What is the history behind ice cream sundaes?

Ice Cream Sundae

The great soda water prohibition

During the peak of the soda jerking days of the late 1800's in the Midwestern U.S., religious groups began pushing laws that prohibited the sale of soda water on Sundays, much similar to current laws in much of the U.S. prohibiting the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

As a result, drug stores began selling ice cream sodas minus the actual soda water. The leftover ingredients of ice cream and flavored syrup were eventually garnished with flavorful toppings.

The tale of two soda fountains

In 1881, after a customer requested ice cream covered with soda syrup, fountain owner Ed Berners of Two Rivers WI decided to add the dish to his menu charging 5 cents for it.

Once George Giffy, owner of a nearby soda fountain found out, he added the item to his store menu too. However,

George felt the nickel price was too low, and instead of charging more for it, he only made the dish available on Sundays, and named the dish an Ice Cream Sundae.

The sweet toothed reverend

While preparing an ice cream dish for Reverend John Scott, drugstore owner Chester Platt covered it with cherry syrup and the familiar candied cherry.

The reverend loved the dish and aptly named it after the day that he at it on: Cherry Sunday.

This myth is said to have taken place in 1893, and has grown in favor after a sign reading "Cherry Sunday" was found at the store during the period afore mentioned.