HOPE E. TREMBLAY
Growing up on the south side of Westfield, my family usually gravitated toward Southwick for frozen summer treats. It was always special when my Poppa would announce that we were taking a ride. I knew that meant one thing: Ice cream!
Usually, we went to Brzoska’s on College Highway. For some reason, in addition to the ice cream (which wasn’t complete without chocolate dip) I remember that it was extremely well lit. The bright lights shone on the tubs of ice cream, illuminating my choices to my childhood delight.
The Summer House was another favorite. Nothing beat their black raspberry ice cream with a generous coating of sprinkles, well, maybe a soft serve vanilla hot fudge sundae with crushed nuts on a mountain of whipped cream.
Today, we still go to Southwick for summer night ice cream cones. Moolicious and Summer House top our list. But what I’ve been missing is another childhood favorite – the Pioneer Dairy fudgesicle.
I don’t know what it was about those fudgesicles, but they were the best. Everyone around knew about them – they were famous (well, at least in western Mass. and northern Conn.)! So, when I saw a Facebook post that someone was attempting to bring them back, I had to get the scoop.
Yes, that pun was intended.
A link to a Kickstarter page was posted and when I clicked on it, I read about Zack Colson, the great, great grandson of Pioneer Dairy founder Charles Nutter. I immediately contacted Zack to learn more about his quest to bring back the fudgesicle.
For the past five years, Zack has been recreating the frosty, fudgey treat that put Southwick on the map for lovers of frozen chocolate. His recipe has been perfected, and now he needs some help starting production of the signature treat of the business that closed 16 years ago.
I wish Zack much luck in his sweet endeavor and am publicly stating that I will happily volunteer to be a taste tester when he is up and running.
