The Bucket at Gulf Hill (South Dartmouth, Mass.)

This is an excerpt of the piece I wrote for the National Trust for Historic Preservation on the programmatic dairy architecture that dots the southcoast of Massachusetts. You can read the entire piece here:

[Retro Roadmap] Milk Bottle Buildings of Southeastern Massachusetts - PreservationNation.org

Just two miles north of Salvador’s milk can is another giant of the roadside: the 20-foot-tall ice cream bucket overlooking the water at Apponagansett Park.

Built in 1929 as an ice cream stand for local Gulf Hill Dairy, this two-story bucket-shaped structure originally had a handle addition to make it look like an old-fashioned hand crank ice cream maker. The bucket was part of a compound that also included a full-service restaurant, dairy barn, and farm located on hundreds of acres of the once-bustling dairy farm.

Locals had a soft spot for “The Bucket” and memories of summer jaunts for ice cream after a day at the beach, so it was heartbreaking when the entire property was sold to be turned into a private residence.

However, local support for saving the landmark structure was strong, and they were able to secure enough funding to relocate "The Bucket" to Apponagansett Park in 2003.

After reconstruction and restoration, the Bucket opened to the public in 2008 serving ice cream, burgers, and hot dogs. These can be eaten on the picnic tables overlooking the bay or at one of the many free concerts held there. The concession, leased through the parks department, is open from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day, ensuring that the legacy of the Gulf Hill Dairy Bucket continues to create memories as a place to get a sweet treat in the warmer months.