When I was a child about 6 years old,1950, I met Mrs. Isaly. I lived in Youngstown, Ohio and my Uncle was in charge of maintenance at the Isaly factory. My dad and I went through the factory and they had a machine that made Klondike ice cream bars. At that time Klondike bars were chocolate covered ice cream with a wooden stick in them. I now noticed that all Klondike bars consist of chocolate covered ice cream without the stick. Do the stick versions still exist?
I lived on Fifth Ave in Oakland we would go to the park or Panther Hollow and on way we would stop and get chipped ham sandwich and little cartons of milk. On way home we got skyscraper ice comes. Best chipped ham ever and when I come to pittsburgh I always get some. Some of the best days ever.
If we were good it was Klondike time.Even today at 73 years old I love the Klondike bars. As a child living in Washington, Pa it was exciting to stop in the Isaly’s store when my mom would get some things from the deli and my brother and I could have a Klondike bar. Back then if you got a yellow card in your bar you could get a free one. Memories are still vivid and I share these with my kids and grandkids. Remembering the smells and fine things you sold back then. Wish they were here in Cincinnati, Ohio.
My dad worked as the General Manager of the plant in Marion, Ohio along side Richard (Dick) Isaly. He originally started out working for Isaly’s in Butler Penn. Than moved to Columbus and finally to Marion Ohio. I remember going past “Mother” Isaly’s house on Vernon Heights Blvd in Marion and my Dad always commented on what a gracious lady she was to him. I was sad to see the Klondike sold to another company.
Back in the 60’s, when I was in Junior High (we didn’t call it Middle School back then), my dad and I would often go to his office downtown in the afternoon. He’d work and I’d just poke around downtown. A 14 year old kid could do that safely back then. On the ride home, we’d pass an Isaly’s in Mount Lebanon, and stop for a Maricopa skyscraper to eat in the car on the way home. That was our secret. We never told my mother about it.
Found this slide while going through old family photos. My grandfather was born in Etna and dad visited there often. I believe this was taken around 72 or 73.
Growing up on the Southside of Youngstown Ohio, I remember the chip chopped ham it was amazing. I live in NC now and down here they have nothing like it.
My family always had Isaly’s at reunions!
I grew up in Kittanning, PA, a little town upriver from Pittsburgh. My parents had a furniture store and just around the block was an Isaly’s. It was definitely the favorite place to go. Like everyone else, we loved the chipped ham and a chipped ham sandwich was my very favorite after school snack. My memory is drawn especially, though, to the selection of ice creams and the tall skyscraper cones. They were terrific and you could not find anything like them anywhere else. In 1960 we moved to Florida and after I married, my wife and I moved to Utah. But my roots are always in western Pennsylvania and among my treasured memories is Islay’s. At the end of this month, my wife and I will be visiting Pittsburgh and Kittanning with my adult son. How I wish I could take them to an Isaly’s!
I worked at the Isaly’s Store on Lincoln Way Avenue in White Oak, Pa. in 1964 It was a hard job for a 13-year-old school boy but I sure enjoyed the fringe benefits of Klondikes and the best ice cream. I have lived in The Great State of Texas since 1978 and I occasionally buy chipped ham from the local grocery store – but it is no comparison to the delicious chipped ham I used to slice for customers. (Of course most all foods were better and more healthy “back in the day”!) Great memories!
