Posted by Ed Kiser on June 17, 2005 at 18:45:40 from 152.163.100.6 user Kisered.
In Reply to: Re: New to S & W - milk - Refrigeration posted by Alex Forbes on June 17, 2005 at 02:29:48:
Did not have to go as far north as Maine to find an Ice House.
In North Carolina, we had a pond nearby that froze in the winter. A rather special saw was used to cut away big blocks of that ice, and haul it on a sled to the ice house. This was a deep hole dug into the ground, with just the roof at the ground level. Steps went down into the side of this pit to a small door, allowing access to the interior. These ice blocks were slid into that opening, and packed with layers of sawdust. The only light in that dark hole was carried in as a kerosene lantern. During the warm Summer days, it was so neat to crawl down into that ice house, and enjoy respite from the heat, as it was rather cold in there, with all that ice. It seemed to last throughout that heat of the Summer, even as from time to time, a block was removed to be put into the ice box. It was also used sometimes to be put into a large deep pan, and we kids took turns waving a fan across it, blowing the cool air across Grandpa, who grumbled so about the heat. Of course, to us kids doing the fanning, it just seemed to keep us that much warmer.
A few memories like that sure does make one appreciate air conditioning and electric refrigerators.
So much for the good old days.
But then, there was no Wild Cat Island on that lake either.
Ed Kiser