Old St. Andrews

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The Ice-Cutting Business

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The Ice-Cutting Business

 

Pilot
March 23, 1880
The schooner H.. V. Crandall is loading ice at Chamcook for New York, on owners account. They expect to ship 5,000 tons. The schooner is owned by Mr. Robert Ross and others. The facilities for shipping ice from Chamcook Lake cannot be surpassed.

 

Pilot
April 4, 1880
Chamcook lake presents just now a very busy scene. Mr. Robert Ross having a number of men engaged there on cutting ice for shipment, and besides Mr. Ross, an association of Bangor gents associated under the title of the Chamcook Ice Company has a large number of persons employed getting out ice and storing in houses now being erected on the eastern side of Chamcook harbor. They are carrying on operations night and day, and hope to get out ten thousand tons of the crystallised water. All the latest appliances for the purpose are being used under the superintendency of Mr. Buxton a very energetic and active gentleman. They are getting out from four to five hundred tons a day. Mr. Mitchell another member of the firm is superintending the erection of the ice house and the storing of the ice. Had they not been unduly delayed by the detention of lumber on the N. b. and C. R. R., most of the quantity of ice mentioned would have been stored. The ice on Chamcook Lake is very pure, solid and of unexceptional [sic] quality. In these operations on the lake about 75 men and 35 teams are employed.

 

Pilot
Feb 2/1882
Memorandum of association for incorporation of “Chamcook Ice Company” filed in St. John.

 

Pilot March 16, 1882
The Chamcook Ice Company are hard to work securing their crop of ice. They have built a sluice a fraction over half a mile long, extending from the lake to the ice houses at Chamcook harbour, of which there are to be five, each 200 feet by 30 and 23 feet high. The ice on the lake is about two feet thick. It is cut into blocks four feet by two, these are hauled, by a 12 horse power donkey engine, up an inclined plane from the lake to the sluice, down which they run to the ice houses at the rate of a mile in two minute, sometimes with even greater velocity. On arriving at the ice house men armed with hooks seize the blocks and in a twinkling guide them to the place of deposit. It is a busy scene every man appears to be doing his level best, and it seems odd to see men working amid ice in their shirt sleeves, the perspiration pouring from every pore. Sixty odd men are employed a number of whom are boarded by the Company in a house near Chamcook Mill bridge, over the door of which the passer-by can read the sign “Delmonicos” saloon, we doubt however that the meals served there will compare in quality and style with those served in its world-wide namesake in New York. We were indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. McGrath and Mayes, who occupy the position of managers for the Company, for an opportunity to see the details of the work. There is a second donkey engine standing in the engine house, which was expected to be in operation yesterday, this will double the capacity for work. For which the weather this week has been favorable. We hope it will continue so for some days longer.

 

Pilot
April 6/1882
Chamcook Lake Ice Company erecting 90 by 200 foot ice house near lake, which they hope to fill soon. How have seven ice houses, capacity for 3,000 tons. One cargo to 467 tons shipped to Galveston, Texas.

 

Pilot
Jan 31/1889
Mr. Taylor, of Taylor and Rand, Boston architects of the Algonquin, is in town, and will remain for a few days looking after the details of the plans.
Mr. Fred A. Jones and Mrs. Jones, of the Hotel Dufferin, Saint John , were also here, looking over the situation. Mr. Jones was making arrangements for the supply of ice, of which a large quantity will be required in the Algonquin. . . . A number of rooms have already been secured by intending visitors, and applications from all quarters are flowing in.

 

Beacon
Dec 5, 1889
Our fish Trade
What the Enterprising Men of St. Andrews Intend Doing this Winter
“We are to begin shipping haddies at once, “ remarked Mr. G. D. Grimmer to the Beacon, when he was asked what he intended doing in the fish business, “and as soon as the weather gets cold enough we will begin sending forward frozen fish.” The ladies will be put up by Messrs. Petrie in their fish shed at the Point. It is Mr. Grimmer’s intention to ship none but the best. The boxes will be made in Saint John. They will be made of planed boards, and will in every respect compare favourably with the American article, with which it will have to compete. In order to facilitate summer shipments, Mr. Grimmer intends erecting a packing and ice house in the rear of his store. He will get his ice from Chamcook.

