Co-founder of Friendly’s dead at 106

SOMERS, CONN. » S. Prestley Blake, the co-founder of the Friendly’s restaurant chain that he started with his brother Curtis in 1935, has died. He was 106.

Blake died Thursday after a short illness at a hospital near his home in Stuart, Florida, his niece, Holly Schroeder said.

“He lived a full life, right until the end, I can assure you of that,” she said.

The Blake brothers opened the first Friendly ice cream shop in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1935, using a $547 loan from their mother. They sold double-scoop cones for 5 cents each, half of the price the local soda fountains were charging, according to his autobiography, “A Friendly Life.”

The shop began selling coffee and hamburgers in the winter months, eventually growing into the restaurant chain Friendly’s, which had more than 500 locations across the eastern United States at its peak in the 1970s.

The brothers sold the company to Hershey Foods in 1979 for $164 million.

It has changed owners several times since, with controlling interests seeking bankruptcy protection in 2011 and 2020 and more than 300 locations closing over the last decade.

The chain, with just over 130 stores remaining, was purchased last month in bankruptcy proceedings by Amici Partners for $1.9 million.

Curtis Blake died in 2019 at the age of 102.

S. Prestley Blake lived for years in Somers, Connecticut, where in 2014, he built a replica of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello mansion.

The home was eventually gifted, along with other property in Somers, to the Michigan-based Hillsdale College to establish the Blake Center for Freedom and Faith.

Blake was known for his philanthropy, donating millions to local schools, hospitals and charities.

He is survived by his wife, Helen, their two children, several stepchildren, five grandchildren and his sister, photographer and author Betsy Melvin, Schroeder said.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete Friday.

The story that began months ago is now official. The Lake County Captains on Feb. 12 signed a 10-year agreement to be the High-A affiliate of the Indians.

The Captains began playing in what is now Classic Park in Eastlake in 2003 as the Low Single-A affiliate of the Indians. During the 17 years between 2003 and 2019 (there was no Minor League Baseball season last year because of the novel coronavirus), 92 players that at one time played for the Captains made it to the Major Leagues.

Minor League Baseball, however, went through a restructuring the last couple of years. Some teams were eliminated in a costcutting move. Not only did the Captains survive the cut, they will send a higher level of players onto the field and play in what is now the High-A Central with the same opponents they faced in the Midwest League.

“It’s very gratifying to continue our partnership with the Indians,” Captains Chairman and CEO Peter Carfagna said in a statement.

“We can’t wait to welcome the next round of prospects to Eastlake and continue providing them with exceptional facilities to grow into future stars.”

The 2021 schedule has not been released, but familiar teams will be in the first-base dugout at Classic Park. They include the Dayton Dragons, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Great Lakes Loons, Lansing Lugnuts, West Michigan Whitecaps,

Beloit Snappers, Cedar Rapids Kernels, Peoria Chiefs, Quad Cities River Bandits, South Bend Cubs and Wisconsin Rattlers.

“We are thrilled to sign the PDL (Professional Development License) and formally accept our invitation from the Cleveland Indians,” said Captains General Manager Jen Yorko. “We have loved our partnership with the Indians over the last 18 years and we know our fans love watching prospects advance from Eastlake to Cleveland. This is exciting for our fans, our community and our organization.”

Third baseman Jose Ramirez and pitching ace Shane Bieber are among the current Indians that once played for the Captains. Francisco Lindor, a four-time All-Star shortstop with the Tribe before he was traded to the Mets last month, also played for the Captains early in his career.

“We are excited to continue our relationship with the Lake County Captains,” Indians Assistant General Manager Carter Hawkins said. “The Captains organization has always provided

our players and staff with every available resource in their quest to reach Progressive Field. Having our Advanced Single-A club in our backyard will be a treat for our fanbase and make the transition up the ladder to Cleveland seamless for our players.”

All 120 minor-league teams are part of the restructuring. The Columbus Clippers are now in the 20team Triple-A East.

The Akron Rubbernecks are in the Double-A Northeast and the Lynchburg Hillcats are in the Low-A East.