1861 — Lewis Dubois Bassett, a Quaker school teacher
and farmer, begins making ice cream in his Salem, NJ backyard
using a mule-turned churn.
1885 — L.D. begins selling
his ice cream from a location at 5th & Market Streets
in Philadelphia.
1893 — The Reading Terminal Market opens;
Bassetts Ice Cream opens a retail store and moves production into the
basement.
1906 — Lewis Lafayette continues
operations after the death of his father.
1917 — L.L. dies; his wife,
Louise Austin Bassett, assumes management until her son
is ready to take over.
1925 — Lewis Lafayette, Jr.,
the third generation, takes over management of the ice cream
store and production at the age of 21.
1935 — L.L., Jr. ships 10 quarts
of ice cream, packed in dry ice, via freighter from New
York through the Panama Canal to the American Embassy in
Tokyo. The voyage takes several weeks but the ice cream
arrives in perfect condition.
1959 — L.L., Jr. produces 50
tubs of borscht sherbet for Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
1961 — Bassetts celebrates
its 100th Anniversary.
1973 — Production is moved
to 20th & Fairmount Streets in Philadelphia.
1974 — Ann Bassett, great granddaughter
of the founder and daughter of L.L., Jr., joins the company.
1975 — Bassetts begins the
largest expansion in the company’s 114-year history.
1976 — Ann Bassett is named
President after L.L., Jr. retires after 51 years.
1983 — Michael Strange, great-great
grandson of the founder, enters the family business.
1986 — L.L., Jr. dies at the
age of 82.
1989 — Michael is named President;
Ann is CEO.
1996 — Bassetts introduces
the Bassetts Ice Cream Sandwich.
2000 — Bassetts introduces
website.
2006 — Bassetts celebrates
145 - year anniversary!
2007 — Michael becomes CEO
when Ann retires after 33 years.
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