The following is an excerpt from our official history book, Turkey Hill: A Family Vision. To purchase your own copy, visit our online store.
Armor Frey, founder of Turkey Hill Dairy, was born in 1896. As a testament to his parents, Fred and Alice, he was a man of strong convictions. His sentiments not only shaped how he farmed, but also how he treated his employees. Such a spirit was evident in 1931 when he started bottling and selling milk to support not only his family and farm, but also his hired men.
Armor did not consider himself a businessman. He was a farmer who worked hard and, as time allowed, played hard too. He enjoyed having fun with his family as well as his employees. They often played baseball in the meadow during noontime breaks and had water battles at the end of the long hot day’s work. Armor loved to be outdoors, be it working in the fields, fishing in the pond, or hunting.
He and his wife, Mary, had seven children: Glenn, Emerson, Paultine, Charles, Lillian, Jay, and Eunice. Armor was the spiritual head of his family and always took them to church on the Sabbath. To make it easier on the children, Armor carried a pocketful of wintergreen candy with him. At the end of the service, when the adults joined in conversation, he passed out candy to the children as they waited patiently.
On the day Armor died in 1969, he worked all day picking corn from the field. When he sat down to rest, he said he was tired and went to bed. He passed away that night in his sleep at the age of 73, leaving behind a legacy of faith and a caring spirit. Through hard work, he also left behind his business, which is still proudly called Turkey Hill Dairy.
Tags: armor frey, ice cream, turkey hill
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
So nice to read a little history of the Turkey Hill founder. Glad to see he understood how children can be in church and waiting for adults to quit gabbing(understandably!)! Good man, great ice cream!
Armor sounded like a honorable man. Wish I could’ve met him.
If only more people today were like Armor, the world might be a different place. He took pride in his family, pride in his work and yet appeared like a very humble man. A man of faith and love, who’s compassion seemed to over flowed in to every area of his life. What a gift, I’m glad to support great products founded on such wonderful principles and ideals.
I also enjoyed reading about Armor…work hard, play hard, and gives thanks each week for all we have…never thought about wintergreen candy though…it was always cheerios when my boys were younger…
Thanks for the sharing his story…
A company history to be proud of!
We need to tell more stories about people like Mr. Frey. These are people I want my children to admire.
He sounds like someone to be proud of having in their family history!
He was a great man! It’s fun to hear stories about Armor from Quintin Frey (Armor’s grandson and the current president of Turkey Hill) and the rest of the Frey family.
What a legacy you have guiding your future!
Strong Convictions and hard work are what makes America a great country to live in! We need to hear more stories like this for our youth to copy.
Thanks for the history lesson. What would he thnk of all the wonderful flavor and flavor combinations you make? I bet he’d be thrilled!!!
Those were the days of REAL simplicity. Hard Work, Leisure when the work is done, honor, integrity and love for thy neighbor.
I believe it still exhists in some form. May be slightly different these days, but I’d like to think that great men and women like Mr. Frey led by example and shared their wealth and perspective with those around them to leave that legacy which still exhists within your Turkey Hill Farm.
People like Armor are an inspiration. It’s always uplifting to hear about them.
We as Americans strive to be hard workers; dedicated individuals that try to make a difference in a land where opportunity is boundless. To become an entrepreneur and being able to pass on a legacy from generation to generation is what makes America one of the greatest places to live and work. Turkey Hill is a prime example of this and what it means to come from basically nothing to one of the finest companies in the country through hard work, dedication, and moral values.
What an inspiring story.
what a wonderful story . HIS CAREING SPIRIT LIVES ON IN THRU TURKEY HILL, JUST AS THE COWS IN THE GREEN PASTURE , MAKING MILK FOR THE RICH TURKEY HILL ICE CREAM
What a lovely story. A man that was wonderful to his employers and enjoyed life to his end.
It is good to learn that Turkey Hill was founded by a man of faith and decency.If every company cares for the well-being of its employees, America will become an even better nation in which to live.
Armor Frey left a legacy. I always look for Turkey Hill products when on vacation, and they are found in most locations. I also notice Turkey Hill products being consumed on situation comedies.
Armor would be proud of where the company stands today.
What an amazing story. Everyone should have a bowl of Turkey Hill to toast to Armor for all his achievements, what an amazing person and Turkey Hill is amazing ice cream.
Armor was a great man who thought of others before himself.I particularly like the part of passing out candy to children after Services on the Sabbath. I’m sure they looked forward to it each week.
