The muffin man roots from a Victorian man who vended baked goods and lived on a street named Drury Lane, London. Costermongers (costers) acted as the Victorian-era equivalent of a street vendor, feeding crowds of hungry industrial workers. Today, the muffin man lives on through modern efforts at NC, where coaches Cogbill, Dillard and Tener, with the help of Longacre, sell muffins as a Technology Student Association (TSA) and wrestling team fundraiser. Robotics teacher Cogbill founded the movement, quickly recruiting wrestling coaches Dillard and Longacre and fellow robotics member Tener.
In the Victorian era, baking relied on manual labor, creating back-breaking conditions — establishing bakers as strong and determined individuals. Similarly, the modern-day muffin men of NC face toils such as the COVID-19 pandemic which temporarily put them out of business at the start of the 2021 school year. Showing grit and compassion, Cogbill started the business back swiftly, taking extra precautions to ensure safety from germs.
An icon then for his baked goods and now for his role in childhood rhymes, the muffin man presently roams the halls of NC. A fundraiser for the robotics and wrestling team, Coach Cogbill, Dillard and Tener, with the help of Longacres, sell muffins to support beloved NC extracurriculars —- establishing themselves as the modern-day suppliers of determination and compassion.
“I am out in the courtyard every morning and in the hallways between classes. I get to interact with great kids all the time. I love being able to provide and help the students in the robotics [and wrestling] program. I love that I am able to spend [raised] money on things that help those students be successful. It is hard and time-consuming to do but is totally worth it,” Cogbill said.
A perfect treat for breakfast or snacks, the muffin men of NC provide welcoming service and affordable goods. For two dollars, Cogbill and his associates offer muffins bought from Costco and wrapped individually by the muffin maestros themselves for two dollars. In 2023-2024, they profited a grand total of $10,660.76, evenly split between the robotics and wrestling teams.
The success of muffin sales beautifully benefits all involved parties. Students enjoy tasty and fueling treats, the TSA and wrestling team gain necessary funding and transactions build student-teacher relations. Similarly to the Victorian muffin man, these sales promote community engagement. Food sales have proved to unite populations, providing opportunities for human connection and feeding workers and students alike.
“[Buying a muffin] was a good experience. [Cogbill] was very kind, they’re all really sweet teachers. The muffins are generally helpful, they help me when I’m starving during the day because lunch is kind of late. It’s easy to eat it in classes that allow me to. They’re also really filling and delicious,” sophomore Eli Pothier said.
Although different in time periods and occupation, both the ancient baker and current teachers bridge communities, uniting populations through a shared love of food and fellowship. NC educators continue the legacy of the muffin man, spreading cheer with their customer-friendly attitudes and kindness via the direct support they lend to student organizations. From Drury Lane to NC hallways, muffins continue to build communities one bite at a time.
