Beginning April 19th, the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History in Downtown Kingston will open a new season of historic tours of its early 20th century bakery. As part of the museum’s mission, the Reher Center has meticulously preserved this historic bakery at 101 Broadway, which was run by an immigrant Jewish family for nearly a century.

Having served the predominantly immigrant, working-class neighborhood of Kingston’s Rondout, Historic Reher’s Bakery offers rare glimpses into the cultural and communal life of the Hudson Valley’s past.

Reher’s Bakery was famous in the neighborhood for flavorful rolls, rye, and challah. On Sundays, churchgoers would flock to Reher’s to pick up their bread rolls for dinner. The Rehers kept a “Sunday List” to track those standing orders. The document still exists; museum staff are working to locate the families on the list to collect oral histories — some of which are shared on the tour.

“Growing up in Kingston, visiting the Reher Bakery to get our rolls was the best part of Sunday morning!” according to longtime Kingston resident Karen Sangaline Pillsworth. “The Reher Center is a step back in time with a promise for the future. It should be on every tourist's list, but more importantly on every local’s.”

To taste that rich tradition, guests will receive specialty rolls thanks to a partnership with Rosie General. The sibling-run general store and bakery is just down the hill from the Reher Center and tour attendees receive bread and a discount to use at Rosie General.

Tours of the Historic Bakery will take place on Saturdays at noon. Reservations are required to attend a tour, and those interested can learn more and register by visiting rehercenter.org/bakery-tours/