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Frates Dairy Ice Cream - The Bottle
2840 Acushnet Ave. North End
New Bedford, Ma. |
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It was a tradition in the north end of New Bedford for generations.
A hot summer day or evening and people lined up for their ice cream and frappes and milk shakes etc.
The product was made by the Frates dairy family.
The place was built in the 1930's.
The bottle part of the building was built by the owners, and the wood was steamed and bent in the parking lot, to create the curves of the bottle. It is 52 feet tall.
There is another bottle in Raynham, another one 3 built by Frates Dairy. |
The buildings were designed by Les Labrose.
Originally the bottle was painted with the cream layer showing on top, as milk was sold that way before they separated it as they do now. The cream part was more of a cream color, to show the separation.
 In 2003 Scott and Crystal Vurpillatte bought the building and business.
They renamed the place "Tali" after their young daughter.
By March 2005, the bottle was for sale.
Currently it is the home of G&S Pizza a local favorite dining establishment.
See the 2010 image at the bottom of the page.
Photo below is from an earlier time when the building had not yet had the addition built.
NOTE: This email came in to me on 11/09/2013 , It is a possibly true correction:
Hello Mr. Chartier,
"The place was built in the 1930's. The bottle part of the building was built by the owners, and the wood was steamed and bent in the parking lot, to create the curves of the bottle."
Correction: New Bedford's Frates bottle was not designed and built by the owners, but by (my great uncle) Jethro O. Ashley (1897-1975), carpenter and aviator. My father Theodore C. Ashley (1927-) remembers this and has told the story many times about how Jethro bid on the job, steamed the wood, and fashioned the bottle.
If you are not the person who should be receiving corrections, will you please forward the appropriate contact information?
Much appreciated!
All best,
Susan Ashley Michael
Scroll down for 5 more photos |
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Photo immediately below is from 1992 - To enlarge the photo - Click on it.
Note that the photos below show the addition on the building.
Photo donated by Larry Cultreradinerhotline@verizon.net
Author of: Classic Diners of Massachusetts New Hampshire Diners, Classic Granite State Eateries
www.dinerhotline.com |
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| The photo below can be enlarged. - Click on it. |
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Below is the modern version of the restaurant operated by G&S Pizza at 2840 Acushnet Avenue.
This photo was taken mid day with an overcast sky on 4/27/2011
Click it to enlarge it.
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