The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library’s latest ‘Remember This?’ feature looks back at Dickie Dee ice cream vendors, using photos and reporting from the Sault Star collection spanning the 1980s and 1990s

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

Photo 1 (SSM Public Library Archives Database 2021.3.496)

If you lived in a neighbourhood at any point in the 80s or 90s, there is a good chance you remember hearing the Dickie Dee jingle announcing its approach from around the block. The tricycle ice cream wagons took to the streets in the 1950s with 8 vendors, peaking at 1,500 vendors across Canada and the northern US. Here, Dicki Dee salesman Michael DeMerchant cools off in the downtown area, July 21, 1987.

Photo 2 (Sault Star July 14, 1981)

Greg Sieffert serves a group of eager Dickie Dee customers at Queen Elizabeth Park.

The company provided summer jobs for thousands of people – mostly teenagers – across the country. Salespeople who were over the age of 14, good with people, punctual, clean, and courteous were sought after in the Sault Star Classifieds.

Photo 3 (Sault Star July 3, 1989)

A ring of the bike handle bell invited customers to run outside and enjoy a frozen treat. On July 3, 1989, however, Tony Dalla-Vicenza looks down an empty Chambers Road. The temperature was 30 degrees, and Sault Ste. Marie Dickie Dee supervisor, Rod McKenzie told the Sault Star that between 23C and 26C was the sweet spot for sales. Any hotter, and many residents either stayed inside or left town.

Photo 4 (Sault Star, August 13, 1991)

Customers Michael Suriano and Ben Lewis escape the August 1991 summer heat by scoping out flavors in Jerry Rowlinson’s container. Rowlinson sold as many as 16 dozen treats on hot days. At its peak, Dickie Dee was the country’s second-largest ice cream vendor, behind only grocery stores (CBC).

Photo 5 (Sault Star, August 8, 1984)

Sisters Natalie and Christine Coulter share a cold treat from Scott Cuthbertson’s tricycle at Bellevue Park. The weather on August 8, 1984, was sunny, hot, and humid, inviting customers to enjoy a mouth-watering lick. The question is: were you a Phantom, Baseball Glove, Sour Power, or Rocket Pop kind of kid?

This article was written using information compiled from the Sault Star Collection at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library.

Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provide SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more about what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more “Remember This?” columns here.

The Sault Star citations:

CBC https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/dickie-dee-men-still-pedalling-bikes-ringing-bells-selling-treats-1.3175873

Sault Star July 14, 1981

Sault Star July 3, 1989

Sault Star August 13, 1991

Sault Star August 8, 1984