Fred Freije
About 1885 - 1955
COHOES MARKET OWNER
FRED FREIJE IN BUSINESS 50 YEARS
Fred Freije Sr., 71 market owner in the Cohoes-Troy area for nearly half a century, died at 5:30 p.m. yesterday at St. Mary’s Hospital where he was confined after being stricken more then four months ago. One of the first to come to this area from his native Middle East Lebanon, Mr. Freije died shortly after realizing one of his lifetime ambitions. On May 4 one day after he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, his five sons opened the Big Value Market in Waterford which was built and equipped at and estimated cost of $300,000. His Cohoes residence was at 240 Saratoga St.
Began In 1906. Mr. Freije first entered the area food store business in 1906 when he opened a food and vegetable establishment in Troy of 4th St. North of Congress. Without formal education, he continued to expand in the field and later establish a larger store at the present site of the White Tower Restaurant at Congress and 3rd Streets. In Cohoes, where he was perhaps most widely known, Mr. Freije opened his first store on Remsen Street and later founded the Big Value Market at Main and Columbia Streets. The latter establishment was wrecked by fire Saturday, August 27, and has been closed since. Mr. Freije also was a founder of St. Ann’s Church in Troy in 1913, and was one of its communicants, and for many years a member of the board of trustees. Helped Countrymen. His countrymen who came here after him found him through the years a willing counsel and advisor. He was noted for his wide support of church activities and he was a member of the Holy Name Society. Beside his widow the former Mary Ferris, he is survived by five sons, George, Philip, Charles, Fred Jr. and Joseph Freije, all of Cohoes and three daughters, Misses Margaret and Mary Freije, both of Cohoes, and Mrs. William Luke of Latham. The funeral will be held Monday at 9 a.m. from Marra’s Funeral Home at Remsen and Columbia Streets and at 9:30 a.m. from St. Ann’s Church in Troy. Internment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Troy.
source: Troy Records
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