Viola Van Nostrand Woodruff House, 1927.

In 1913 a number of events in Viola Woodruff's life conspired to push her into a new direction. Both her husband and father had died earlier that year. She and her mother were left with a large house in Flushing to maintain themselves. And, while visiting a friend, Viola met a woman who as making money selling salted peanuts in Vermont. Learning all she could, she started her own business in the kitchen of her home. By 1920 Woodruff (who is listed in some places as Wood) had two factories, earned $200,000 (gross), and had added other salted nuts and meats to her roster.

A 1921 article in The Peanut Promoter (billed as "the most unique publication in the world"), told Woodruff's story, though at various points she notes that she would easily give it all up. She stated that her time might be better used in "service to herself and the community, as well as in social service work."

She was still in business in 1928 when she was once again written up, this time in the "National Nuts News." It is unclear whether the popular business survived until her death in 1953. The large house at the northwest corner of Northern Boulevard and 147th is long gone.