Grape Popsicles? A simple equation of liquid, cold, and time. Popsicles were invented in San Francisco in 1905 by an 11 year old boy named Frank Epperson. One hot summer day Frank mixed some powdery sugar soda mix with water and accidentally left it out overnight, straw and all. Well it froze in the night and Frank went back the next day to find the first ever Popsicle.

Frank changed the straw to a wooden stick, called it an Epsicle, and started selling them around the neighborhood. In 1923, Frank expanded to selling them at the near by Neptune Beach. Seen as the “West Coast Coney Island,” Neptune Beach included a roller coaster and an Olympic size pool among its offerings. Visitors loved the Epsicle.

1923 was also the year Frank Epperson applied and received a patent for Popsicles. His children referring to them as, Pop’s ‘Sicles, encouraged him to change the name and call them what they called them. Upon receiving the patent, popsicles became a trademarked name. The unofficial name for them are ice pops or ice lollies.