Until 1972, Poughkeepsie was home to the Smith Brothers cough drop factory. Halls is the brand name of a popular mentholated cough drop. His uncle was confectioner William H. Luden, who developed the menthol cough drop. However, in 2016, the Smith brothers cough drop brand folded due to declining sales. In 2015 the renowned actor Jeff Goldblum almost choked on a Halls cough drop. The 1/6th was relieved in the Cough Drop on the morning of 20 September.