Mary Soares
Mary's Portuguese Sweet Bread
Daughter, Wife, Mother, Baker
Mary's story is one of triumph. Raised in a strict household, married at 16,
and the mother of five children, she had no formal business training. Yet one
rule of business she knew instinctively - do what you know. Mary knew how to
bake bread. And not just ordinary bread, but a most delicious and versatile
Portuguese sweet bread that sells itself with just one taste.
Mary's Story
Pawcatuck Connecticut is a scenic coastal village tucked snugly
into the southeastern corner of Connecticut, along the banks of the Pawcatuck
River near Long Island Sound. For centuries, a tight-knit community of
commercial fishermen have lived in the village, and fished the waters of the
Atlantic. Many of the these fishing families are of Portuguese descent, and to
this day, the enclave retains many of the rich customs and traditions of the old
country.
Mary Soares is the daughter of a Portuguese immigrant who worked hard
as a commercial fisherman all his life. Mary's father maintained a strict home
environment for his daughter, who was not permitted to engage in many of the
social rituals common to high-school girls at the time. When she was 16, Mary's
married a Stonington fisherman who had an excellent reputation as a skilled
fisherman. Mary moved from the strict home of her father to an equally strict
home of her husband, who forbid her to work outside the home, and severely
limited her travel beyond her home.
Mary soon had five children of her own to
care for, while her husband was at sea, often for weeks at a time during the
long fishing season. At this time, her mother, also named Mary, began to teach
her children the art of making traditional Portuguese Sweet Bread, a delicate,
cake-like bread steeped in its own rich tradition.
Life Changes
As Mary perfected her grandmother's recipe, she often shared her bread with friends and
strangers alike. It wasn't long before a local shop owner, impressed with the
bread's quality, asked for a few loaves to sell in her store. Mary happily
provided them, and the business was born. As Mary raised her five children, she
was able to make a bit of money selling her bread to supplement the household
income.
Mary soon became known about town as "The Bread Lady", and her new-found
independence created tension in her marriage. Still, Mary honored her commitment
to her husband out of loyalty to her father, who introduced them. She continued
to bake her bread, and sell it wherever possible. As her children grew and left
home, Mary's mother passed away, and Mary cared for her father until his death.
A New Beginning
Following her father's death, Mary divorced her husband of 34
years, and suddenly found herself in the unusual position of needing to support
herself, and having no one depending on her. Once again, it was Mary's bread
that buoyed her through this difficult time. She began in earnest to market the
bread, at the same time learning about the world around her from which she had
been shielded for so long. She learned to navigate the local highways, as she
learned about marketing, product liability, nutrition labels, taxes, insurance,
procurement, and time management. The challenges were many, but Mary persisted.
A call that changed everything
As the business grew, Mary began to look for help in the form of a business
loan. She was put in touch with the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF),
an organization that provides loans and counseling for micro business owners in
Connecticut. To her dismay, Mary was told that CEDF was only authorized to
provide loans in 53 of the state's most economically disadvantaged towns, and
Pawcatuck residents were not eligible.
Mary then contacted her State Representative, Diana Urban, to ask why CEDF couldn't make
loans in Pawcatuck. That call eventually led to Representative Urban introducing
legislation that would expand CEDF's reach to all towns throughout the state. As
of October 1, 2003, it is now possible for qualified business owners to apply
for loans, regardless of which Connecticut town they're located in. Mary's call
was the catalyst for legislation that has benefited countless entrepreneurs
across the State. On the day the legislation went into effect, Mary stood before
a large crowd of press and business owners to deliver a speech that inspired
many. Mary's transformation from housewife to business owner and advocate was
complete.
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