Ice Cream Social

Join us for an old-fashioned ice cream social that would make Gil Belles proud! To honor one of the museum’s founders, we’ll be serving specialty sundaes just like the ones served at soda fountains of yesteryear on Saturday, June 16, 2018, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The event will be held on “Our Front Porch,” at the Western Illinois Museum where we invite you to share your memories of Gil.  All proceeds will benefit the museum’s new window campaign. Tickets $7.

As early as 1862 the Macomb Journal reported that Lane’s Ice Cream Saloon was treating Macomb’s residents to “rich flavored ice cream …such a luxury especially on a warm day.” Many other druggists followed, adding soda fountains to their stores, including L. C. Smith in 1894, G. D. Keefer in1872, and in 1906 Augustus Decker. The Laughlin Chocolate Shop, located next to the Illinois Theater, was also well-known for their ingenious ice cream sundaes. This year’s fundraiser is an opportunity to learn about this sweet local history and sample some of the favorite sundaes. The menu includes the chocolate and marshmallow Peg O’ My Heart, the strawberry, banana and coconut Summer Beauty, the peach sensation Palmer House, and the maple syrup treat known as the Tasty Toasty – that’s topped with corn flakes! This year’s social is a unique opportunity to taste history and support the museum.

Tickets are available in advance at the Western Illinois Museum, located at 201 South Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s Courthouse Square. For more information, contact the Western Illinois Museum at 309.837.2750 or info@wimuseum.org.