He was a great man, Father,husbad,and a Family Man.This was a great story. Thank You Turkey Hill for geving us this story. We should sat aside one day to celebrate his name.Eat Turkey Hill ICe Cream all day in his name.
I also like that he took his family to church too.
Thanks for sharing the Turkey Hill story. Sounds like a wonderful family.
Thank you for sharing the story. I am happy to hear the family continues to remain in the business.
Armor is a legend! Thanks to Armor we can all enjoy Turkey Hill a TERRIFIC product for ever!
I never realized Turkey Hill has been around that long! Shame on our local stores for taking so long to carry their products! All those years we were missing out on that delicious ice cream!
this is an inspiring story, but on another note, the July poll seems to indicate that there are a lot of us carton eaters. I can proudly say that it is easier to eat from the carton now that my parents have passed away.
He sounds like both a wonderful family man and also employer. I shared hios care for the employees when i owned my business. In addition,, a wonderful ice cream. Great to hear the family is involved in the business. {no melt down– pun intended}
For all Turkey Hill fans, I highly recommend the book Turkey Hill: A Family Vision.
Wouldn’t it be great if every boss could treat their employees like Armor did. I don’t think we’d have the labor problems that we do now. A little bit of caring and respect goes a long way!
Living the Ameerican Dream and leaving a wonderful legacy.
Our society need more people like Armor. Think how much better our world might be if we all aspired to this type of life style.
Armor is my kind of guy!
Mr. Frey was certainly an honest, hard-working individual. What a greater nation we would be with more employers like Mr. Frey!
What a wonderful family man and to show such great work ethic to his employees, family and friends is a true tribute to his legacy….
Such a wonderful story about the founder of Turkey Hill. His family certainly has a wonderful legacy and should be very proud to have someone who had such strong convictions in work, play and faith as their ancestor.
What great foundation he laid for Turkey Hill Dairy. Seems like his legacy lives on today.
His faith has kept the business going.
Here’s to you Armor! A person that really understood what life is about.
Simply stated, inspiring!
To bad Armor isn’t with us today, if he was maybe he could run for president! Sure better than the three we’ve had so far—the “best” this country has to offer!!!
I really enjoy learning history of Lancaster, and the people who made their marks in that town. I really enjoy the ice cream from this wonderful founder of Turkey Hill..
Does Ernie fit somewhere into the Frey family? Cousin? Small town neighbor?
I love Turkey Hill!!!!!
I think our county would be better off
with a herritage & convictions Like Armor must have had, & to put GOD back into our county like the signers of the Declaration of Independent did.
GREAT Ice cream just got (2) 1/2 gals today .
Family and Turkey Hill Ice Cream just go together. There is nothing better.
Isn’t it a shame that most of our coutry has lost the spirit of God, Family, Work & Play and fellowship of man. Hopefully this country will wake up itn time to correct its ways.
To all those who said taking the Bible and prayer out of the schools really has hurt this country. It really is a shame he had to die so young. We have enjoyed many snacks of Turkey Hill Ice Cream in our family.
Nice to read some history. I always learn great information from this blog. Thanks Turkey Hill!
Mr. Frey was an exellent example of a godly man. And proves that just because you believe in God doesn’t make you a stuffed shirt. His family can be proud of their heritage.
I loved the story of the founder of Turkey Hill.He must have been a really fine man.
A great business founded on the legacy of a great man. Sounds like a solid foundation to me!
Raise a scoop to Mr. Armor!
THANK YOU ARMOR FOR CREAMING THE WAY TO A DELICIOUS FUTURE.
Armor Frey sounds like a very hardworking, devoted, accomplished, talented man. I hope he was reworded for all his achievements with a lot of tastey ice cream!
True love and joy from Mr. Frey through his obvious faith in God laid a strong foundation of excellence for the Turkey Hill Company. I would have been privileged and proud to have been one of his employees back then. How blessed we all are by his vision!
i can remember as a child helping to make ice cream, everyone turning the handle. i can also remember my grandmother buying us ice cream every saturday night, for a treat. i would love to have a job tasting ice cream
Wow. That all brings a tear to my eye. I bet Armor would be horrified at what Turkey Hill is doing today. I bet he wouldn’t let you all get away with what you are doing. What are you doing? Check it out:
http://tinyurl.com/5dgqgz
I feel privaleged to be linked to this man my great Grandfather and wished I would’ve had the pleasure of knowing him. My dad followed his tradition with mints at church.
[...] – bookmarked by 4 members originally found by Liliachan2 on 2009-01-29 TURKEY HILL HISTORY: THE STORY OF ARMOR FREY [...]