Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2

by | Jan 25, 2017 | Articles | 4 comments

Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2

Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2

Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2

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Last summer, when writing blog articles about standard kitchen equipment (the ice box), and ice delivery, I came across superb resources. How did 19th century men cut ice from frozen rivers or lakes? How did they store ice to be sold by ice companies throughout the year?

This source is an 1870/1871 publication titled Lawrence’s Adventures, by J.W. Trowbridge. One chapter is devoted to Ice-Cutters. I share that (Public Domain) information here.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Title Page: Lawrence's Adventures among the Ice-Cutters, Glass-Makers, Coal-Miners, Iron-Men, and Ship-Builders by J.T. Trowbridge. Published in Boston by Fields, Osgood, and Co. 1871.

Lawrence’s Adventures, published in Boston (United States of America) in 1871. Entered into the Library of Congress in 1870. The following snippets are taken from this Public Domain title.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Preface to: Lawrence's Adventures among the Ice-Cutters, Glass-Makers, Coal-Miners, Iron-Men, and Ship-Builders by J.T. Trowbridge. Published in Boston by Fields, Osgood, and Co. 1871.

PREFACE to Lawrence’s Adventures, clarifying that this boy’s “adventures” are instructive and entertaining. Written by the author, December 1870.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Chapter 2: Among the Ice-Cutters. Illustrated chpater header also showing hand-cutting tools in vintage line-art drawings.

1 of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures (Among the Ice-Cutters), Page 14.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 2.

2 of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, page 15.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 3.

3 of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, page 16.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 4.

4 of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, page 17.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Vintage illustration: men scraping snow from the surface of the ice. From Scribner's Monthly, August 1875.

Scraping snow from the surface of the ice. Scribner’s Monthly, August 1875. [source]

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Vintage illustration: Men planinig the surface of the ice to remove the soft now-ice. From Scribner's Monthly, August 1875.

Planing the surface of the ice to remove the soft snow-ice. Scribner’s Monthly, August 1875. [source]

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 5.

5 of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, page 18.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Vintage illustration: Men sawing and breaking off the blocks of ice. From Scribner's Monthly, August 1875.

Sawing and breaking off the blocks of ice. Scribner’s Monthly, August 1875. [source]

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 6.

6 of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, page 19.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Vintage Illustration: "Cutting the Ice," showing men, horse, and impliements engaged in cutting ice. Page 20, Lawrence's Adventures.

Lawrence’s Adventures, Page 20, image of horse-drawn ice-cutting work.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 7A.

7A of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, page 21.

Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 7B.

7B of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, p 21.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 8A.

8A of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures P 22.

Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 8B.

8B of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, p. 22.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 9A.

9A of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, P. 23.

Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 9B.

9B of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures p 23.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 10.

10 of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, P 24.

Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 10B.

10B of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, P 24.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, part 2. View of an ice harvesting operation, showing the storage house, boiler house, and three elevators, as well as various operations on the ice. From Appletons' Cyclopaedia of Applied Mechanics, published in 1885.

View of an ice harvesting operation, showing the storage house, boiler house and three elevators, as well as various operations on the ice.
Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of Applied Mechanics, published in 1885 [source].

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 11.

11A of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, P. 25.

Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 11B.

11B of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, P. 25.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 12A.

12A of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, P. 26.

Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2. Lawrence's Adventures, Chapter 2, part 12B.

12B of 12: Lawrence’s Adventures, P. 26.

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Updated March 2022
Copyright © 2017 Kristin Holt LC
Nineteenth Century Ice Cutting, Part 2

4 Comments

  1. Marianne Spitzer
    Marianne Spitzer on January 25, 2017 at 7:47 AM

    Your articles are always informative and entertaining. Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin Holt
      Kristin Holt on January 25, 2017 at 12:33 PM

      Thank you, Marianne–
      It’s always a pleasure to have you drop by.
      Thanks for reading!
      Kristin

      Reply
  2. Kathryn
    Kathryn on January 25, 2017 at 2:54 PM

    This was a fascinating article, Kristin. Thanks so much for sharing it. I had a scene in Gloria’s Song about harvesting ice for the pub, but the process wasn’t as detailed as this. It was also being done by two men…not a whole group of workers. This was really fascinating! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kristin Holt
      Kristin Holt on January 25, 2017 at 6:50 PM

      Thank you so much, Kathryn–
      GLORIA’S SONG is quickly rising to the top of my TBR list–and am so anxious to get to it. I’ve loved the book or two I’ve already read of yours, and I fully anticipate LOVING Gloria’s Song. Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and contributing to the conversation. It’s been a genuine pleasure rubbing shoulders with you online today!
      Wishing you much ongoing success with your new release in Grandma’s Wedding Quilts Series…and the next title, and the next!
      Warm regards,
      Kristin

      Reply

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