was established in 1886 and survived through 1971. The company was based in Baltimore and was housed originally on Light Street, then later moved to 211 S. Hanover Street, but finally closed their doors at 312 S. Hanover Street. They also had locations on Howard Street, Broadway and Eastern Avenue.

The company was founded by Jacob F. Obrecht who was born in 1862 and died December 8, 1943. He bought and owned a tobacco wholesale house in 1886 and bequeathed the company to his two sons in 1935, Jacob F. Obrecht, Jr. (d. 1978) and Holliday Hicks Obrecht, Sr. (d. 1985). The company’s most famous brand of cigars was their “Caton Cigars,” whose slogan was “Don't Bite Me, Just Light Me, I've Got a Hole in My Head.”1 The company produced cigars in Baltimore until the mid 1940’s, after which the cigars were manufactured in Pennsylvania. The business eventually closed in 1971, and the city tore down its building in 1973, the site is now the loading dock for the Baltimore Convention Center.

Holliday Hicks Obrecht Sr. was also active in the formation of the Wholesale Tobacco Distributors of Maryland Inc. trade association. His son, Holiday Hicks Obrecht Jr. worked in the business and eventually took it over from his father and uncle. He ran the business until it closed, and along with his wife compiled this collection. Other articles from the collection are also housed in the Maryland Historical Society’s Museum.