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These unique signs reveal Utah’s rich ice cream history

 

Utah is a state steeped in history. From the early pioneers to the one-of-a-kind geological wonders, Utah is surely a gem in these United States. Most people know Utah for its famous snow— and rightfully so. What is not well known is that Utah has a rich history in the ice cream manufacturing industry and some of the states more famous signs still recall a bygone era of ice cream parlors and hand scooped goodness!

Farr Better Ice Cream, Snelgrove Ice Cream and Fendall’s Ice Cream are three of the better known Utah ice cream manufacturers and their decades old signage lives on, paying homage to a part of history that makes Utah unique. I visited each one for an up close perspective on what makes the companies and their signs so historic.

 

1. Farr Better Ice Cream

Although Farr Better Ice Cream was founded in Ogden, Utah in 1929, the story of one of the oldest operating ice cream manufacturers in the U.S. begins about 36 years earlier. In 1895, Lorin Farr and his son began harvesting ice from local ponds in northern Utah to sell during the summer months to customers looking to keep their food cooled. In 1927, the ice industry changed thanks to a little invention by General Electric called the refrigerator. After realizing the need to adapt to the changing industry and seeing that they had a strategic advantage having the largest ice inventory in Utah, Farr decided to go into commercial ice cream production. In 1929, they opened the first commercial ice cream plant in Utah.

Farr also achieved another first thanks to a little help from Dan Gardiner, of Dan’s Grocery Stores. Dan wanted to sell this new ice cream product in his stores so he approached a certain Mr. Laird Snelgrove with the idea. Snelgrove thought the idea was ridiculous and thought that selling his precious ice cream in a grocery would cheapen the value. Gardiner then went to the Farrs, who gladly accepted the idea and the first grocery store ice cream sales in Utah began.

The sign that adorns the top of the Farr’s ice cream parlor in Ogden is surely a sight to behold. Huge neon letters reach high into the sky. I can just imagine what it would have been like all those years ago, looking across the Ogden skyline and there is the Farr’s sign, like a beacon to every boy and girl to come enjoy some really great ice cream. And, I can tell you from personal experience, the ice cream is really great!

 

2. Snelgrove Ice Cream

Although Mr. Snelgrove passed on selling his ice cream in grocery stores, the Salt Lake City business thrived for the better part of the 20^th century. Founded in 1929, Snelgrove’s had multiple locations in and around Salt Lake City but expanded outside Utah to New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, and Colorado as well. Snelgrove’s not only provided great ice cream, they were well known as being a very good place to eat too.

The Snelgrove brand was family owned until 1989 when Nestlé’s company, Dreyer’s, bought the production facility. In 2008, Dreyer’s finally shut down the Snelgrove brand, although the plant remains open, producing other Dreyer’s products.

Due to the sentimental nature and history of Snelgrove’s in Utah, Dreyer’s decided to keep the famous 40 foot wide sign that sits in front of the manufacturing plant. The sign was constructed in the 1960’s and represents a glowing example of Art Deco design. Anyone heading East or West on 2100 South is sure to get a great view of the iconic sign with its unique script font and giant double cone.

 

3. Fendall’s Ice Cream

Fendall’s history is strange tale. Founded in 1916 by Ed Fendall and his business partner Joseph Rimensberger, a master pastry chef from Switzerland, Fendall’s was one of the first ice cream producers in Utah. Before venturing into the ice cream business, Ed was actually a vendor for Joe, who, at the time, was the pastry chef at the newly built Hotel Utah in Salt Lake City. Only 3 years into the partnership, Ed was killed by a cattle stampede. Joe assumed the role of sole proprietor, deciding to keep the Fendall name. Because of Joe’s expertise as a pastry chef, he was able to experiment and expand the Fendall’s flavor repertoire and its quality. Fendall’s uses a unique recipe that features of a more Gelato style (a much more dense and flavor intensive ice cream with a lower butterfat content) ice cream than some of the traditional ice cream producers in Utah at the time.

Although they don’t have a store in Salt Lake City anymore, you can’t help but notice their neon monument sign off of 700 East. The sign is a great example of Googie style design. Googie style was super popular in the 40’s and 50’s as designers, and the general public, were fascinated with space travel and futuristic looking designs. Many of the signs during that time had a very Jetsons feel to them.

 

Get Out and Wander

Every city in America is packed with interesting tidbits of history; you just have to be willing to wander. So, if you are looking for something to do on a lazy weekend day, take a drive and check out these great signs for yourself. You won’t be disappointed; especially if you make it up to Farr’s. I have it on good authority that the strawberry ice cream is quite good……at least that is what my 3 year old thinks!