HAMILTON, Ill. — Golden’s Point Church of rural Hamilton will be presenting “Eat out to Reach out.”
The approximately 130-plus-year-old ice cream social has changed over those many years.
Note that the date is earlier this year.
On Saturday, June 28, serving begins at 5 p.m. The ice cream remains to be the old time delicious cranked goodness created for over a century. Available for your dining pleasure are also maid-rite, hot dogs, chips and beverages as well as pies and cakes.
Golden’s Point Church is located 4-1/2 miles north of Hamilton on 19th Street or address 905. E. County Road 1800 Hamilton.
No phone orders will be taken.
Although the delicious dessert is enough of a draw on a warm summer’s eve, note that all proceeds will the distributed to two Hancock County organizations. C.A.R.E. (Christian Adoption Resources and Education) which provides resources and assistance to local adoptive and foster families and Tri State Family Services which is dedicated to counseling and education in the areas of crisis pregnancy, post abortion trauma, marital problems and domestic abuse.
Ice Cream lovers have been aware of the deliciousness of this dessert for many years which is available in six flavors: Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, peach, pineapple and caramel. Combine your ice-cream with homemade pie or cake and your dessert experience is unsurpassed. Buy it by the quart or the dip. Come take a walk down memory lane and visit with your neighbors as you eat on the peaceful country church lawn as you listen to music by Michael Haas or enjoy air conditioned fellowship hall. Join us as we have some exceptional giving back to your community. How sweet it is to help others.
History of the Social
No one knows exactly how long the Golden’s Point Christian Church has had an ice cream social. The earliest recorded date is 1886. At that time, it was called the “Strawberry Festival” and each family brought a freezer of ice cream to sell among church members. Every year since, except during war years when sugar was rationed and during the 1993 flood due to transportation and supply availability, the social has been held. So approximately 130-plus years.
History of the church
In 1854 members met in homes and then in the Golden’s Point School house. In 1866 there were 64 persons baptized. A church building was located near Larry Creek. In 1910 a new building was planned, for repairs were needed on the old building and the creek was changing course coming dangerously close to the building. The “new” building was dedicated in 1912 with a “modern” addition completed in 1982.
Process of Making Ice Cream
Cream is delivered from Quincy Prairie Farms. At 6:30 a.m. the day of the social all meet at the church to mix pasteurized eggs 65 lbs., 150 lbs sugar, 34 gal. cream, 56 gal. milk, flavors and crank the ice cream in 5 gal. White Mountain hand crank freezers plus the trailer that cranks several at one time. The ice cream to be sold in quart bulk is then packed and frozen in freezers while the dipping ice cream is packed in freezer cans and packed with ice, covered with tarps; then re-packed later that afternoon, using 5,000 lbs of ice, 50 lbs. dry ice. All this ice is to insure the correct temperature for dipping.
Amount of ice cream
Total gallons of ice cream mixed varies from the total served because during cranking the product increases. But according to the formula, approximately: 45 gal. of caramel, 25 gal. of chocolate, 25 gal of strawberry, 25 gal of peach, 25 gal of vanilla and 10 gal of pineapple, with a total of approximately 185 gallons to be enjoyed after cranking.
This ice cream will be combined with homemade pies, and cakes,
Making quite a dessert offering for the community. Bulk ice cream in quarts will be sold on the north lawn of the church when serving begins.
The Volunteers
The entire church family pitches in from poster making to pie baking, mixing, serving and dipping. The children and young people learn to serve as they clean tables, collect trays and run for seconds for their customers. And when needed some have been found in the nursery nurturing the future generation.
Facilities
Golden’s Point church is located 4 ½ miles north of Hamilton, Illinois on 19th Street.
Your choice of dining experience includes either the beautiful country church grounds with tables and picnic tables or inside the fellowship hall with the comfort of air-conditioning.