The old-fashioned, two-stick Popsicle may be close to extinction, but not because there isn’t a demand for them.

Our Monday column about the near-disappearance of Popsicles from variety stores has so far prompted more than 60 emails from readers who have noticed, and nostalgia for a treat loved by kids young and old.

Some called for a boycott of Breyers, the ice cream maker that owns the Popsicle brand name and uses it to sell more expensive frozen novelties, but stopped making two-stick Popsicles many years ago.

Others took exception to our dismissal of banana and chocolate — the only flavours available in variety stores, if you can find them – saying that we’re mistakenly projecting our preference for orange, cherry and grape.

It also fanned memories of wrappers that doubled as Popsicle Pete coupons for free stuff, and long-lost flavours such as lime, white lemon, tri-coloured (red, blue and white), and the rarest of all, the root beer Popsicle.

Breaking a Popsicle correctly, so that the two halves were not mangled, was a challenge. Readers recalled using the corner of a building, the edge of stair steps or the special hinged tool that some stores had for breaking them.

And many remembered the sudden headache caused by eating them too fast, or getting the first bite – when the Popsicle was at its frostiest – stuck to their lip or tongue.

We were also reminded of the utility of Popsicle sticks. They can be wedged into a triangle shape and tossed like a Frisbee or glued together to make a beautiful jewelry box. Well, maybe not so beautiful.

Mimi Rubin thanked us for writing about it, saying “it helped to validate that it is not just my imagination. I thought it was just in my neighbourhood, or that I am not searching hard enough.”

Jex Trithart was outraged that we listed cherry in the preferred category, saying “not one kid I knew was searching for cherry, so as for being cool, you’re not.

“We would have kicked your ass if you’d been in our neighbourhood,” for eating a cherry Popsicle, he said, “and taken your quarter, too.”

“I think you’ve got it right that it’s all about profits,” said John Marsh. “They’ll focus on the most profitable products.”

“This was not only an affordable treat but was also an early sharing lesson, as we shared with friends or even a parent or grandparent,” said Valerie Lambert.

Andrea Sorrenti said that when she was pregnant, she developed a terrible craving for a Popsicle on Christmas Eve. Her doting husband set out to find some and return for two hours later with no-name imitations.

“What do kids with little money ask their granny for on a hot day?” asked Anne Gordon. “Why does a large successful corporation always hit on the poor to take away the only (cheap) treat? Shame!”

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Bob Kent recalled “the sign of Popsicle supremacy…knowing precisely where to whack the package on the edge of the store window so you got a perfect split and unblemished halves. Bonus points for an un-torn wrapper.”

We’ll be continuing our inquiries into why the Popsicle has all but vanished, but one thing is clear: It’s not because people don’t want them.