July 2026 Update Updates to the Indiana Bottle Collectors website will be temporarily paused during the month of July 2026 as we work behind the scenes on a major reorganization of the site. Over the past several months, it has become clear that maintaining a comprehensive reference covering the entire state of Indiana requires more time than can realistically be dedicated to the project. To allow for more frequent updates and a higher-quality resource, the website will soon shift its primary focus to Northwest Indiana, with special emphasis on Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. The Indiana Hutchinson Bottle and Indiana Embossed Dairy Bottle reference sections will continue to cover the entire state and will remain active and updated for the whole state. However, most other sections outside Northwest Indiana will no longer receive regular updates. Additional information about these changes, including the reasons behind them and what visitors can expect moving forward, will be announced soon. Thank you to everyone who has supported the project by sharing photographs, historical information, and bottle discoveries. Your contributions have helped make this website possible, and we appreciate your continued support as we begin this new chapter.

Magic City Ice Cream Company

  • County: Lake County
  • Location: Gary
  • Years Active in the Business: c. 1908 — 1936

The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County published an article on October 12, 1933, stating that the Magic City Ice Cream Co. was established in 1908 by Charles Atkins. It’s listed in the 1909 Gary phone book.

The 1911 Gary city directory shows the business at 471 Washington Street. It is listed at 457 Washington Street in 1935. By 1937, it appears as the Atkins Ice Cream Co. at 457 Washington Street.

Gary was called the “Magic City” because it seemed to rise out of nowhere after U.S. Steel arrived in 1906. In just a few years, dunes and open land turned into a booming, company-built city. Gary was incorporated on July 14, 1906.

If you have anymore on this one, please share it with us.

Bottle Photos

#1

Bottle Type: Pint milk
Embossing: MAGIC CITY / ICE CREAM CO / PHONE 569 / GARY, IND. 
Glass Maker: T.M.C. (embossed above front heel), Thatcher. 
Other Marks: 11 (embossed on front heel), 22 (embossed on base). 
Notes: 
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors

View Full-Size Image

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *