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Show Volume XIV Issue XXI The Ogden Valley news Page 11 August 15, 2007 Farr’s Ice Cream—Home of Utah’s Longest Continuous Running Ice Cream Parlor Under Brigham Young’s direction, Lorin Farr led a small group of Mormon pioneers north from Great Salt Lake City to the Ogden area where the small but rugged band established, near the mouth of Ogden Canyon, Farr’s Fort. In the years that followed, Lorin Farr laid out Ogden City, directed its establishment, and served as its first mayor, without pay, for 22 years. Among the many businesses that Lorin and his children established, one of them was an ice business. Together with his son Asael, Lorin would harvest ice from area ponds during the winter. In March 1920, the Asael Farr family officially incorporated and built a commercial ice plant in downtown Ogden, replacing the need for pond harvesting. In 1929, the family took the natural step, expanding from ice to ice cream manufacturing, as they built Utah’s first commercial ice cream plant in Ogden and coined the name FARR BETTER ICE CREAM, which has come to be known throughout the Mountain West. In the book “A History of Weber County” by Richard C. Roberts and Richard W. Sadler, we read, “In 1888, John Farr began a feed and grain business, and by the spring of 1890 he entered into the ice business, forming a partnership with Mark Hopkins and his brothers Lorenzo and Elijah. The four partners purchased the Thomas Farr Ice Company and the G. Griffith Ice Company. The demand for more ice by the railroad companies that were shipping fresh produce encouraged competition in the ice business. New ice companies in Weber County included the Ogden City Ice Company, the Farr Brothers Ice Company (under the management of Valasco, David, and Asael Farr), The Mountain Ice Company of Salt Lake City, the Zion Ice Company, the James Ice Company, the Gordon Ice Company, and the Trecedar Ice Company. The whole- sale ice houses also supplied ice to shops, saloons, and stores. At one time John Farr delivered ice on a daily basis to 56 saloons. The retail ice wagons delivered ice to family homes; and each of Farr’s wagons delivered to about 200 homes each day. Much has changed since those early days. The Farr family has developed over 600 ice cream flavor with 65 to 70 available at any given time. But one thing has not changed, according to family representatives—the family’s uncompromising demand for only the finest ingredients and highest quality in every batch of Farr Better Ice Cream. This old fashioned attitude of finding the best, not the cheapest, ingredients forces the Farr family to shop the world over. And it’s not unusual to discover ingredients in the Farr warehouse from such faraway places as the Netherlands, Madagascar, and Tahiti waiting to be combined with farm fresh Utah cream. In 1999, Farr’s opened a distribution facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, and in 2000, acquired Russell’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream of Salt Lake City. Today, corporate headquarters remain in Ogden, as FARR BETTER ICE CREAM remains committed to the community where it all started, where you can still purchase an ice cream cone in Utah’s oldest continuous running ice cream shop. Farr’s Ice Cream shop is located at 286 21st Street on the northwest corner of Grant and 21st Street. For more information, call 393-8629. Historical Photo A Call for Library Donations To date there is one standard work that has been published on Ogden Valley’s History, Remember My Valley: A History of Ogden Canyon, Huntsville, Liberty, and Eden, Utah, from 1825 to 1976 by LaVerna Burnett Newey. This wonderfully informative book has enriched the lives of many patrons since its publication in 1977. The book recounts the vast history of our region with insightful candor. Another aspect of the book that makes it an outstanding book is the variety of illustrations, maps, and photographs from the long time span of the valley’s history. Due to the popularity and usefulness of the book, the library has gone through several copies since its original publica- tion. Unfortunately the book is no longer in print. This means that we need your help to replace our well used copies. We would like to ask any generous citizen that owns a copy to donate it to the Weber County Library in Huntsville. Every donation will have a name plate on the inside cover. These donations will ensure that future generations of Valley residents will continue to be able to learn and enjoy the rich history of their hometowns and learn about their forefathers’ sacrifices and struggles that made the Ogden Valley what it is today. If you have a copy of the book and would like to donate it, please call and ask to speak to Karen or Sarah at 745- 2220. Farr’s Ice Cream Truck. Photo courtesy of Keith and Belinda Rounkles of Ogden Canyon. Celeste C. Canning PLLC CCD Classes Begin September 30 Attorney at Law 2590 Washington Boulevard, Suite 200 Ogden, Utah 84401 Local: (801) 791-1092 Office: (801) 612-9299 Email: ccanninglaw@aol.com Meeting the Legal Needs of Small Business and Their Owners FREE Initial Thirty Minute Consultation. Appointments in Ogden Valley upon request. |