Beginning in 1892 through the late 1960s, the Carpenter family peddled hot tamales in the Corsicana downtown area.
Nathan Carpenter, pictured with the horse wagon, started selling tamales in 1892 in Corsicana. He got his tamale recipe from a Native American in the area. Later, he had a store front downtown on Commerce street; he’s pictured below behind the counter.
His son, Will Carpenter, took over the family business in the mid 1930s. Will is pictured standing in front of the tamale “food truck”. Carpenter tamales were sold daily in Corsicana from 1892 to 1967 upon the death of Will Carpenter.
“Family history is that Wolf Brand Chili offered to buy the recipe from my family. My grandfather Will turned them down because he wouldn't be able to make them and sell them anymore.” said granddaughter, Megan Carpenter Vadasy.
Thank you Megan for sharing this history with us.