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Eagle Lake Remembers
I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream! And with good reason. It’s hot, it’s July, it’s vacation time, and it’s National Ice Cream Month in Colorado County. We’ve all shouted these words from childhood remembering the cold, sweet relief and delight of a big bowl of fresh ice cream in summer.
After refrigeration, we began commercial selling of ice cream in 1926, which earlier was provided only from personal hand cranks. The edible waffle ‘walk away’ cone was introduced as early as 1904 at the St. Louis World’s Fair, and the popularity has continued.
Who hasn’t scraped the fresh ice cream from the paddles on the churn before the ice cream was dipped. What memories summer brings. Families and friends gathered round and ice cream was the center of attention and celebration of most summer events. Would you have vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry? Or perhaps berries on top?
Many an event has featured ice cream around the courthouse in Columbus, the square and bandstand in Eagle Lake, and along Main Street in Weimar. An ice cream party was serious business, and at the same time social and fun. Remember when eating the frozen cream too hastily sent children away with a headache, only to return to continue their delight.
Even today we individually average about 20 pounds of ice cream each year or 4 gallons of the frozen treat a year. The National Ice Cream proclamation was made in 1984 by President Reagan. And it’s a good thing. Ice cream sales add $13 billion to the national economy supporting 29,000 jobs, with $1.8 billion in wages. Just imagine.
Our Texas has earned its place in ice cream history with its Blue Bell Creamery in nearby Brenham. The famous Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla named for the Texas flower has been the best selling ice cream flavor in the country.
Let’s celebrate summer! Plan a party, an ice cream social, a church event, or churn some ice cream with your family and friends. Have an ice cream cone. Remember the delights of the past. Recall the old hand cranked ice cream makers, the churns, and the ice and salt.
Remember the dairies and the real cream. Recall the ice man and his wagon, the summer nights, the town squares, the neighbors and friends, and the joy of living in Colorado County in the summer. Check the temperature and have another cold dish!
