How did they make ice in the 1800s?

Author: Clementina Feil Sr.  |  Last update: Thursday, June 26, 2025

Ice was cut from the surface of ponds and streams, then stored in ice houses, before being sent on by ship, barge or railroad to its final destination around the world. The trade was started by the New England businessman Frederic Tudor in 1806.

How did they make ice in the old days?

For millennia, those rich enough got servants to gather snow and ice formed during the winter and stored it in straw-lined underground pits called 'ice houses'.

How was ice made when there was no electricity?

Egyptians and Indians made ice on cold nights by setting out shallow earthenware pots filled with water. 18th century farmers began to use and sell ice from their ponds.

How did they get ice in the Old West?

Answer and Explanation: They cut blocks of ice from a frozen river or lake during the winter then stored the blocks in an insulated or subterranean building called an "Ice House." Ice houses were designs to keep ice frozen through the summer so it could be used at any time of the year.

How did they keep ice cold in the 1700s?

The ice was kept cold by insulating it with straw and sawdust and stored in warehouses until it was time to be used. People cut ice from lakes using hand saws. Eventually they started using horse drawn machinery to cut ice, but it was still hard and dangerous work.

How did ancient civilizations make ice cream? - Vivian Jiang

How long did ice last in an icebox?

Iceboxes were commonly found in homes. Similar to our modern day refrigerators, these ice and food storage devices acted as coolers. Of course the insulation was less sophisticated than what's available today, and even large blocks of ice typically only lasted for one day.

How did people survive the cold in the 1800s?

In addition to keeping active, people wore thick layers of woolen clothing and often slept in them along with flannel night shirts and caps on the coldest nights. Most people, including the wealthy, went to bed in unheated bed chambers.

How did saloons keep beer cold in the Old West?

In the Old West, people did not always enjoy their beer cold, for their were no modern refrigerators. To keep beer cold, people would keep kegs of beer in caves and rock cellars, lined with harvested river ice. Sometimes, they would even use wet gunny sacks full of sawdust to cool beer, as well.

How much did ice cost in the 1800s?

Moreover, it stated, shipping ice cost an average of $2.00 per ton in 1847. In Havana that same year, ice sold for 6 ¼ cents per pound with 1,112 tons consumed, New Orleans' price was set at 3 cents per pound – 28,000 tons, while Boston used 27,000 tons, with an average price of 13.

How did the Egyptians make ice?

Around 500 BC, the Egyptian and Indian cultures had discovered rapid evaporation as a means to cool water placed in clay pots, on straw beds. Evaporation, combined with the decrease in night temperatures, froze the water.

How much did a block of ice cost in 1950?

As late as the 1950s, a 500-pound block of ice cost $2.50, and lasted weeks. Thy Hygeia Iceland became the place you just had to go.

How did ice not melt in ice houses?

During the winter, ice and snow would be cut from lakes or rivers, taken into the ice house, and packed with insulation (often straw or sawdust). It would remain frozen for many months, often until the following winter, and could be used as a source of ice during the summer months.

What did people do with leftovers before refrigerators?

During the Middle Ages, people preserved meat by salting or smoking it. They would also dry many foods, including grains. Vegetables were often salted or pickled. Many fruits were dried or turned in preserves.

How did they keep milk cold in the 1800s?

This ice would be hauled into ice houses, huge storage sheds where massive amounts of ice could be stored all year round. The ice would be delivered to businesses and homes, who needed fresh supplies every few days to keep fish, meat, and dairy products from spoiling.

Is it possible to make ice without electricity?

Making Ice Without Electricity

Fill a glass with water until it's 3/4 full. Put the glass underneath a bell jar. Attach a vacuum pump to the opening of the bell jar. Turn on the vacuum pump to watch the water bubble and turn to ice.

How did they keep drinks cold in the 1800s?

They were able to keep their drinks cool during the summer months by using ice that they stored on their property from the winter. This practice eventually filtered down into everyday life as the price of ice became lower and lower.

How did southerners get ice?

By the early 1800s, the ice trade developed as ships carried New England ice, insulated in sawdust, to the American South. Prior to the Civil War, ice houses were constructed across the South to store foods and other perishable items.

Is ice harvesting still a thing?

Maine Ice Harvesting It was a vibrant industry in the late 1800s and while ice harvesting is no longer commercially viable, the tradition is being kept alive in the small town of South Bristol, Maine.

How long would ice last in an ice house?

One of the many things I learned that night is that ice stored in a properly insulated building (an ice house) will last over a year with no electricity whatsoever.

Did they drink real beer on Gunsmoke?

Michael Alan Smith Guy playing Thad stated he got drunk several times after filming at the Long Branch all day. Whiskey was tea. But the beer was real.

Why did the Old West saloons have swinging doors?

As others answers have said, some did have batwing doors to make entry and exit easier while the saloon was open for business. And to provide ventilation. But there was always an actual door that could be shut at night.

How did cowboys stay warm at night?

Vests, which were often made of wool, provided an extra layer of clothing that helped keep the cowboy warm in cold weather. Bandanna A square piece of cloth, also called a neckerchief or face mop, that was folded in half into a triangle and tied to hang loosely around the neck.

How warm were houses in the 1800s?

Keeping warm in the 18th century was not an easy task. Most homes, including Mount Vernon, had wood-burning fireplaces. This meant that even with a fire burning, parts of a room might not get above freezing on the coldest days. An enslaved attendant would be tasked with the continuous work of maintaining the fire.

How did slaves stay warm?

Clothing. Enslavers gave field slaves one outfit annually. During the winter time, enslavers may have given field slaves additional clothing or material to make other cloth to keep warm.

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