Selinsgrove broke the world record for the longest banana split not just once, but twice. In 1982 they won the record with a 1.5 mile long dessert, and in 1986 they took the record back again, with a banana split more than 4 miles in length. The 1986 record lasted for 29 years, before being broken in 2017 in Australia.
The Selinsgrove Times, April1982
The invention of the banana split is credited to Dr. David Strickler, an optometrist, of Latrobe Pa. According to the legend, Strickler was inspired by a trip to Atlantic City. There, while checking out several soda jerks, he came up with the idea for an over the top triple sundae in a glass boat. During the summer of 1904, he made and sold his banana splits at his drug store in western Pennsylvania.
In 1980, dairy farmer Charles Benner helped the youth group at Salem Lutheran Church in Selinsgrove make a 16 foot banana split. The venture proved so successful that the youth group convinced him to go bigger - and try for the Guinness Book Of World Records for the largest banana split.
Benner presented the idea to the Selinsgrove Band Boosters, as a fundraiser to pay for new band uniforms, but the boosters thought the idea was a bit farfetched. In time, Benner won over not only the boosters, but the borough council, and the community.
On May 1 1982, thousands of Selinsgrove residents set out to make a mile and a half long banana split. The record was currently 7.005 feet - set in April of 1980, by a college fraternity in Texas.
For $2, you could purchase a ticket to constructing a 1 foot section of the banana split. One captain was assigned to oversee each 25 feet of construction.
Bill Bechtel constructed an 8,0006 foot long foil lined trough, which was set up sawhorses along Market Street. The trough extended from the Tastee Freez (today CVS) to Sand Hill road.
Once the trough was erected, a truck drove down the street passing out 5 qt cartons of ice cream to each of the captains.
At 3pm, residents began constructing the banana split, stacking bananas with ice cream, then topping them with strawberry, chocolate, pineapple, peanuts, and a cherry.
More than 8,000 bananas, 800 gallons of ice cream, 100 gallons of toppings, and 8,000 cherries were used. Once it was constructed, it was quickly consumed. Reports of the day claim the entire street was cleaned up by 4pm, just an hour later. The fundraiser made over $10,000.
The record was soon beaten, repeatedly. In 1985, a sorority in Ohio held the record. Selinsgrove residents decided to reclaim their title.
On April 30th 1988, the town of Selinsgrove constructed a 4.55 mile long banana split, stretching down Market street to the Selinsgrove Speedway, and back, three times.
This time 33,000 bananas, 2,500 gallons of ice cream, 450 gallons of toppings, 600 pounds of peanuts, and 24,000 cherries were used.
Tickets were again $2 for a 1 foot section. The fundraiser in 1988 included a one mile long Banana Split fun run.
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