So often we take the things around us for granted, never pausing to wonder how they came into existence. Most everyone in the U.S. knows what a Popsicle is, but how many of you actually know how it was invented?
Back in 1905 in San Francisco, a young boy 11 years old named Frank Epperson wanted to make soda pop, and mixed soda powder with water. He used a stick to stir his invention, and then turned his attention to other things. The drink was left on the porch all night, and Frank discovered it the next day; it was frozen solid with the stirring stick still inside thanks to overnight record low temperatures.
Eighteen years later, Frank remembered the incident and decided to introduce his invention at Neptune Beach in California. His frozen treat was an instant success, so he patented his idea. He originally called his invention the “Eppsicle” but eventually his children convinced him to change the name to “Popsicle.” Some also referred to the frozen treat as an “ice lollipop.”
While Epperson’s invention was well received by the public, it did not bring the instant monetary success he hoped for to rescue him from his struggles in the real estate business.
Epperson partnered his Popsicle Corporation with the Loew Movie Company who handled the sales and marketing of the product. He only held the patent from 1924 to 1929 before selling it; he was flat broke and liquidated all of his assets for cash even though he had earned royalties for 60 million Popsicle sales.
Frank sold his Popsicle rights to Joe Lowe Company of NY. The treat then sold for five cents and was made using birch sticks. Popsicle sticks are still popular today in many craft and school projects. Later in 1965, the rights were sold to Consolidated Foods. In 1986, Popsicle operations in the U.S. fell under the Gold Bond Ice Cream Company of Wisconsin, and later sold to British-Dutch consumer food company Unilever’s subsidiary Good Humor.
Another frozen treat product you may recognize also owned by Unilever is the Creamsicle. It is vanilla ice cream covered with flavored ice in orange, lime, cherry, grape, or blue raspberry. The Dreamsicle is similar to the Creamsicle, but its center contains ice milk instead of ice cream.
Another name you’ll recognize among ice cream treats is the Fudgsicle, also owned by Unilever; the Fudgsicle can be found in milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate.
A newer addition to the Popsicle line is Slow Melt Pops, which contain gelatin to keep them from melting as fast as the original treat.
Today, the original seven flavors have grown to include thirty; the most popular flavor is the classic orange and has been for many years.
Frank lived to be 89 years old, and he regretted the selling of the patent in 1929 for the rest of his life.