Storytime with Corey The Straight Scoop on the Origins of the Ice Cream Sundae Here’s a sweet fact: in April 1892, the iconic frozen dessert was invented and popularized right here in Ithaca—by Cornellians By Corey Ryan Earle ’07 The ice cream sundae is an American staple. This simple and customizable treat—scoops of ice cream with sauce and toppings—gained popularity in the early 20th century. But did you know it all started in Ithaca? In the 19th century, Cornell students living downtown could buy ice cream at several local shops and confectioneries. It was at one of them—on Sunday, April 3, 1892—that history was made. Platt & Colt’s drug store and soda fountain operated at the address now known as 216 E. State St. Alumni may remember it as the home of the College Spa eatery, which operated from 1937–76, although the original building burned down in 1956. (The location, now part of the Ithaca Commons, has housed the Taste of Thai restaurant since 2001.) Chester Platt. On the fateful day, proprietor Chester Platt stopped by the soda fountain after Sunday services at Ithaca’s First Unitarian Church, accompanied by its reverend, John Scott. Platt asked his soda fountain worker, DeForest Christiance, to prepare two dishes of vanilla ice cream. Accounts differ as to which man chose the toppings—but in the end, the ice cream was served with cherry syrup and a candied cherry. One man asked the other what the new concoction should be called; the reply was a “Cherry Sunday” in honor of its creation day. Retellings of the sundae’s origin story suggest that Cornell students helped to popularize the invention. Having witnessed its debut, they returned to order the new treat—then spread the word throughout the country during vacations and after graduation. Platt & Colt clearly targeted the student clientele, running six advertisements for the “Cherry Sunday” in the Daily Sun over the next two weeks. Cornell students helped to popularize the sundae; having witnessed its debut, they spread the word throughout the country during vacations and after graduation. The Big Red connections don’t end there. While none of the three men involved with the sundae’s invention held Cornell degrees, each studied on the Hill, if only briefly. Platt was a special student in 1886; Scott did graduate work in 1892; and Christiance studied chemistry in 1893–94 in preparation for his state pharmacist certification. (Also, a Hotelie—Michael Turback ’66—has written several books about the sundae and its origins, including one titled Ithaca, NY, “The City with a Cherry on Top”: 101 Historic Recipes from the Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae.) The reasons for the transformation from “Sunday” to “sundae” remain murky. Christiance later recalled in a letter that “one of the fruit syrup manufacturers came out with the name Sundae and later a competitor with it spelled Sundai or Sundi.” A 1902 article in the Spatula, a magazine for pharmacists, described the growing popularity of the “sundae,” and the term had become commonplace by the end of that decade. It should be noted that several other cities also claim the sundae as their own, but few offer historical evidence. A drug store in Buffalo advertised fruit syrup and whipped cream on ice cream sodas as early as 1889, but Ithaca appears to be the first place to use the word “Sunday” for the familiar treat. While none of the three men involved with the sundae’s invention held Cornell degrees, each studied on the Hill, if only briefly. Ithaca’s evidence is backed up by the first documented use anywhere of “Sunday” for the dessert: an ad published in the Ithaca Daily Journal on Tuesday, April 5, 1892, two days after the sundae’s likely creation. A similar notice was published in the Daily Sun the next day: “Cherry Sunday—A delicious, dainty Ice Cream novelty, just out yesterday. At Platt & Colt’s Fountain, and nowhere else.” Ithaca Daily Journal Platt & Colt’s claim is bolstered by its attempt to trademark the term “Sunday,” as evidenced by a letter (dated March 23, 1894) in Chester Platt’s papers in the University Library’s Rare and Manuscript Collections. The reply from a solicitor of patents notes that “there is no Federal protection that can be obtained so as to give you the exclusive right to use the word ‘Sunday’ in connection with your ice cream and syrup novelties.” As it explained: at the time, trademark protection could only be acquired if the product was used in foreign trade, not domestic sales. Christiance, the employee who’d served that first sundae, purchased the business in 1900 and is likely responsible for keeping the creation story alive. A 1924 Daily Sun ad for his establishment called it the “Origin of the Word Sundae.” And in 1936, he wrote a letter to the president of Ithaca’s historical society in which he described the serendipitous moment when the sundae was born. “From that day on we served Cherry Sunday,” he wrote, “and later on Strawberry, Pineapple, Chocolate, etc.” corey ryan earle ’07A historical plaque, embedded into the pavement of the Ithaca Commons. Today, many have forgotten Ithaca’s place in ice cream history. A small plaque can be found on the Commons outside where Platt & Colt’s once stood, though few notice it underfoot as they walk by. But next time you’re undecided when staring at the Cornell Dairy Bar menu: order a sundae, and have a sweet taste of history in the town where it happened. Top: A tempting treat from the Dairy Bar. (Devin Flores / Cornell University) All other images provided, unless otherwise indicated. Published April 15, 2025 Comments David Horne, Class of 1984 15 Apr, 2025 This is the sort of important history that must be documented. Reply Terry McKeegan Davis, Class of 1968 15 Apr, 2025 This is such a wonderful article Corey! I have sent it on to our family. Thank you for all you do to enlighten us on local history. Reply Jane Mack 15 Apr, 2025 Corey, you have the gift of creating relatable interest in a wide variety of topics. There’s something for everyone in your communications! Thanks for sharing and caring. ‘Information is power.’ Reply Annette M. Whipple 18 Apr, 2025 Uh-oh! Wisconsin claims the first sundae was there in 1881.https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS13636 Reply Corey Ryan Earle, Class of 2007 18 Apr, 2025 They sure do! They even have a large historic plaque in Two Rivers. But they have been unable to produce any actual evidence for the claim. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. 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