This Week at Crossroads: Enjoy an Ice Cream Sundae, July 25 and Treasure Sale, July 29-30

Posted on 21. Jul, 2010 by in Heritage

Here’s another chance for you to enjoy an Ice Cream Social this Sunday at the Historical Village at The Crossroads.

The Door County Historical Society has deemed this week a Cherry Sundae event. But could that be historically accurate? Well, ice cream was first created in England for the court of Charles I around 1600. Here in the United States, our founding fathers served  ice cream at special occasions… very special occassions.

Making ice cream was pretty labor intensive until the hand-crank ice cream maker was invented by Nancy Johnson in 1843. By the turn of the last century (which is the depiction period of The Historical Village) people in Door County would have had access to ice cream.

But, could they have eaten sundaes in 1900? Absolutely. While bogus claims to the first sundae abound, the Wisconsin Historical Society has verified that the first ice cream sundae was invented in Ed Berners‘ soda fountain in nearby Two Rivers, Wisconsin in 1881.

As the story is told , a tourist (from Illinois) wasn’t particularly interested in purchasing a chocolate soda, but he suggested the Berner pour chocolate syrup directly on ice cream. While Berners was not impressed with the concept, he was accommodating and the sundae was born. He sold the sundaes on Sundays for a nickel.

As the legend goes, a little girl came into the soda fountain on a weekday and asked for a sundae. When told that sundaes were only available on Sundays, she reportedly asked, “Couldn’t we just pretend it is a Sunday?”  And Berner started selling the ice cream treats every day.

How the spelling got changed to sundae is open to debate. One story, which appears in many sources, credits the saleman who sold the special dishes for the delicacy. More likely–religion was important in those days– the change was made out of respect to the Sabbath.

Certainly, by 1900, sundaes had come to Door County, but the original sundaes were chocolate. In Door County, certainly cherry sundaes were popular. Or not.

A.L. Hatch & Professor E.S. Goff began planting cherry trees in Door county in 1896. Would those trees have born fruit in four years? Hummm. But  as soon as cherries were harvested  in Door County, folks figured undoubtedly figured out that they tasted really good with ice cream.

So will the Door County Historical Society Cherry Ice Cream Social be historically accurate? Not entirely. It is a fundraiser. Odds are that the cost of a sundae will be greater than the original five cents.

Speaking of historically accuracy, from time to time, people donate antiques to the Historical Village which are either innappropriate for our depiction period . And sometime we acquire duplicates for items we already have. So each summer, the historical society  holds a  Vintage/Antique and Treasure Sale!  Mark your calendars for  Thursday, July 29,1:00-5:00 or  Friday July 30th 9:00-1:00. You just might find that treasure  you have been looking for!

Educational programs for learners of all ages focusing on  history and nature will be offered at 11:00, Monday through Thursday. From 1:30-3:30, both the Historical Village and the Wildlife Exhibits in the Collins Learning Center will be open. You can also buy a rainbarrel during our business hours.Check our website www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org and click on the rainbarrel icon for more information.

Crossroads at Big Creek is a donor-supported educational  preserve, welcoming learners of all ages to programs in science, history and the environment. The Collins Learning Center and The Historical Village are located at 2041 Michigan Street (County TT in Sturgeon Bay.) Trails are open to the public. Pets (on leash and under control) are permitted.

Thursdday, July 22, 11:00
Family Program: “Mammals”

Explore the Wisconsin Wildlife Exhibit at in the Collins Learning Center and learn about the animals of Door County. Free.

Sunday, July 25, 1:30 – 3:30
Cherry Ice Cream Social and Village Tours

Help support the Door County Historical Society by purchasing a cherry sundae while you enjoy free tours of the buildings. Tours are free.

Monday,July 26, 1:00
Family Program:  “A School Day in 1900”

Enjoy lessons in a country  crossroads school where reading, writing and  arithmetic, history, science and music were taught in one room. About an hour.  Meet at the Vignes School in The Historical  Village at The Crossroads. Free.

Tuesday, July 27
Family Program: “Insects”

Explore the meadows for the amazing  insects of summer. Free. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

Wednesday, July 28, 11:00
Family Program:  ”Warren House”

Visit a log home built in the 1870s.  Explore a “keeping room”, a parlor, and a summer kitchen.  About an hour. Meet at the Warren House in The Historical Village at The  Crossroads. Free.

Thursday, July 29 1:00-5:00
Friday, July 30, 9:00-1:00
Vintage/Antique and Treasure Sale

The Door County Historical Society is sponsoring this sale to benefit the village artifacts fund.  You just might find that item you have been looking for! We hope you’ll visit us for the sale and at other times, too!  History. Admission free.

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