The Hinton Family

Years active: 1878-1922

The Hinton Family, father Allen, mother Mary, and daughter Alice were ice cream entrepreneurs that operated an Andover family business for 40 years.

Allen Hinton came to Andover in 1864 after freeing himself during the Civil War. He first worked as a Laborer but later with his wife Mary took in laundry, waited tables, catered functions and sold snacks to the students at Phillips Academy. In 1878 they made their first venture into making and selling ice-cream. Mary made the ice cream, beginning with two flavors, vanilla and lemon. Allen purchased a special wagon and equipped it with two boxes containing cans of ice cream, saucers and spoons. Twice a week he drove to Phillips and Abbott Academies, and to Lawrence once a week during the summer, creating markets for frosty treats. Although ice cream was still somewhat of a luxury, the demand was high. In response, Hinton opened up an ice cream "pavilion" at his rented farmhouse on Hidden Road. Mary Hinton expanded on her original flavors to include ginger, strawberry, chocolate and "tutti fruiti," as well as sherbets and parfaits. Business was so good that Hinton was able to purchase the farmhouse estate when it came up for auction in 1901—for the considerable sum of $525. Four years later when he built his family a new house and barn, he expanded the cream house and added an icehouse. With the improved facilities and convenient location, Hinton's Ice Cream often sold 60-80 gallons of ice cream on a Sunday afternoon.

Allen died on June 16, 1912. His obituary states he was "Conscientious, straight forward, and respected by all." Allen Hinton was, as a 1920 Townsman article asserts, "one of the most familiar figures in Andover for many years and won the unfailing respect and admiration of all those whom he came into contact."

When Allen died, Mary and Alice took over where he left off. Daughter Alice oversaw the operation of the business, adding a tearoom to the pavilion. Alice became one of the most prominent African American businesswomen in the country. After befriending Booker T. Washington, she spoke at his 1915 National Negro Business League convention in Boston—telling the story of her family's ice cream business. In a Boston Sunday Post article written 8/31/1919, Alice describes the business as a pleasant and profitable occupation. The 1920 Valuation of the Hinton farm; House $2700, barn $700, Ice Cream Saloon $400, Ice-house and hen-house, $100, 4 acres $1400. Mary Hinton died on Feb. 2, 1921 and Alice operated the business for another year. She remained in Andover, and was one of the first women to vote in Andover. Alice Hinton died in 1951.

The Hinton family’s entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity continue to serve as inspirations to local minority businesses today.

Source: Andover Center for History and Culture