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120 Years Ago, 1906 transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:
"Perfection are the new ice cream parlors opened by Harry B. Burt. Original and novel. Interior presents a picture of bewildering beauty - equipped with modern appliances."
"Harry B. Burt's new candy and ice cream parlors were opened to the public at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Burt has, without doubt, the finest place of the kind in this section of the country, and it is doubtful if a finer appointed or more elaborate confectionary and ice cream store can be found anywhere. The building was built by Mr. Burt and is planned especially for his business. From basement to the second floor nothing by the latest and best has been installed and the building has elicited the greatest praise from all who have seen it.
"The manufacturing of ice cream, ice, etc., is done in the basement. Cleanliness is given the first consideration and the place is perfect in this respect. In the basement is the power plant, which supplies the light for the store and the power to run the machinery. A fifteen horse-power gas engine supplies the same. A storage room for fifteen tons of ice is one of the details. Up-to-date machinery for making ice cream at the rate of 100 gallons an hour, storage tanks for 300 gallons of the finished product, automatic carbonators for charging the soda fountains, hot water heaters for making hot drinks, cube-cutting machines for shaping ice, sterilizing apparatus for cleaning the cans, and in fact everything for the making and handling of the product has been place in the basement. The floors are cemented and the walls plastered. This section of the plant is most complete and must be seen to be appreciated.
"The retail floor is a dream in quartered oak, plate glass mirrors, handsome show cases, etc. The soda fountain is one of the finest ever brought to Youngstown. It is solid Mexican onyx with German silver trimmings. The sideboard is the most complete ever seen here and the plumbing connecting the fountain is said to be the best ever done in this city. The fixtures were installed by the Clark Fixture company of Fort Wayne.
"The arbor room is a revelation in Youngstown. This is the ice cream parlor proper and is located as an 'L' in the rear of the retail room. Here the effects are bewildering. The interior has been planned to represent a grape arbor. The side walls and ceiling are arranged with lattice work which is strung with grapevines, upon which hand bunches of grapes. The imitation is perfect. The light effect is excellent…. This room promises to become one of the most popular in the city.
"The candy-making department is on the second floor at the rear of the building. It is said to be the best lighted and ventilated candy shop in the state. All the modern appliances for making candy are installed and the place has been arranged like the other sections of the store with great regard for cleanliness….
"Music will be a feature at the Burt establishment. An orchestra of four pieces, a harp, violin, flute and cornet, will comprise it. This orchestra will play daily from 2 to 5 in the afternoon and from 8 to 11 evenings….
"The store, as stated, was thrown open to the public this afternoon at 2 o'clock. The opening will continue until Thursday evening, during which time nothing will be sold and the establishment will be kept open for inspection. Everybody is invited to call and go through the model establishment. It will be worth your while to see what Mr. Burt has done."
-- Compiled by Dante Bernard, museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.