My Personal Bio: The Ice Cream Factory: A Detailed Look

Shelby Clark

Space Analysis Essay

WRD 110-001

4/17/13

The Ice Cream Factory: A Detailed Look

Tony Visconti, an American record producer, once said, “It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new.” (Visconti) There is something beautiful and intriguing about an old building. It is something that has seen and heard incredible things from an era that we can only experience through secondhand information. There is also this quality of strength that a historic building possesses, considering it has withstood wear throughout the decades and still embodies character and charm. In Paducah, Kentucky, on the foot of Broadway near the Ohio River, a whole street is composed of these very types of buildings. One in particular is an ice cream shop modeled to imitate the old-fashioned ice cream parlor, called the Ice Cream Factory. Along with the lower town location of the shop and its old timey vibe, this space was restored and remodeled to channel an original old fashion parlor in order to attract a variety of crowds including local artists, families, and the older generation, all looking to experience the charm and unique character of this ice cream shop.

Located in the complex called “at Riverplace”, the 100 block of Broadway in Paducah houses a string of brick buildings, constructed 20 years after the American Civil War in 1885. Original uses for the building varied widely. Originally the structure housed a trunk factory and went on to be used for a cotton house, beer distributing depot, Famous Steam Laundry, and printing company throughout the late 1800s. Transforming into Paducah Printing company in 1907, a new façade was added to the building, along with the name “CLARK” and “1907” painted onto the bricks. A 19-year-old boy ran the company by the name of Tom Rogers. Following the printing company the building housed a variety of offices and was finally covered by a metal facing for the use of Petter Marine Supply in 1960 until 1998. Purchased by Ron and Sue Clark in the late 1990s, the restoration process began to renew this historic landmark in Paducah, now in the National Register of Historic Places. With over 40 years of experience in the dairy industry, the Clarks established the Ice Cream Factory along with three other businesses in the Riverplace complex.

When beginning the restoration processes, many things had to be taken into consideration. With the historic state of the building, some structures were refurbished to look as close to the original structures as possible. The brick interior is noticeably worn and old, but adequately depicts the age of the building. This feature was kept intact in order to preserve the character of the building. Other original pieces were a result of the Industrial Revolution occurring in the mid-1800s. Progress in technology during the 19^th century produced the mass use of cast iron among other inventions. (“19^th Century) The advances in architecture during this period brought the emergence of the Truss beam and bridge system. This structure features a system of cast iron beams and cables in order to support a building or bridge. (Lamb) However, the use of the truss beam in buildings has faded over the years due to more efficient innovations, making this feature in the building rare. In the back room where the ice cream is homemade, the original partitions are still in place with the thick 1900s style glass windows. Other original architectural features include the interior concrete pillar and an interesting tile mosaic at the front door. The tiles spelled the name “CLARK”, matching the painted brick. However, there is no relation to the current owners, Ron and Sue Clark. The tiles were refurbished to mint condition during restoration, and still lay there today.

Some structures were transported from other areas of the building. The parlor boasts a tin ceiling, an extremely old-fashioned staple dating back to the 1900s. In this Victorian era when the appearance and elegance of a home or building was most important, a tin ceiling offered a more cost effective and timely alternative to a plaster ceiling. (“Why are tin ceilings so popular today?”) The remaining features were completely rebuilt to model the original structure and imitate an old-fashioned parlor. Lighting fixtures from the Victorian era embodied chandeliers with a muted brass finishing, mostly combined with gas and electricity. (Powell-Smith) In the Ice Cream Factory, small chandeliers of this type were installed in order to imitate this style. A tiled back bar was also installed, representing the retro bar style providing space for a waffle cone iron, milkshake maker, syrups, and a dipping rail. All of the ice cream is produced in the back room, away from the view of the customers. It is all made from one machine that was brought in post-restoration, and has been producing the famous ice cream for ten years. Designed to peak consumer interest, the large front windows were installed to create the perfect view of waffle cone making from the street. Many customers stop to view this novelty, and ultimately come in to experience the complete character of the unique parlor. Sue Clark recalls seeing a picture of this style of ice-cream parlor in a magazine. She says that most of her inspiration was drawn from that picture, and the current Ice Cream Factory store was designed to imitate it.

