UTICA — Youngsters Caleb and Micah Lumsden gazed through the large windows of new viewing gallery at Ye Olde Mill and watched workers making ice cream during a special event Thursday.
But children weren’t the only ones who got a taste, and, as one of the leaders of the Velvet Ice Cream said, it doesn’t matter if you are 3 or 103 — everyone loves ice cream.
A large crowd gathered at Ye Olde Mill, headquarters of Velvet Ice Cream, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in honor of the opening of a newly expanded gallery built to enhance the frequent factory tours that are given and to accommodate more people. Guests included public officials from both Knox and Licking counties, including the Knox County Board of County Commissioners.
André Dager, Ye Olde Mill and guest relations manager for the company, joked with the crowd and said she suspects everyone showed up for the ice cream. She went on to say that the gallery was built for guests and added that building relationships with customers is very important to the company. She said over 150,000 guests visit the mill every year, so it was important for the company to create the new gallery to make tours more entertaining and showcase ice cream production.
“The new viewing gallery is the culmination of more than a year of work and we’re excited to re-open our doors to show everyone how rich smooth Velvet Ice Cream is made.”
The previous viewing gallery was 500 square feet; it is now a 1,100-square-foot viewing area. The gallery makes it easier to glimpse into the process of ice cream production and has larger viewing area for children. It can now accommodate up to 35 guests while the previous facility could only accommodate 15 people.
Utica Mayor Larry Friesel said Velvet Ice Cream is an important member of the local community, and the fact that the company is headquartered in Utica is an “unbelievable fact.”
“They are local but they are far more than local,” he said. “I wish them continued success.”
Dr. Richard Ramseyer of Johnstown came to the event with his young granddaughter. He said the new viewing gallery is wonderful, spacious.
“It’s easy to see what’s going on inside,” he said. “The Dager family deserves a lot of credit.”
Ramseyer said the gallery is particularly wonderful for children.
The mill was built in 1817 and was originally a gristmill. The Velvet Ice Cream company was founded in 1914 by Joseph Dager and the Dager family have made many renovations to the mill over the years. Velvet Ice Cream often gives factory tours to school children, tourists and community organizations. Tours are conducted daily from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. May 1 through Oct. 31.
