Letters

Ice cream truck tradition long-lived

Correspondent Sandra Babcock’s article on the ice cream truck in Your Voice on Aug. 16 reminds me of the same kind of service we enjoyed in Birmingham, Ala., in the 1920s when I was small.

The man selling cold treats from his vehicle was called the Good Humor Man. Musical tunes from then-popular nursery rhymes came from his truck, quite recognizable to all us kids.

My mother and I resided with a family that had four children. We were encouraged to take our afternoon naps in time to greet the Good Humor Man at a specific time of the afternoon.

We each were given one nickel. Yes, that was all any item cost – hard to believe nowadays. We already would have had to have earned this sum by drying dishes, feeding the dogs or helping make the bed.

We had a choice of Popsicles, ice cream cones or bars, fruit juice and Coca-Cola. No parent could afford a whole dollar back then.

Well, many things change in 80 years. But, as Babcock says, this system of having summer treats has been around for some time.

Lillian Ogletree Forester

Spokane