 

Beacon
Feb 27, 1890
Cutting Chamcook’s Crystals
The Icemen hard at Work Preparing for the Harvest
The ice boom has evidently come to stay, and the boomers are getting in their work in this neighborhood in a lively fashion.
            Once more the sound of the workman’s hammer and the woodsman’s axe reverberates through the forest glades of Chamcook, waking up echoes that have long been silent, while about St. Andrews station the shrieking locomotives and the rushing trains make pleasing melody.
            Outside of the local people who are cutting for their own use, there are but two concerns operating there, one of them being Fisher Bros. of Saint John and the other Stetson, Cutler and Co. the former firm, as has been stated, have secured shipping privileges at Chamcook, and are making active preparations to avail themselves of them to the fullest extent. From the foot of the lake to the point at the head of Chamcook bay, where the firm intend erecting their ice-house and making their shipments from, there is a neck of land about 3500 feet across. Messrs. Fisher propose traversing this distance with a sluice, and they have a large gang of men now engaged in its erection. About one-quarter of the sluice is now in place, and by Saturday night it is expected that the heaviest part of it will be completed. Capt. Herbert is superintending the work. Mr. Angus Stinson, with a gang of men, making the erections. The ice, after it is cut into blocks, will be floated under the railway track, and the, by means of an engine, hoisted into the sluice, when it will start on its “march to the sea.” As the grade is pretty heavy, it is expected that the distance will be quickly covered. Next week, this firm will begin cutting ice.
            Messrs. Stetson, Cutler and Co. are conducting their operations in a different manner. They intend shipping from Sa, hence all their ice will be carried in her by rail Manager Cram is here with two engines, and a lot of cars, and is doing his level best to give mater a good start. Messr. Cutler, of Boston, are personally superintending operations. They have a large crew clearing off the snow where they intend cutting while another crew, under Mr. Robt. Stevenson, is building a temporary platform, making the necessary sluices and arranging for the construction of storehouses at St. Andrews. The ice will be stacked here, and the houses built over it. A market will be sought for the most of it in the south. Messrs. Cutler say that they have about closed a charter of a steamer to load here. Besides this steamer they will have a number of smaller vessels. Next week both firms will probably have all their cutting crews at work. The New York people, who secured privileges, have not yet arrived, although Mr. McGrath, who represents them, is daily expected.

 

Beacon
March 13/1890
Piece on ice cutting at Chamcook Lake. Exports to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore by schooner.

 

Beacon
March 27/1890
A Miserable Business
Rev. A. Gunn Fires a Shot at “Pop” Drinkers
A Danger that Dorchester will Receive some of Our Citizens
When Rev. A. Gunn arose in the Presbyterian pulpit on Sunday evening to deliver his usual discourse, he state that at a future day he proposed to make some remarks upon Sabbath desecration, a sin, he remarked, that appeared to be increasing rather than decreasing in this community.
            There was another subject upon which he proposed saying something about, and that was “this miserable pop business.” On previous occasions he had pointed out that the man who sells intoxicating liquor in the County of charlotte violates the law of the land. He is a criminal. The man who buys the liquor and rinks it has also committed a grave wrong. He is an accessory in crime. In this case the law does not punish the accessory, but there are cases in which the accessory is very severely punished.
            The facts, said he, which have come out at late trials here, show a low state of moral sentiment in certain quarters. They show that some men have lost much of the honor the Creator endowed them with. On more than one occasion, the preacher said that he had shown that drink demoralizes a man and deprives him of honor. If there was false swearing at the trails to which he alluded, he would not say, but this he would say—things do not look well. A man may afford to pay a liquor dealer’s fine, but he cannot afford to get the dealer clear by swearing falsely. The price was too much. It was high time that the moral sentiment of this community was raised. If it does not, Saint Andrews will lose some of her citizens, and the population of Dorchester will be correspondingly increased. There will be a short turn some day. He had raised his voice, he had given a warning. His remarks were not directed particularly to his congregation. We want a high moral sentiment here. It is time the moral sentiment was raised. If a man has done wrong, let him like a man acknowledge his wrong. The law does not punish the man who buys; it does not punish the accessory. The moral guilt remains however. If a man is guilty, let him not attempt to conceal it by a greater crime. When a man takes an oath it requires of him that he shall tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If he endeavours to conceal facts, or employs subterfuges, he has violated his oath, and punishment awaits him.
            The reverend gentleman then proceeded with his sermon, the pith of which was that if men employed the same diligence in seeking after spiritual things as they do in seeking after gold, or silver, or hidden treasure, it would be better for their eternal welfare. During the course of his remarks he stated that if he offered two dollars per day to people to attend church, he had no doubt that the church would be crowded, but, because he had something better to offer them, but few attended. Yet there were people who would accept a dollar and a half per day to go out on the lake at the Sabbath day and work. [directed at the Chamcook Ice business, it seems]

