Odd Wisconsin Archive
Sundae Sermon
The desire to claim distinction seems to be part of human nature. Right here in Wisconsin, the Manitowoc Co. city of Two Rivers has long claimed to be the birthplace of the ice cream sundae, citing local oral tradition of its invention there in Berner's Ice Cream Parlor in 1881. But Ithaca, N.Y., also claims the distinction, and can point to an 1892 newspaper advertisement as proof. Several other places around the country also argue the ice cream sundae was invented in their town.
The New York Times investigated last week and in a marvelously good-humored article explained that the question ultimately comes down to a definition of what makes a sundae, the chocolate over ice cream (Two Rivers, 1881; oral tradition) or the cherry on top (Ithaca, 1892; printed text). The controversy was reviewed last week, with links to relevant sources, in the Internet Scout Report (a service you should certainly subscribe to if you want to keep up with new educational Web sites).
Resolution of the first sundae controversy lies in how one answers the two fundamental questions of a historian: "what, precisely do you mean?" and "how do you know?" And, of course, in how well one uses critical thinking skills to gather and interpret evidence.
If you're a teacher, maybe you could use this question as a way to teach kids how to think like a historian -- with a free sundae going to the creators of the best-researched and best-argued presentations.
* citing Farrer K. To Feed a Nation: A History of Australian Food Science and Technology. (Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing, 2005).
:: Posted in Curiosities on August 13, 2006
Did You Know?
The Wisconsin Historical Museum is currently featuring Odd Wisconsin objects in the latest exhibit: Odd Wisconsin. And don't miss the Odd Wisconsin book by author Erika Janik published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press.
|
