The ice tub challenge

With all of the hoopla over the ice bucket challenge, many people are unaware of its local Schuylkill County origin.

Some say it had it began in the late 19^th century in Mahanoy City at the Kaier Ice Plant.  Others say it began at The Knickerbocker Ice Co. located at Tumbling Run.   One stubborn hold-out believes it began at Rita’s Italian Ice outside of Schuylkill Haven on July 4, 2013.

While these people differ, they all agree that the ice bucket challenge, which has raised so much needed money for ALS research, had its start somewhere in Schuylkill County. 

Ice blocks in Mahanoy City

 Well-respected historians argue that when 19th century beer baron Charles Kaier built a large ice plant in Mahanoy City for the purpose of keeping his beverage cold, someone got the bright idea to raise money to combat the bleenia epidemic plaguing  northern Schuylkill County.  As we all know, carpal funnel-cake syndrome(CFCS) was plaguing the southern end.  Some of those who resided on the dividing line of northern and southern Schuylkill County suffered from both simultaneously. Poor bastards.

The first ice bucket challenge got off to a “pour” start (pun intended) as the ice at the Kaier plant consisted of large, heavy blocks.  The small, drink-size ice cubes (as well as rubic cubes) were not yet invented.  The idea was for a notable personality, such as Nicholas Biddle, Captain Jack Crawford or Judge Pershing, to challenge five others to have an ash tube full of ice dropped on his or her head.

 The ice drop was to be captured by camera by nationally recognized photographer, George Bretz, who we all know, gained his fame taking action pictures of anthracite coal miners.  Bretz had volunteered his services after seeing first-hand the scourge of bleenia at a block party in Mahanoy City. The compassionate shutter-bug wanted to help those afflicted with this strange greasy, potato pancake obsession.  

 

Once developed, his photographs were to be mailed to the Shenandoah Herald, the Miners Journal, and the Mahanoy City Record American for the world to see (or at least parts of Schuylkill County to see).  Remember that cable television had yet to be invented in Mahanoy City yet; newspapers were the main method of communication ( besides the lost art of talking person-to-person).  It would be decades before Schuylkill Countians would be hooked on cable television with entire families gathering around the television set to watch such classic shows as The Real McCoys, Sea Hunt, and (The Fully Clothed) Dating Game,  which didn't insult our intelligence and were story and character driven; not the garbage that is on today. 

In those early days entertainment was confined to the newspapers’ crossword puzzles or, if none, spending hours looking for any misspelled words.

 It was believed that the ice tub challenge would then “snowball” (pun intended) as readers would hurry to join in on the action after making a donation to Stamp Out Bleenia.  

It was a very, very complicated operation.

strong women with tongs

It needed the cooperation of the brewery baron, the U.S. Post Office, the ice plant, the Knights of Labor, Western Union, iron and steel entrepreneur Charles Atkins who manufactured the ash tubes, the fledgling telephone company and, most importantly, big, strong women with tongs to lift the ice into the tubs.

ice tub challenger

Unfortunately the ice tub challenge was a disaster with too many people received concussions, fractures and cold shoulders (not necessarily in that order) from the weight of ice blocks.  Only $5.85 cents was raised before expenses were paid to combat bleenia. George Bretz was so appalled by the injuries and horror that he witnessed that he retreated back into the shelter of the coal mines, but not before taking the $5.85 to spend on bleenies.

                                       Insult upon injury.

Several years later the challenge was revived after the Pottsville Iron and Steel Plant created a primitive, hand-held tray to make small cubes of ice, making the ice drop challenge less hazardous.  The original trays contained only four cubes each.

Tumbling Run was the site of the revived event, raising several hundreds of dollars to combat CFCS.  Incidentally, the Tumbling Run event was also the precursor to the wet tee shirt contest, that we all take for granted but hold dear to our hearts, after one man's long johns got soaking wet. Women were not permitted into wet tee shirt contests until after decades of protests, demonstrations and marches resulted in the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.  The popularity of that contest soon sky-rocketed. 

 Unfortunately the Challenge faded quickly into obscurity as Schuylkill Countians were more interested in using the smaller cubes to make mixed drinks such as Scotch on the Rocks for immediate consumption.  It would be decades before the local population enjoyed cocktails which made life so much more comfortable,  such as the frozen  banana daiquiri, the Singapore Sling and Sex on the Beach.  

The Negative Impact Of Professional Pierogie Eating On Today's Society

It is time for me to be serious. I realize it is Pierogie Bowl Weekend in Schuylkill County and many families will be hosting Pierogie Bowl Parties or going out to a Sports Bar to watch it on Plasma TV. I don't want to be a humbug but the Pierogie Bowl has a negative, delusional impact on our young people and it is time we faced up to this fact.

Pierogie eating is big around here – very big. It always has been and probably always will be. Years ago, our young boys had nothing to look forward to but to work in the mines. That is, dangerous work in the dark for sixty hours a week. On Saturday nights the miner could then go out to smoke, drink, gamble and chase skirts with his paycheck. Yes, I know it sounds pretty good but the excitement and novelty quickly wears off and monotony sets in after several years.

