ANTIQUITIES

Looking for a fountain-head

By Jill Strauss

Granita may be “in” right now, but ice cream has never been “out.” In fact, ice cream continues to be so popular that many restaurants now make their own. Sadly, however, old-fashioned ice cream parlors are practically obsolete. Up until recently, there was an exception to this rule. You could order an authentic egg cream (a concoction that begins with a squirt of flavored syrup, a shot of cream, and a big blast of seltzer straight from the spigot) or ice cream soda (the same as an egg cream, but with a scoop of ice cream) and sip it slowly in the parlor of Pat Lyna’s Riverview Restaurant in Kennebunkport’s Dock Square. Now that The Riverview is no more, however, (see “In season” page 33) you may be forced to quench your thirst for fizzy concoctions at a Friendly’s near you, but the ambience will not remind you of the good ol’ days.

Nostalgia buffs or collectors of antique ice cream items may be interested to know that Lyna is selling her 1906 soda fountain, which comes complete with a pink marble counter and back bar with mirrored sides. According to records held by the Kennebunkport Historical Society, Frank Goodwin, then-owner of The Riverview (which at the time was a general store called “Goodwin’s) originally paid the extravagant price of $1200 for the soda fountain. If you know it’s value today or are interested in buying the antique, call Pat Lyna at (207) 967-4898.