The Old Brunell Cree Mee Stand

Hi All,

Don't know how you start reading the newspaper, but as a typical old Vermonter, I always turn directly to the obituaries. The newspapers know there are people like me, so always put the obituaries on the same page. Well, this morning's obituaries had what I believe is a familiar name, a Mrs. Brunell who died at the age of 101. I always knew her as Mrs. Brunell and she and her husband lived on Pine Street in Winooski and started a Cree Mee stand just beyond where the St. Albans Messenger is now across the road. They both had another job, but sure knew how to run a business. I'm not sure when Soft Ice Cream started, but believe a chain called Dairy Queen was the first. Brunell's Cree Mee was independent as I was working for Vermont Confectionery at the time and we used to sell Brunell's their supplies. Mrs. Brunell used to call Vermont Confectionery and ask me to drop off her supplies sometimes when she ran short, which I did.

She never forgot me whenever I stopped in for a Cree Mee. She was an owner/worker and spent a lot of time at the window and always made sure I got my Cree Mee free. Now back then in the early 1950s, I think that Cree Mees were a quarter. Not a big deal financially, but goes to show you, its the thought that counts.