Frye Women's Melanie Slip On SneakerSlip on sneaker. The Frye Company is the oldest continuously operated shoe company in the United States. Founded in 1863 by John A. Frye, a well to do shoemaker from England, and family run until 1945, Frye products have a long and illustrious history. Frye boots were worn by soldiers on both sides of America's Civil War, soldiers in the Spanish American war, and by Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. When home steading drew adventurous New England