 

Beacon
April 24, 1890
Gone to Blazes
St. Andrews Sardine Factory Disappears in Smoke
A fire with a very mysterious origin
The St. Andrews sardine factory, which started last summer with fair prospects of success, disappeared about four o’clock on Monday morning in a huge pillar of fire. The factory was located in the shed on the steamboat wharf. This building was erected about ten years ago by Messr. Merrit and Sons, of Houlton, Maine, who used it for three or four years as a warehouse for the storage of potatoes. Their lease expired in a month or two, and the building would have then become the property of Mr. Robert Ross, upon whose land it stood. How did the fire originate? That is one of the things “no fellow can understand,” for there had been no fire in the building for several months. Landlord Herbert, of the Argyll hotel, says that he looked outside of the window of his house about three o’clock, and there as then no sign of fire. Brakeman Stinson, who lives about midway between the Argyll and the wharf, was aroused a few minutes after 3 o’clock by the shouting of Mr. Wm. Storr, who had turned out early to make some repairs on the NBR locomotive, and his attention was attracted by the fire, as he was about passing Mr. Stinson’s house. Looking out, Mr. Stinson saw columns of flame pouring out of he windows of the factory. He hurried out, and in company with Mr. M McMonagle, who had also been awakened by the noise, hastened to the engine room. Mr. Stinson rang the alarm, while Mr. McMonagle endeavoured to get into the room where the hand engines were. The firemen quickly responded to the summons, and reached the engine to the fire. No 1 engine, Capt. Wm. Burton, arrived first, No 2. Capt Wm Whitlock, reaching the fire shortly afterwards.
            Tide was pretty low, and the flames were rising in massive sheets from the burning structure, scattering clouds of sparks for many yards around. Seeing that there was no chance of saving he building or its contents, the firemen turned their attention to saving the wharf from destruction. In this they were successful, although the fabric was pretty badly scorched. Fire Wardens Burton and Stickney were on hand and directed the movements of the firemen.          
            In addition to the Sardine Company’s plant, they had a large quantity of manufactured sardines in cases, as well as a great many empty cases. Stetson, Cutler and Co, also had their ice tools stored in the building. Everything was burned up. The Sardine Company had $2500 insurance in the Western office, but they estimate that their loss will exceed this sum by several hundred dollars. There was no insurance on the ice tools. They were worth probably $120. It is not known whether the building was insured or not.
            The firemen left the scene of the fire about 8 o’clock, but were called out again at one o’clock, the wind having fanned some of the smouldering sparks into life, thus endangering the safety of the wharf.
            Mr. James L. Thompson, of the Frontier St. Stephen Company, came down from Calais on Tuesday to repair the damaged wharf. Schr. Lugano, which loaded ice alongside the building that was burned, only moved away on Sunday. She was riding anchor in the harbor when the building was . . .

 

Beacon
Feb 5/1891
The ice contract for the Algonquin has been awarded to A. Denley and J. Cummings. 100 tons will be stored.

 

Beacon
March 24/1892
Magnificent 24-inch cakes of ice are being turned out of the ice sheds near the railroad station. This ice is two years old, yet it is a far better looking ice than that cut in the lake this winter.

 

Beacon
April 7/1892
The ice-houses at the Point are beginning to collapse. Those spooney couples who are in the habit of wandering in the neighborhood of those building sin the evening should take warning, otherwise there may be a couple of jobs for the undertaker.

 

Beacon
Sept 1/1892
The ice sheds at the Point are now the property of Mr. Samuels, of New York, who has employed Mr. T. J McGrath to dispose of them and their contents. Mr. McGrath has a number of men at work tearing down the sheds and sluices and clearing away the debris.

 

Beacon
May 18, 1893
Another siding from the railway wharf is being laid in the St. Andrews yard, the increased business at the wharf urgently calling for such an improvement. The pond to the north of the main track is being filled with sawdust from the old ice-house nearby.

 

Beacon
Jan 24/1895
The Algonquin hotel company will house about 150 tons of ice this winter for next season’s use. W. A. Robertson and Co., fish dealers, will cut 200 tons. The most of the ice will be brought town by rail.

