NB landmark celebrates local legend

NORTH BALTIMORE — The Daily Queen in North Baltimore will celebrate Tom Reynolds Day on Sunday. There will be customer appreciation gifts, an ice cream basket raffle, sandwich combo specials and a Birthday Cake Arctic Blast special from noon to 9 p.m. Profits from the day are donated to the "Reynolds Raiders Biology Scholarship Fund" in honor of Reynolds who taught math and science in the Findlay City Schools for 36 years, at both Donnell and the high school. Reynolds also owned and operated the ice cream business with family from 1969 until his passing in 2008. His daughter, Rhonda Nye, said the annual $500 scholarship benefits a Findlay High School senior who is going into the field of biology as a major concentration in college. "Although my niece, who is dad's granddaughter, last year she was going into biology at Kent (State University), so we gave a dual scholarship," she said. "Dad would be, his heart would be swelling." The longstanding North Baltimore landmark, located at 130 S. Main St., has been a family-owned business for 64 years, according to Nye who manages the shop with her husband, Mike. In fact, an eatery has stood at this location since the 1940s when Norman Eiseman built the white brick building and called it the Hamburger House. He later sold the business to Mr. and Mrs. Martin O'Dell who changed the name to the Daily Queen and switched from hamburgers to ice cream. One of the slogans was "So good you'll come back daily," which explains the name. Nye said O'Dell reportedly took the sundae toppings and used them to make wine. "They would ferment because there wasn't air conditioning back then," she explained. As the story goes, he sold bottles of the alcoholic beverage out of a trailer behind the shop. Reynolds' wife, Marjorie Barnhisel Reynolds, now 88, is still part owner of the business and often comes up for ice cream. "She likes it quite a bit," said Nye. "She helps us make a few things, behind the scenes a little bit. It gives her something to do." Marge's folks, Fred and Helen Barnhisel of rural Cygnet, bought the business in 1959. It was eventually passed to Marge and Tom who partnered with Tom's parents, Eldon and Esther Reynolds, and Tom's sister, Karen (Downs) and husband Robert throughout the years. Reynolds graduated from North Baltimore High School. He received his bachelor's degree from Findlay College and his master's degree from Bowling Green State University. In addition to teaching, he coached the Findlay High School golf team for more than 20 years. Nye said they awarded the first scholarship in 2009. Tom Reynolds Day began a few years later. The community supports to event and the scholarship fund has been increasing almost every year, she added. There's no grill at the business, so no hamburgers or French fries. But customers know they can stop by for a shredded chicken sandwich or a Coney dog with a slush and soft-serve ice cream in vanilla, chocolate and twist, and orange sherbet flavors. This year a secret menu was introduced featuring treats created by employees like Death by Chocolate and Volcano — made with chocolate ice cream, a dollop of orange sherbet on top and crumbs. "It makes it look like a volcano," said Nye. Arctic blasts are also popular and combine ice cream mixed with candy, fruit or nuts. Unique options include lemon pie, banana split, salted caramel cashew and scotch-er-oo. Summer hours are noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 2-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.