Dr. Jazz Soda Fountain

[Eric]

Hope you all had a great weekend! Me? Oh Yes!!!
I come home Friday to find that the kids are at the grandparents, my wife had book a weekend for us
somewhere (it was a surprise) and we were going to antique all weekend!
We set out early going into Illinois and drove Hwy 55
all the way up to Springfield IL... no machines, no rotary phones, no gumball machines so we head back to
Lebanon, IL... Where I find out that she had booked a
bed & breakfast... and it was/still is a old soda fountain!
When we get there we ate at the fountain... burgers and fries... I am scanning the whole place... a Dole
dispenser, Grape-Ola Dispenser, Hires dispenser,
cavalier 63 in the corner, vintage signs, vintage drug store stuff everywhere.... The owner comes over, Tonya
tells him who we are , then he ask me if I'll be ready for class.... she signed me up for a soda jerk class after they close!
How cool is that!? so 9:30 comes we meet him at the fountain, where we put on our aprons and start...
I learned how a fountain works, did you know if you pull the nossle towards you there is little preassure
if you push it away it has a lot of pressure.... I learned
how to make a New York Egg Cream, Green River Phosphate, Homemade Rootbeer, Chocalate Phosphate, Sundaes... All good stuff!
There are reasons for the different designs on sundae glasses, most are used as meauring lines....
As we worked I asked him about the fountain and the differnet items... most everything was left in the building
when he had bought it seven years ago after the owner, up into his 80s, had just closed the door one day and that was it...
He said the owner just passed a few months back...

The Grape-Ola dispenser... NOS was still in the box
in the upstairs!!!! the seal/gasket never used,
The Hires was also upstairs, the Dole Super was still
at the counter, the phone booth... was dated 1941
and was also in the fountain when he got it...
the ceiling is all original... said it took 5 days to take it down to restore it..... the place was just awesome...
If any of you guys pass through close enough to
this place you got to stay! The wives would love it!
The room where you stay is wonderful... all new everything.. there are 2 bedrooms and bathrooms
in case you come with another couple.... the
soda jerk class is $12 (cover the stuff you make and eat)
Paul the owner is a super guy... won't meet anyone nicer!.... I will be stopping by there again... may have to make it the place to go before the Chicago show!
Thanks Tonya! What a great surprise!!! You're the best!

[Eric]

Here's the dispensers, Paul the owner at the fountain

[Seven181]

Eric,

Awesome! I bet the place is cool! Sounds like you and the wife had a great time. I would love to see that place and take the class. I will try to talk the wife into going, maybe on our way to Detroit in July! If not, I will shoot for Nov as well. Great story!  '>


Brian

[Eric]

Phone booth and room
There's a pool table in the front room.
they have a website:
www.drjazzsodafountain.com

[MCarter]

Very Cool Eric........Glad to hear you had a good time. Thanks for posting this one, Now its time for a road trip.

[coke_and_stuff]

Sounds like you had a great time, Been wondering where you've been.

Joey

[Bob K]

Very nice, Eric.  Very sweet of your wife to plan a getaway like that!

Bob  '>

[SIGNGUY]

Way Cool... Your wife deserves Props on that one!!! '>
I was hopeing to see a picture of you behind the soda fountain in that apron however and maybe one of those little paper hats!!!! :'>  '>

[Eric]

Ha!...I'll post it when I get back home.

[sodaworks]

Awesome. That sounds like fun but your next get away will probably have mud baths and facials. '>