Rhode Island Vintage Ice Cream Truck Returns Home

When I think nostalgia in the summertime, I picture one thing: the ice cream truck.

Growing up in Rhode Island, it was routine to hear the bell, grab any cash and coins you can find, chase down the road and flag down the ice cream man driving the iconic Peter Palagi's truck.

Snowballs, fudgsicles, screwballs, rocket pops, snow cones, there were so many options! I must say, I was a sucker for anything with a gumball.

Everyone had their favorite, and chances are it came from a Palagi's truck.

The History of Palagi's

The history of the iconic treats dates back to the late 1800s. Brothers Peter and Tony Palagi came to the states from Borgo a Mozzano, Lucca, Italy. The two each had their own ice cream businesses, but worked in tandem for both to succeed.

"First they used horse and wagons, then Ford Model A ice cream trucks from the late '20s to '80s," current owner Adam Palagi said. He's the great grandson of Tony Palagi.

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In the '80s, modern ice cream trucks were used to drive down neighborhood streets or by local fields offering cold treats on hot summer days.

Then, in 1998 a change happened.

"My father Bob and Uncle Ron teamed up and formed Palagi Brothers' Ice Cream LLC," Adam said. "That same year, Peter's grandson Don retired and sold his/Peter's trucks out of the family, making Palagi Brothers Ice Cream the only family-owned Palagi trucks still on the road today."

Their fleet of eight trucks provide popular ice cream bars and treats to local patrons. They are also a wholesale supplier for a few privately owned ice cream trucks and concessions.

A Piece of History Missing

They still have the treats and the business, but a piece of nostalgia was missing, an old truck seen here driven by Adam's grandfather, Alfred.

"First Tony, then Freddie, then my uncle Ron Palagi owned the Tony Palagi truck until the '80s when Ron sold it," Adam recalled. It had begun to deteriorate not having sufficient enough outdoor protection for it and no garage.

Long-Lost Ice Cream Truck Found in Massachusetts

"We thought it didn't survive until 2018 when we were contacted by art professor, Leland Johnston from Northampton," Adam said. Johnston and his wife spent years restoring the truck into a museum-quality piece that even drove well, too.

"I was so excited when I found out it still existed," Adam said. However, his excitement faded when hearing the asking price. It was out of his budget, and the truck was sold to another buyer in Pennsylvania.

This particular buyer purchased the vehicle for his autistic son and the Autism Village Foundation he founded.

"They used it to raise funds for the foundation at events. Before it was picked up, Leland invited my uncle Ron and I to come check it out. So we did. It was incredible," Adam said.

The Palagi Truck Returns to Rhode Island

A few years later, in 2023, Adam went on the hunt again, searching for a 1934 Ford ice cream truck. He found it and the owner and tried (once again) to return the truck home.

The gentleman had received many offers over the years, but it was never for sale. Yet after hearing Adam's story, the history and recognizing that the truck hadn't been used in some time, the man was open to the sale.

"He asked for an offer, my father and I gave him one which included a donation to the Autism Village," Adam said. "He and the committee accepted and we received the truck and trailer via transport on Saturday March 22. We couldn't be more excited."

Talk about a sweet ending!