Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Amedeo Obici (1877-1947)

Photographed by Michael Beatty, May 16, 2009

1. Amedeo Obici (1877-1947) Marker

Inscription. Founded Planters Peanut Company in 1906 with fellow Italian immigrant Mario Peruzzi. Arriving in America at twelve, speaking no English, Obici worked at a local fruit store before opening his own peanut cart. An entrepreneur, he invented new peanut production methods. Planters grew into one of the most widely distributed peanut brands; its Mr. Peanut trademark is universally recognized. Corporate headquarters was located here, 1925-1961.

Erected 2007 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 41° 14.109′ N, 75° 54.057′ W. Marker is in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County. It is on South Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 632 South Main Street, Wilkes Barre PA 18702, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Coal Region

and in the Wyoming Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Veterans and 9/11 Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Hurricane Agnes High Water Mark (approx. half a mile away); 15th Ward World War II Honored Dead

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(approx. 0.6 miles away); Miner Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); William Camp Gildersleeve (approx. 0.7 miles away); Zebulon Butler House (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Old Gymnasium (approx. ¾ mile away); Teedyuscung (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilkes-Barre.

Also see . . .
1. Planters Through The Years. (Submitted on May 18, 2009.)
2. Wikipedia Account of Amedeo Obici. (Submitted on May 18, 2009.)
3. Amedeo Voltejo Obici at FindAGrave.com. (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1. Marker to be refurbished.
The marker plate has taken down to be sandblasted, primed and repainted & any other repairs needed. It will be put back shortly.

— Submitted March 14, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Planters Peanuts Corporate Headquarters image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Beatty, May 16, 2009

2. Planters Peanuts Corporate Headquarters

Photographed by Michael Beatty, May 16, 2009

3. Planters Peanuts Corporate Headquarters

Credits. This page was last revised on March 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2009, by Michael Beatty of Hanover Township, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,918 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 16, 2009, by Michael Beatty of Hanover Township, Pennsylvania. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.