Tony’s Ice Cream Exhibit Debuts at Gaston County Museum
By: Lauren Ramsey – Wise News Network
Dallas, NC (WNN)— The Gaston County Museum, located in Dallas, North Carolina, has unveiled an exciting new exhibit that will interest locals and visitors alike. ‘The Old Fashioned Way: The Tony’s Ice Cream Story’ isn’t just about ice cream; it’s a journey through time, exploring the rich history of a beloved community landmark and the immigrant families who built it.
From Distant Lands to Local Scoops: The Immigrant Story
The exhibit located on the museum’s second floor details the arrival of the Coletta and Jannetta families in Gaston County. It explains how people migrated to the region, highlighting the significance of transportation routes like the Great Wagon Road in the 1700s and early 1800s and the later use of trains. Artifacts from the Coletta family, including Tony Jannetta’s trunk and suitcase, are on display. Jannetta, who married into the family, made a journey from Italy, through Tennessee, and finally to Gaston County in the 1920s.
Immigration and Family History
Museum Curator Alicyn Weidrich dedicated extensive time to researching and developing the exhibit. According to her, “The historical perspective that we’re looking at is about immigration primarily.” She explained, “So we talk about how people came to Gaston County, whether that be from overseas or just from up north. And then we also talk about the family history and how their businesses changed and grew with Gaston County.”
From Two Stores to One Iconic Brand
The Tony’s Ice Cream store that we know today originated from the Coletta family, who passed down their knowledge to Tony Jannetta. Initially, there were two separate stores: Colletta Ice Cream and City Ice Cream, each managed by a different Tony. Following their deaths, the family combined the business into what is now known as Tony’s Ice Cream. Carmine Coletta started the business in 1915, initially selling ice cream from a pushcart and later from horse-drawn wagons.
The Original Recipe and Family Origins
Discussing the family’s origins, Weidrich shared, ‘The family recipe has stayed the same for generations.’ Carmine Coletta’s experience making ice cream for mill workers in Glasgow, Scotland, which possibly explained his decision to stop in Gaston County. It was probably very familiar to him to sell to mill workers since there were so many in the County. The recipe has remained unchanged since then.
To truly understand the ongoing appeal of Tony’s Ice Cream, one must hear the personal stories that shaped it, like those shared by Louis Coletta, whose memories bring the history to life.
Louis Coletta’s Contributions and Memories
Weidrich emphasized the importance of Louis Coletta’s contributions to the exhibit.
“I spent a lot of time with the family members. I spent most of my time with Louis Coletta. Louis is the grandson of Carmine Coletta, and Louis is the current owner, and he operates it with his son, also Tony Coletta. And so I spent a lot of time with them. Louis Coletta is a wonderful man. He is so sweet and so generous. He always told me his favorite thing about operating Tony’s Ice Cream has been the kids. He’s a real kid-lover. He loves it when the kids come in, they always give him big hugs. And he makes sure that everybody leaves with ice cream, no matter what. And I think hearing his stories about his family and all of his memories of growing up making ice cream or some of my favorites.”
She further shared a specific memory: “One thing that you learn when you’re here is that one of his earliest memories of his grandfather, Carmine, and making ice cream is making fresh vanilla beans. He remembers them coming in long boxes. The long beans of vanilla and Carmine would make them fresh for his ice cream every day.”
A Scoop Through History
The exhibit features interactive displays, including cabinets showcasing a variety of ice cream scoops used throughout history. Such as cabinet doors guests can open that uncover the stories behind unique ice cream scoops, including the oldest known ice cream scoop and one linked to Tony Coletta.
The display offers an interactive way to learn about the evolution of ice cream scooping, from the early days of using two regular spoons, one for digging and one for scraping, to the invention of the first official ice cream scoop in 1878. This early design, known as a turnkey scoop, featured a built-in scraper mechanism to release ice cream with a simple twist.
A Scent of Tradition
For an engaging experience, guests can also visit the exhibit’s smell station, where they can smell three distinct ice cream scents inspired by Tony’s Ice Cream flavors and guess which ice cream flavors they are. Among them is the shop’s most unique and well-known flavor— grape ice cream. While opinions on its taste may vary, grape ice cream remains a signature favorite among many longtime customers.
A Taste of Nostalgia
Visitors also have the opportunity to share their own personal connections to the beloved ice cream shop. The exhibit features an interactive voting station allowing guests to cast a vote for their favorite Tony’s Ice Cream Flavor. Whether it’s the famous grape or a classic such as chocolate or vanilla. Visitors can also type out a memory, mentioning what makes their chosen flavor so special to them. This feature adds a personal touch to the exhibit, allowing the community to share in the nostalgia and celebrate the legacy of Tony’s Ice Cream together.
The Museum’s Purpose
Regarding the exhibit’s purpose, Weidrich stated, “Boy, I really hope that when people come and experience the old-fashioned way, the Tony’s ice cream story, I hope they realize that we all come from different walks of life and from around the world. We all have different opinions, different experiences, and it is all of those things coming together that make a community.”
Invitation to the Public
The community is invited to join the Gaston County Museum for the opening of The Tony’s Ice Cream Story exhibit on Saturday, March 8th, from 1 to 4 p.m. The opening will include a free scoop of Tony’s Ice Cream served from their historic ice cream truck, ice cream cone crafts, ice cream hat giveaways, and more! The Gaston County Museum is located at 131 West Main Street, Dallas, North Carolina, 28034
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