By Glenn Fritz What comes to mind when you hear the term Ice Cream Social? To this writer, it means going back to simpler times. A time prior to the term Covid, before cell phones, even black and white TVs. A time when families and friends gathered on a lazy Sunday afternoon and enjoyed each others company, swapped stories, as well as sharing a refreshing snack. Well this tradition continued on a lovely Sunday afternoon at the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse in Cape Vincent on August 14th. Jean Cougler, who along with her husband George, ran the hostel at the Lighthouse for 11 summers, from 1992 to 2002. After a couple of years, Jean came up with the idea of an Ice Cream Social as a way to draw people's attention to the fact that the hostel rented beds out to travelers (mostly younger people) looking for an inexpensive place to stay and to enjoy the beauty of Cape Vincent. The hostel was closed at the Lighthouse in 2018. After running the hostel, Mrs. Cougler went on to become a volunteer at the Visitor Center, then joining the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse Historical Society Board of Directors and later rising to the Recording Secretary. Sadly Mrs. Cougler passed away in 2018 and the tradition ceased. It was brought back a couple of years later when the Board of the Lighthouse Historical Society decided that it would be a fitting tribute to honor Mrs. Cougler's memory and dedicated service by reinstating this tradition. Hence the “Jean Cougler Ice Cream Social” was born. This year's event served over 200 sundaes. Besides enjoying the free ice cream sundaes and chocolate chip cookies, musical entertainment was provided by local musician Pat Dolan. A great time was had by all, sharing a carefree afternoon with friends, new and old, on the beautiful grounds of the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse.
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