Victorian America's Ice Cream Saloons

 by Kristin Holt, USA Today Bestselling Author
of Sweet Romance set in the American Old West

 

Victorian American Summers

Nineteenth century Americans (middle- and upper-class) loved the summer season. They frolicked at the seaside, bathed in the sea, sipped frosty Coca-Cola, picnicked on fried chicken, and enjoyed cold desserts. Just like today, folks back then loved ice cream.

When they weren't making ice cream at home, they enjoyed it in cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and ordered it delivered for grand occasions.

Saloons for Ladies (and polite company)

Saloon, you say?

Nineteenth century saloons included drinking establishments, of course. But the term was used widely to include public rooms or building used for a specific purpose. Like an ice cream saloon. 

Note that this 1867 ad aims to gain female patrons: "...take pleasure in informing the public, especially the Ladies, that their Spacious and Magnificent Saloon... is now open."

Memphis wasn't alone in marketing ice cream saloons to females. Little Rock also catered to a lady's preferences for peace, quiet, and orderliness.

Raleigh, North Carolina had its own female-friendly Ladies' Ice Cream Saloon.

Ice Cream Saloons by Other Names

Ice Cream Parlor

Plenty of ice cream establishments called themselves parlors. Several other names cropped up in nineteenth-century newspapers.

Ice Cream Rooms

Yes, Rooms.

A bakery in Ohio, selling pastries and other delicacies, advertised its Ice Cream Rooms.

A fellow named Charles Hoffman "has completed his Ice Cream Saloon," at Hoffman's Rooms. Apparently Hoffman was already in the restaurant business.

Ice Cream Salons

This first example comes from a German-language newspaper of St. Louis in 1858. Flora Garten, a "Bier- und Ice Cream-Salon."

Apparently the term "salon" was used for ice cream saloons beyond the German-speaking. D. Lopez advertised his bakery like this: "Confectioner, Chocolate Manufactory, Pastry, Cake and Ice Cream Salon."

From Kansas to New York, Ice Cream Salons were established in towns and cities.

Invitation

Have you identified other names for ice cream saloons used in Victorian-era America?

Other thoughts?

Please scroll down and comment.

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Copyright Ⓒ 2021 Kristin Holt LC

Victorian-American Boot Jacks by Kristin Holt

 by Kristin Holt, USA Today Bestselling Author
of Sweet Romance set in the American Old West

 

Necessity, the Mother of Invention

While men's boots were loose enough to be pulled free with a man's own two hands, no one knew they needed something like a boot jack. As so often happens, changing fashions dictate the need for an invention (i.e., sleeve supporters). This time, fashion's wily ways effected men.

The story presented in this 1871 newspaper article explains how "boot-jacks came in shortly after the introduction of tight boots."

North Star of Danville, Vermont on September 22, 1871.

Imagining a Boot Jack

Are you familiar with boot jacks? Could you recognize one in a museum?

Image: Wilson 55 Auctioneers

This beautiful mahogany piece allowed the user to remove his tight boots. Yet not all boot jacks were so fancy.

Image: Every Thing But The House

Yes, many boot jacks were wooden, such as these examples. Manufacturers also cast jacks out of iron.

Image: Urban Remains

Even mail-order catalogues got in on the boot jack market. Montgomery, Ward & Co. Catalogue sold boot jacks made of iron.

Montgomery, Ward & Co. Catalogue Spring and Summer 1895, No. 57.

Boot Jacks: A Necessary Contraption?

Boot Jacks have gone the way of the dodo. Most of us haven't seen one--but many of us have. Any able-bodied man could remove his own boots, couldn't he?

Consider the tale related in 1876:

The Mendocino Democrat of Ukiah, California on May 20, 1876.

Reminiscing About Boot Jacks

Ah, the good old days. Some of those golden days of yore included boot jacks.

Now that's a charming tale. Worth a chuckle.

This next old-time reminiscence tale recalls his father's discipline applied by paddling the boy's backside with a boot jack.

Boot Jack Patents

 

Invitation

Have you seen or used a boot jack? Do you have something to add? Please scroll down and comment.

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Copyright © 2021 Kristin Holt LC