Southold screams for ice cream at social
William Rivera, 6, and sister Alias Rivera, 2, of Southold, enjoy the sweets at the 24th annual Ice Cream Social at the Southold Historical Society's Maple Lane Museum Complex. (Aug. 6, 2011) Credit: Ursula Moore
With vanilla ice cream slowly dripping down his hand, 10-year-old Anakin Mignone of Southold couldn’t imagine a better way to spend his Saturday than at the 24th annual Ice Cream Social at the Southold Historical Society’s Maple Lane Museum Complex.
“This ice cream is the best,” he said.
According to Walter Jackson, Southold Historical Society's events coordinator, the Ice Cream Social began as a fundraising idea.
“It just took off from there and it’s been going strong ever since it started,” Jackson said. “The Ice Cream Social is great because it brings a lot people together.”
The hundreds in attendance took advantage of the opportunity to walk the grounds and learn about its historical significance. Patrons could peruse the Thomas Moore House, which shows living conditions before the Industrial Age; the Bay View Schoolhouse, a restored one-room schoolhouse; the Buttery, which features butter molds, churns and pitchers; and the Bay View Icehouse, built in 1875, which could keep ice frozen for up to a year.
But ice cream was still the focus of the day. Patrons sampled delicious flavors including Moose Tracks, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and peach, and individuals from near and far participated.
Richard and Sue Neithercott came all the way from Pennsylvania to enjoy the fun with friends and Southold residents Anthony and Hedy LaViola.
“We come every year,” Hedy LaViola said. “It’s a nice event to come to, and the historical society does such a fantastic job, plus the ice cream tastes great.”
The social featured pony rides, a bouncy house, antique cars, live music, tic-tac-toe games and potato sack races.
Listening to Warren McKnight’s banjo tunes and moving to the beat were 2-year-old Emma Pastore and her brother, Rex, from San Francisco.
“We are visiting friends and thought it would be great to bring the kids here. The kids love Mr. McKnight’s singing,” said their father, Mark Pastore.
For more information about the Southold Historical Society, visit www.southoldhistoricalsociety.org.
Photo: Six-year-old William Rivera, of Southold, and his 2-year old sister Alias enjoy the sweets at the 24th annual Ice Cream Social at the Southold Historical Society's Maple Lane Museum Complex. (Aug. 6, 2011)
