Popsicles 1905
Popsicles seem like an obvious invention today almost something that you should not even need to invent. But in 1905 no one had thought to freeze juice or soda on a stick and turn it into a cool treat for summertime. The story begins with 11-year-old Frank Epperson. He was enjoying making his soda by mixing sugary soda power with water. He was mixing the soda in a cup with a wooden stirrer and ended up leaving it outside overnight. It was a cold night and the soda concoction froze solid in the cup.
In the morning, Frank awoke to find his frozen drink and curiously pulled the stick out of the cup. The frozen drink came with it and Frank began to lick the flavored ice from the stick. He found the treat to be delicious and thought kids around the neighborhood would too. He called it an Episicle and started selling it. The treat became very popular with the local kids and so in 1923, Epperson decided to start thinking bigger. He started selling the Epsicles at Neptune Beach where tourists and beach-goers loved the new treat. In 1924, Frank filed for a patent for his Epsicles and continued to build his business. Eventually his children convinced him to change the name to Popsicles because that it was they had come to call it.
Despite the popularity of the treat Frank Epperson was not the best businessman and he ended up broke and forced to sell the rights to his Popsicles to Joe Lowe Co. sometime in the 1920s. It devastated him to liquidate his assets and sell the rights but he was given no other option. The Popsicle became a national success due to the support and marketing of Joe Lowe Co. and it is now a treat that is synonymous with summertime.