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School essays about summer vacation once felt painfully dull when the season’s biggest adventures were visiting relatives in Ohio, buying sweet corn for a dollar a dozen or racing a bicycle down St. Clair Hill to cool off.

But a better theme was hiding in plain sight: the frozen treats that made ordinary summer days memorable.

Chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream on a stick was a frequent choice. Known as a Smoozie, it offered a satisfying contrast between its crisp chocolate coating and creamy center. It cost a dime at the neighborhood market or from the ice cream truck.

Fudgsicles sometimes made the cut, too, though they held less appeal. Their flavor was reminiscent of chocolate milk frozen on a stick.

Popsicles were cheaper and easy to share. For a nickel, the twin-stick treat could be split by balancing its center ridge on a counter and giving it a precise thwack. Orange was the favorite flavor, followed by lime, cherry and grape. Root beer was firmly rejected.

Drumsticks were reserved for times when extra money—and tolerance for a mess—were available. Nuts tended to tumble from the top, and the treat had the curious drawback of leaving its eater thirsty. One surviving backyard photograph captured a Drumstick likely purchased by Mom on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The clear favorite was the Dreamsicle, with orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream swirled together in marbled colors. Its not-too-sweet flavor felt like heaven on a stick, and because other children overlooked it, it was usually still available.

Today, those treats can be purchased in bulk and kept in the freezer for grandchildren. Yet some of their magic has faded. Years ago, they were occasional delights rather than everyday snacks—and that scarcity made them a special part of summer after all.