Home City Ice of Cincinnati purchases Du Quoin Ice Co.

After the Du Quoin Ice Co. was established in 1988 you expected Marion Setzekorn or --before that--Don Barrett to answer the phone when you called 542-9583.

Now, a woman picks up on the other end and says: "Home City Ice--how can I help you?"

I don't think this lady is sitting at a desk in Du Quoin.

The Cincinnati, Ohio-based mega Midwest ice company purchased the Du Quoin Ice Co. from Setzekorn effective the end of the year. That's why there's a "Sold Out" sign on the ice dispensing chute alongside the coin box mechanism on North Hickory Street where Du Quoin use to drop four quarters in to get one of the best--and most economical--eight pound bags of ice in the world.

It's a sign of the times, small town businessmen getting older and taking advantage of a chance to sell out to someone larger.

The newspaper understands Home City Ice bought the business, but not the building as more of the refrigeration cases were being moved today.

Home City Ice operates 33 facilities across 13 states in the Midwest and has a good product.

But, what we no longer have is Marion Setzekorn or Don Barrett, who not only worked hard to build up a great hometown business, but two men who took care of the community and its festivals, church picnics, fairs and large gatherings with a huge sense of community.

And, naturally, with the announced sale the price of ice went up in many places around the community.