Architectural features do provide a huge bulk of rarity of this shop, however finishing touches such as knick-knacks and ice-cream parlor staples thoroughly provide the complete vintage vibe. Throughout the Clarks 40 years in the dairy industry, the couple has collected a variety of trinkets and objects that describe their experiences. Above the back tiled bar is a mirror with a mantle hanging above. Arranged on the mantle, there is a collection of old glass milk bottles. The bottles number to about 50 and are completed with an old-fashioned wire milk carton and wooden cartons on the opposing wall. Hanging on the brick wall behind the counter is a picture of a dairy sign, named “City Consumers Co.” The dairy was originally used as a distillery until Prohibition. In 1920, it eventually became known as Blanding Dairy after City Consumers Co. Owner, Ron Clark worked at the company during the beginning of his dairy career, tying in the significance of its placement in the shop along with its overall vintage feel. Also contributing to this style is a metal ice cream pushcart with an umbrella. These carts were predominantly used in cities to sell ice cream on the streets, during a time that ice cream production had not yet become extremely popular. Along the back brick wall is a glass bar with stools for customers. This provides a unique seating area for consumers and a place for the perfect photo-op.

Two staples that complete the illusion of the old-fashioned parlor are the soda jerk hat and iconic waffle cone. The soda jerk hat is a famous staple for the old-fashioned ice cream bars, dating back to the 20s until the 50s. (“History of Soda Jerks”) This simple item creates the old-timey experience and takes the customer back to a time of soda jerks, phosphates, soda floats, and homemade sundaes. Waffle cones provide a familiar choice of cone and an intoxicating aroma that fills the shop anytime they are being made. The first waffle cone made its appearance by accident at the World’s Fair in 1904, when an ice cream vendor ran out of normal cones. Ernest E. Hamwi was selling waffle pastries nearby and rolled a pastry into a cornucopia style to hold the ice cream. (“A Brief History of Ice Cream”) The cone became a huge success and went on to become a legendary staple in the ice cream industry. Made daily at the Ice Cream Factory, the cones are a customer favorite and ultimately represent the pride and effort put into creating this old-fashioned ice cream parlor appearance and character.

Downtown Paducah represents many things that describe the heart of Paducah. The National Quilt Museum is located within one half mile of the shop bringing in 40,000 quilters in the month of April alone for the yearly quilt show. Also, the parlor is located near the Lowertown Arts District, which boasts an assortment of local art studios. Paducah has a keen eye for the arts, providing a place for local artists to thrive and become established. (“Artist Relocation Program”) These two groups are attracted to the downtown area of the Ice Cream Factory, along with many others.

According to Sue Clark, a wide variety of customers travel through the small parlor on a weekly basis. Although the teenager based clientele is significantly smaller because of the recent trends in self-serve frozen yogurt shops, many specific groups visit the shop frequently. Families are very popular regulars on the weekends, attracting families that just want a change from the mundane metropolitan area of Paducah. Kids love the process of picking toppings through the glass and watching the worker make their particular creation on the marble slab, and finally receiving a soda jerk hat to top it off at the end. This creates the perfect environment for parents to take pictures of their children in the old-fashioned setting on the bar stools with their soda jerk hat. This is an experience that would not likely be imitated at the typical Cold Stone Creamery. Due to the lower town location, many artists and coffee-shop dwellers trickle through the Ice Cream Factory. Also, the older generation of clientele especially enjoys the old-timey experience of the shop. This is likely due to the fact that the parlor brings back memories from their own life, during a time that the original ice cream parlors were becoming popular. Clark shares that one man has been coming into the shop twice a week for years like clockwork. He orders three dips of peanut butter ice cream and walks to the river to sit and enjoy his treat. Even though the location of the Ice Cream Factory is somewhat out of the way for most people, the trip is obviously worth the extra time, based on the weekend lines out the door. On Saturday nights during the weekly After Dinner event, the usual customers cycle through the shop in order to experience this unique process and get their delicious ice cream. The Ice Cream Factory has created a broad solid clientele base through the use of details and history, and one that will likely return throughout the years.

The notion of vintage style has become very prominent in American culture as of late. Whether it is fashion or décor, retro is everywhere. Some say that the recent recession contributes to this trend. Recycling old items has a certain charm and makes a statement. Also, vintage style brings a certain feeling of nostalgia. (Rose and Grey) It imitates a time in which things were simpler and towns moved slower. Couples would venture out to take a Sunday afternoon drive. Kids would go to the ice cream parlor after school to enjoy a hand-dipped soda float. Along with the location and specific vintage details and décor, the Ice Cream Factory portrays all of this.

Full of citizens from all walks of life, downtown Paducah depicts the true heart of the city along with the local small-town vibe of the Ice Cream Factory. On a typical, summer Saturday night, ice-cream lovers are lined out the door and down the sidewalk in order to experience the rarity of this forgotten phenomenon. Kids and grandparents alike can be spotted down Broadway with an ice cream cone in hand and a soda jerk hat sporting the Ice Cream Factory logo. Little faces peer through the huge bay windows in the front to view the making of the iconic waffle cones. The crowds enjoy their tasty treats while listening to the street bands performing. The shop is a perfect fit in the artsy, river city and embodies the slow, true old-timey fashion of the town. Charming and unique, the Ice Cream Factory continues to impress customers and keep them coming back.