MIDDLETOWN, Maryland — As the summer heat settled over Middletown on Thursday, residents celebrated the season’s arrival with a sweet treat: ice cream. Lee Delauter & Sons on South Church Street offered a tempting 25% discount on ice cream purchases, drawing families like Gabby French’s, who stopped by to cool off.
French, accompanied by her sons Owen, 4, and Mason, 2, reminisced about childhood summers spent enjoying ice cream after a day at the pool. “It’s a tradition,” she shared, highlighting the nostalgia that ice cream evokes for many.
Lee Delauter & Sons is among five local establishments participating in Main Street Middletown’s Ice Cream Passport promotion, aimed at connecting the community through its rich agricultural heritage. Becky Axilbund, manager of Main Street Middletown, explained that the passport encourages patrons to visit all five locations, where they can collect punches on their cards. The first 10 people to complete the passport and submit their cards at designated locations will earn a free ice cream t-shirt.
The initiative underscores Middletown’s deep-rooted connection to ice cream, dating back to the days of Main’s Ice Cream Factory, which once attracted travelers along U.S. 40 Alternate, now the town’s Main Street. Although Main’s closed in the late 1960s, its legacy lives on in Middletown’s vibrant ice cream scene.
Ann Miller, owner of Main Cup, proudly continues this tradition by using locally sourced milk and cream in her products. Miller noted the town’s unusual abundance of ice cream shops for its size, drawing regulars and visitors from neighboring states.
Axilbund expressed enthusiasm for the community’s love affair with ice cream, reflecting on how the passport program celebrates Middletown’s agricultural heritage and local businesses. The event, running through Labor Day, aims to unite residents and tourists alike in a shared appreciation for the town’s culinary traditions.
