Our Past Is Present May 21, 2018

May 21, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            The information for today’s story was taken from an article written by the late Marilyn Heldstab, former Geary County Historical Society Director and was published in the “Junction City Union” newspaper in 1993. The article was titled “Deluxe Opens JC Ice Cream Factory.”

            Marilyn wrote: “It’s summertime and nothing sounds better on a hot day than ice cream.  Junction City has had its own ice cream factories in the past.  One of those was owned by Tom DeLuxe. 

            Tom first came to Junction City in 1917.  He could not find a building at first and started off with a popcorn stand in front of the Cozy Theatre across the alley from the Bartell Hotel. 
It was a small structure, which was erected for him on the alley just north of the Dumm Furniture Store.  Later, he located in the old frame building just east of the city hall on West Seventh Street. At that time, City Hall was located in the front section of the Opera House building.  Later, he was the first tenant in the Columbian Theatre building on Washington Street near Tenth Street.

            In 1922, Henry Muenzenmaer erected a two-story modern building for him at 133 W. Seventh Street. It was then that Tom DeLuxe went into the ice cream manufacturing business, while at the same time continuing his confectionary business at that same location and in the Columbia building.

            In the July 14, 1926 issue of the “Junction City Union” an article stated “The DeLuxe Confectionary and Ice Cream Company will observe its ninth anniversary in Junction City and would make a startling offering.  The details stated that they would sell 12 varieties of ice cream, sherberts and ices for 30 cents a quart.  They would even deliver it to your home for 35 cents a quart.  Each child visiting would get a free souvenir of either a balloon or a fan.

            Part of his business, at one time, was the operation of four wagons that delivered ice cream to the residential areas of town.  Do any of our listeners remember the ice cream man riding a bicycle with a freezer box on the front loaded with tasty cold treats?  In some neighborhoods there was a truck that came through with the driver ringing a bell or playing music to attract young people to purchase their favorite summer ice cream, popsicle or other favorite.  These are good memories that can be enjoyed anytime we want to think about them.  Your host is reflecting on an ice cold orange flavored popsicle even now.  The “Past IS Present”.