All summer long, millions of Americans have been enjoying ice cream cones. The exact origin of the cone is a subject of controversy. This month in 1903, an Italian immigrant in New York City — Italo Marchiony — filed a patent for a waffle-like pastry cup to hold ice cream. But he later lost court cases against makers of devices, which produced cone-shaped holders for ice cream. Whoever actually invented the ice cream cone, the first ones were hand rolled. By 1912, a machine had been invented to do the job faster. In all its forms — regular and low fat ice cream, sherbet, and frozen yogurt — we each eat about 24½ pounds a year of frozen dairy products — much of it in cones. You can find more facts about America’s people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.
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Only those of us old enough can remember the old fashioned soda counters at local pharmacies or the ice cream man slowly, musically, touring through the hot summer afternoon neighborhoods. I know those mobile ice cream trucks still run in some places. My favorite, back in the day, was the Nutty Buddy, with the Ice Cream Sundae a close followup. Whoever came up with ice cream was a true patron of humanity. And the waffle cone cannot be beat!