Eventually word got out that it is possible to become rich and famous, while still having time to smoke, drink, gamble and chase skirts, by breaking into the fledgling pro sport of pierogie eating. But no longer would one have to go underground for sixty hours a week for the opportunity to do so as pierogie eating was done nearly all of the time above-ground.

The prestige bestowed on the professionals of competitive pierogie eating encouraged young men, primarily from “north of the Broad Mountain” to consider this up and coming sport as a one-way ticket out of the mines.

The temptations of exorbitant endorsement payments, autograph sales, and contracts with the Food Channel and Bon Appetit magazine are certainly seductive to many a young boy and few girls (pierogie eating has gone co-ed due to Title IX requirements).

Yet breaking into the pros remains an elusive and unrealistic goal. Only the “cream of the potato crop” will make it the Pierogie Bowl. The disheartened majority will fall by the wayside. Exploited by coaches and corporate executives, these naive, gluttonous youngsters will usually find themselves without a decent job when their eating contest days end and they become has-beens.

It is difficult to change this mentality, as many myths remain unshakeable. Myth Number One is that “high school pierogie gorgers get scholarships.” This is absolutely incorrect. While it is true that there is some financial assistance to attend a culinary school out there, very, very few high school pasta pocketeers actually receive full scholarships to such places. The scholarship money awarded is pittance and would not even pay for a semester’s worth of butter and onions.

Myth Number Two is that “pierogie competition leads to a college degree.” Without any doubt, more pierogie eaters are college educated today than years ago. Yet many barriers remain which hamper graduation for the serious college pierogie competitors. The demands on their time and energy as well as the post-game indigestion, gaseousness and nausea are incalculable, even in the off-season. Because of these pressures, many collegiate food devourers simply drop out and forget about receiving a diploma.

Myth Number Three is that “pierogie eating is a realistic career choice.” Again, this myth is without foundation. Yes, a few pierogie eating standouts can make millions, but their number is extremely low. On the other hand, the average pierogie tasting jobs jobs have either been relocated overseas (thanks to NAFTA) or performed by robots. The jobs just aren’t there anymore.

These three myths remain strong in our county where pierogie eating is now ranked as the number three high school sport, following right behind football and field hockey. During the summer off-season I did manage to visit a few of the several pierogie eating training camps that dot our beautiful county. To those who do not follow the sport of pierogie eating, these camps are commonly referred to as “block parties, ” "bazaars," "church picnics" or “street fairs.” These training camp block parties are basically places where young rookies as well as the more “seasoned” (no pun intended) semi-pros display their skills and try to be spotted by scout to possibly earn roster spots on the glamour teams from Mahanoy City, Shenandoah or the up-start Lost Creek that are legends in the Mrs. T Pierogie Bowl. It is a coal region way of life that will never die. The large attendance and participation at such events as the Polish Day, Lithuanian and Ukrainian Day Festivals in Minersville, as well as the Yorkville Block Party, reflect the aspirations of hundreds of our county's youngsters. They want to turn pro and make ridiculous amounts of money instantly. And why not?

Maybe the grueling discipline and hours of practice will pay off for one or possibly two. Who knows? Maybe these select few will get a chance to participate in the biggest bowl tournament in the coal region. But lets get serious, it's not going to happen for most. These impressionable kids are wasting their time as well as their block party tickets. Tickets better spent on halushki, bean soup or french fries.

Their willingness to train, sacrifice, and prepare for the future are commendable. But in doing so, the main focus needs to be on developing the occupational skills needed for success in a highly competitive global marketplace. Professional Pierogie Eating is not going to cut it. You don't see Won Ton eating competition being glorified in China. No, those youngsters are busy solving math problems. This is why I am boycotting this year's pierogie bowl. Just say 'dough.'

Top Ten Highlights of Last Year's Pierogie Bowl

TOP TEN HIGHLIGHTS OF LAST YEAR'S PIEROGIE BOWL

10. The sexy new babushkas worn by the hot Pierogie Bowl cheerleaders;
9. Mrs. T's scandalous wardrobe malfunction during the half-time show;
8. The post-game locker room interviews, the congratulatory phone call from the President Obama, The Mahanoy City post-game victory parade - all priceless;
7. Service Electric finally had “pay-for-view” coverage available for those who could not get tickets to the game;
6. The beer vendors lowering the price of Kaier’s to $5. per cup;
5. After the game Spencer Gifts had “pierogie bowl champion" bobble-heads 50% off;
4. Those crazy end-zone polka dances;
3. The Shenandoah wide receiver's groin injury;
2. Less choking than in the Eagles game;
1. The look of jubilation on the faces of the victorious Mahanoy City team after a carton of Guers Iced Tea was poured over Mr. Twardzik while the team yelled out in unison, “We’re going to Lakewood Park.”