The museum gift shop is a very familar place to those who grew-up in Van Lear in the 1950's and 60's. In the late 1940's a resturant / store was opened in the basement level of the Consolidation Coal Company's Miller's Creek Division Headquarters. The resturant was operated by Richard "Icky" Wetzel. Richard received the nickname,"Icky" from his siblings. According to the traditional story, young Richard and the other Wetzel children were listening to,"The Ledgend of Sleepy Hollow...the story of Ichabod Crane." Richard became so scared at the tale that he began to cry. His siblings then began to taunt him and call him"Icky", short for Ichabod. This nickname stuck until the day he died as an elderly gentleman.

Icky never married or raised a family of his own and when his business was named he called it, "Kaye's Novelty Shop". Kaye Stapleton was his niece, the daughter of his sister, Christina "Wetzel" and Edgar Stapleton. Everybody simply called the shop,"Icky's".

During the 1950's many of the students of Van Lear High School would make the trek to Icky's during lunch to enjoy a bowl of chili or a hot dog or whatever else he was serving. While there they could listen to the jukebox or play a game of pinball (As long as you kept the noise level low. Icky would let you know, if things got too loud. Also, if the Cincinatti Reds were playing he would turn the radio to the game and unplug the jukebox.)

Many people have fond memories of Icky's. We invite you to come and make some memories of your own. Besides being open to the general public, Icky's is also rented out for private parties.

One of the booths at Icky's Snack Shop.

Enjoy the hits of yesteryear on an orginal Rock-Ola Jukebox ( Always set to free play.).

For additional information on Icky's Snack Shop

contact:

The Van Lear Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 336 Van Lear, KY 41265

Phone: (606) 789-8540

or

e-mail: coalcamp@oocities.com