Liquor, Ice and Pop Popular in Nineteenth Century York
One hundred fifty years ago Yorkers were just as eager to spend their money on snack and drinks as they are today, as shown in a sampling of ads from the Gazette:
Christian Pfahler caught your eye with the large letters “L. I. P.” You had to read further to find it referred to his “Liquor, Ice and Pop business, at the old stand of Charles Hay, No. 44 South George Street, York, Pa. His stock of Liquors are of the CHOICEST BRANDS, AND VARIETY.”
The favorable character of the last season has enabled him to secure a full supply of Ice of the very best quality, which can be had at his residence or will be delivered as heretofore.
The ad continues:
POP, MINERAL WATER, PORTER AND ALE manufactured, bottled and furnished to private families, Shop and hotel Keepers, and the trade generally.
The same ad had been running since June, so Pfahler might have been out of ice by November. But maybe not–it sounds like the winter before was quite cold, and with good straw or sawdust insulation, he still might have some ice in his ice house.
After you stocked up on drinks, you could stop over at Goodridge’s to pick up “Candies of all kinds, Nuts, Raisins, Figs and Prunes; fresh Water, Soda and Sugar crackers;” and “ORANGES…LEMONS, and a quantity of LEMON SYRUP.”
If your digestive system wasn’t functioning so well, you might have visited the C.A. Morris & Co. drug store across the square, before you headed home. Morris offered “HOLLOWAY’S VERMIFUGE CONFECTIONS–A new and effectual remedy for Worms–made in the form of Confectionary–very pleasant to the taste.” Worm candy, anyone?
