Hauling Ice Blocks, 1870. Ice was harvested from natural ponds, lakes, and rivers until ice-making technology was developed in the early 20th century. In early 1800s, the commercial ice business began. In winter, naturally formed ice was cut from lakes and ponds, stored in giant insulated ice warehouses, and distributed to customers. However, as population and urbanization increased, natural sources of ice became more polluted with sewage and other contaminants, making consuming natural ice dangerous. The natural ice trade was replaced by commercially produced ice during the early years of the 20th century. Blocks of purchased ice were used to chill an “ice box” in homes – the modern equivalent of a cooler.
Image from Harper’s Weekly, May 7, 1870. Courtesy of Library of Congress.
I could use this source in my classroom when covering World War I and discussing the roles of women delivering ice while looking at another primary source image, “Girls deliver ice. Heavy work that formerly belonged to men only is being done by girls. The ice girls are delivering ice on a route and their work requires brawn as well as the prtriotic ambition to help.” This source would give students some background information on how ice was harvested to be traded and sold during wartime.
Love this photo and find it super interesting! This would be perfect for teaching my students about the Ice Trade that I am sure not many of my students have ever heard of before. This would be a fun “ice breaker”- pun intended- to introduce how modern day technologies, such as refrigerators, have changed dramatically over the years.
As soon as I saw this photo, I loved it!! It is very interesting and I’m sure my fifth grade students would love it too! This primary source image would be perfect for teaching an inquiry lesson on how technology changes our lives. In this lesson, I would teach the students how ice was produced, as well as how it was stored. The students could discuss how jobs and work have changed over time and brainstorm what caused these changes. I think they would all conclude, with a few more primary source image “hints” that new technology as a key part of these changes.