Near the dawn of this century ice factories, such as the one at Corvalis in
Oregon. Prior
to these factories ice was imported from the mountains, at a very high
financial cost, and did not last too long due to temperature. But these
new factories started producing three to four tons of ice per day. This
was enough to support the Pacific Northwest population more so than ever
before. Ice was preserved over the warm summer months by packing the
ice in saw dust for insulation. Instantly the ice business became big
business.
The switch from using natural ice to that produced by mechanical
refrigeration took time. Even when factories started appearing, natural
ice was still favored because of the crudeness of early factories.
According to Joseph C. Jones Jr's book, "America's Icemen" there were many
rumors that natural ice was better and healthier, despite the fact that
much ice was harvested in contaminated waters that contained sewage, and
decayed animal and vegetable matter.(149)
The ice factory industry was actually propelled by Southern States, who
were tired of relying on The North . Many entrepreneurs started investing
money in formulating mechanical refrigeration at an economical cost. In
New Orleans, a very important event in ice history occurred. The
Louisiana Ice Manufacturing Company opened offering a product that cost
significantly less than natural ice. Local newspapers, such as the New
Orleans Crescent, stated, "The attention of our readers is called to the
card of Louisiana Ice Manufacturing Company which will be found in another
column of this morning Crescent. Endorsing as we cordially do any home
enterprise, we feel a particular pride in saying that after a thorough
examination of modus operandi by which this great object is accomplished
it is one of the greatest blessings ever enjoyed by people."(Jones 154)
By 1937 49 ice manufacturing plants existed.
Interest in ice making equipment was at full force in the early
twentieth century. Uncertainty of supplies, great fluctuations in price
and sanitation standards made natural ice obsolete to the artificial
product. Ice making equipment and refrigeration processes spread
throughout the country. Ice making equipment became crucial for long
distance shipments of perishables.
Ice preservation in the home, though, was still not up to par at this
point, but that only
benefited the manufacturers. Ice was not a cheap product either. In
fact it cost more than many meats and and dairy products. That seems
very strange to me given ice's ingredients. But if people couldn't keep
their ice frozen,
they would need to buy more from the factories. Wagon delivery soon
became as common as milk delivery. For more distribution information
click here.
Ice manufacturing caused a shift in many familial practices. Household
foods could be preserved for longer periods of time, (although nowhere
near todays standards), Prior to refrigerators and iceboxes basically all
foods had to be consumed on the spot. Ice breeded ice cream, cold
beer and many other luxuries. The regular availability of ice and
iceboxes also gave the mother of the family more leeway in culinary
practices.
My grandmother said that having ice on a regular basis made life easier on
her mother. My grandmother said that the use of refrigerators
revolutionized family life. It relinquished many burdens of the time.
The factories may have charged outrageous prices for their product, but
people were willing to invest in ice at the time. To learn more about the
evolution of ice in the form of cubes click here.
In 1920 The industry ranked ninth in amount of investment among
America's commercial enterprises. But the advent of the home refrigerator
collapsed the industry. By 1925 little remained. Giant ice houses stood
vacant along rivers and lakes. It is a fine example of an industry that
underwent massive growth and importance to American economy, but became
obsolete, and therefore, withered away.
Primary Source: My grandmother
Secondary Source: Benton County History Minutes. http://www.peak.org/lewisb/histmins/hm003.htm
Secondary Source: Jones, Joseph. America's Icemen. Jobeco Books. Texas.
1984.