This venerable chewing gum was made in the early 1900s and manufactured by David Clark – an Irish immigrant and maker of the Clark Bar. The Clark Bar started life in the rations of World War I soldiers, and was one of hundreds of candy bars, including the Zagnut Bar, that Clark created. So busy was Clark with candy bars, he sold the Teaberry gum company just after he started it.

 

David Clark’s story is as much about the American dream as any imaginable. Born in 1864, he started his life in Cork Ireland around the time of the deadly potato famine. After only one year of school, he dropped out to help the family get by. Yet, even as youngster, he had ambition. He and his family immigrated to the U.S., where, at age twelve, he worked by day and sent himself business school by night. 

 

In 1886, after selling goods from a pushcart and working for other merchants, he founded the D.L.Clark Company in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, now Pittsburgh's North Side. He eventually moved into an empty cracker factory where he manufactured a variety of candies – by 1920 there were 150 on the list including the famous (and delicious) Clark Bar made for the rations of World War I soldiers. 

 

Clark’s business was so successful, he opened a second factory across the street where he manufactured the Teaberry chewing gum. The teaberry is actually the berry from the wintergreen plant, which has a pleasant, minty flavor and grows throughout New England. For reasons unknown, Clark’s tagline was "It's On the Level" and a carpenters level, complete with a grainy look, was in the background.  Gradually, the carpenter’s level changed until it became a simple red band. By 1931, the candy bar business became too demanding (and successful) so Clark sold the Clark Brothers Chewing Gum Company which became the Clark Gum Company, instead. 

 

Chewing gum can improve your mood, reduce stress, increase your mental focus, and block pain. The act of repetitive chewing shifts the state of your brain... Areas related to attention and self-control become more active, while areas related to stress and pain processing become less active. Chewing gum also seems to increase serotonin levels…why chewing can improve your mood.