Sunday Favorites: One Scoop or Two?

Back in the 16^th century, before freezers were invented, ice cream was a very popular dessert but was labor-intensive and time-consuming. That all changed in 1843 when a woman named Nancy Maria Donaldson Johnson, of New York, invented the first hand-cranked ice cream freezer. Her invention, a wooden freezer box with a hand-crank paddle that churned the ice cream mixture into a smooth and creamy dessert, revolutionized the ice cream industry and made it easy and efficient to create, according to the Library of Congress.

Horse-drawn ice delivery wagons in front of the Excelsior Ice Company at 115 Beach Street. H.W. Lind was the manager.

That year, the Manatee County area was just being settled by the first white individuals. The townspeople herded and bred cattle and grew fruits, and vegetables for sustenance and occasionally income. In early Braidentown, as Bradenton was known back then, any manufacturing that occurred was necessity-driven, like logging plants or ship-building businesses, according to history Pamela Gibson in her 2007 article “The Florida Tick, the H.C.L. and the Bradentown Ice Cream Factory.”

But all that changed in 1914, when Orrin Burt Sias and Edyth Robinson Sias, both of Vermont, moved to Braidentown with dreams of creating the town's first ice cream factory. The shop opened on Main Street (present-day 12^th Street) across from the Seaboard Air Line Railroad station, Gibson said.

Main Street in 1912 with Warren Opera House and Stansfield Drug Store.

The key ingredients of ice cream are dairy, salt, and ice. While cattle and dairy were readily available in the town, and sea salt could be harvested from the sea, ice was a commodity in the sub-tropical environment.

Luckily the Excelsior Ice Company, located at 115 Beach St., in Braidentown, was nearby and delivered ice via horse-drawn carriage. Silas had a steady stream of good quality ice at the ready, and if the delivery was delayed, he merely had to pick up the phone and dial telephone #22, to check on the shipment, according to Gibson.

While the box churner that Johson invented was popular in small shops and residences, Sila’s contraption was much more complex. It operated on a diesel engine, according to a city map in 1915, and was situated next to a laundry company that also functioned on a much larger diesel engine. Neighboring businesses included a grocer, cobbler, and furniture store.

Silas referred to himself as “The Ice Cream Man,” in local advertisements. He sold ice cream and sherbet at factory prices and made deliveries for both wholesale and retail suppliers.

His products were largely popular, but an unforeseen natural disaster occurred in 1916 that sent his business spiraling. The town cattle began getting very sick. They seemed lethargic, had no appetite, and were feverish. What’s more, they weren’t producing milk – one of the key ingredients needed for Silas’ ice cream business!

It was discovered that a parasite was causing all the trouble, a tick that carried an internal infection in cattle.

The following year, The U.S. entered WWI, and the government introduced rations. All butter, cream, and buttermilk were needed for the war effort. Incidentally, ice cream was listed as a “luxury item,” meaning that in Uncle Sam’s eyes, ice cream was off the menu during wartime. Unfortunately the ice cream business did not survive these trying times. 

So, what became of Silas? Well, like other pioneers, he dabbled in real estate and managed rental properties, including the space once inhabited by the ice cream factory. This proved to be a more profitable endeavor and Edyth would maintain the properties for the remainder of their lives.

This story serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of small businesses, showcasing how external forces beyond our control can impact them profoundly. Yet, it also offers a valuable lesson in adaptability and resilience, illustrating how Silas and his wife managed to thrive by shifting their focus to a less vulnerable industry.