 

Beacon
Jan 19,1899
A very fine quality of fifteen-inch ice is being taken from Chamcook lake. Sir William Van Horne is already storing his. He will put in about thirty tons. (Angus Kennedy will store 50 tons)

 

Beacon
Jan 26/1899
Mr. Joseph McCullough has been awarded the contract for hauling the ice for the Algonquin Hotel Co., for use in their hotel next summer. Mr. McCullough had the contract last year.
            Mr. James Cummings is preparing to store 150 tons of ice for W. A. Robertson and Co., for use in their fish business.
            The ice on Chamcook lake is of a splendid quality this year. So far it is all clear ice free from any snow deposits on the surface.
            Mr. Angus Kennedy will store about 50 tons of ice this year for use in his hotel.
            The favorable weather and good hauling are being taken advantage of to fill all the private ice houses in town, and truck men are busy.

 

Beacon
Feb 1, 1900
David McCoubray is getting out one hundred tons of Chamcook ice for Sir William Van Horne. He has also been awarded the contract for supplying the Algonquin hotel.

 

Beacon
Dec 18/1902
500 ton ice house to be constructed at C. P. R. railway station. Erected by John P. Leary of Montreal. Also repairing Algonquin for next season. Rumours CPR will take over hotel next season satisfying to Beacon.

 

Beacon
Dec 25/1902
The Argyle hotel barn has been taken down and the timber will be used in the new ice-house to be built by the CPR. This barn, was built 22 years ago, is about the last remnant of the once famous Argyle hotel

 

Beacon
Feb 22/1906
Rise to 45 cents per ton by CPR has cut hauling of ice to town. CPR to store 500 tons at ice shed for railway and hotel purposes.

 

Beacon
May 17/1906
The Passing of the Old Bellman
Senator MacKay’s Summer Abiding Place
A Beautiful Building Beautifully Located
. . . A feature of the property is the ice-house, which is built of stone largely, and which cost $2,000. It is somewhat inconspicuously located.

 

Beacon
Sept 14/1911
. . . Twenty years ago, or thereabout, two other companies of the United States capitalists were spending their money in the development of an ice business here. It did not prove a very profitable venture for those engaged in it, but it was a source of profit to the town while it lasted.

 

Beacon
Feb 20/1913
The big Fish Plant
Shook Mill Finished. Ice House Begun. All Ready for Bakes Beans and Brown Bread.
The work of development is still proceeding at the Canadian Sardine Company’s works. Last week, Foreman Rigby completed the erection of the new shook mill, being only 15 days on the job. One of the Company’s officials wagered a silk hat that he could not do it in 26 working days. As he did it in almost half that time, another hat should be thrown in. the building is of wood, 100 x 28 feet. The Company’s carpenters have now begun the construction of an ice-house, 70 x 50 feet.

 

Beacon
Feb 27/1913
Electric lights now adorn front of “Acme” picture-house. Ice 18 inches thick being cut from Chamcook.

 

St. Croix Courier
Jan 27, 1938
Five St. Andrews Men Drown When Car Drops Through Ice-Hole at Chamcook
One their way home after a carefree week-end outing at Chamcook Lake, five of a party of six well-known St. Andrews men were drowned Sunday evening when the car in which they were riding over the frozen surface of the lake skidded into a gaping hole left by ice-cutters and became their death-trap. As the machine settled to the bottom, its headlight still burning, one ma n, Joseph Gibson, somehow struggled out and saved himself. The others, paralyzed by the sudden plunge, drowned apparently without making an effort to escape.
            Mr. Gibson, 55 year old mason, came up under the ice the first time he rose. The second time he found himself in the ice-hole. As soon as he regained sufficient strength, he climbed out on the solid ice and, realizing that his companions were beyond aid, ran nearly three-quarters of a mile to a telephone and gave the alarm which brought help from St. Andrews. Victims of the tragedy were: Albert Storr, 70, superannuated baggage employee of the CPR. William Craig, 60, manager of the general store of J. A Doon and Co. Louis Hivon, 55, manager of the St. Andrews store of the New Brunswick Liquor Control Board. Ralph Howe, 40, painter. Carten McCurdy, 24, express driver.
            The town of St. Andrews was plunged into mourning by the swift tragedy—mourning which was shared throughout the district as the news rapidly was spread. All the victims were well known and enjoyed the respect of the community. The tragedy which cut off their lives so abruptly led to the cancellation of all functions of a public nature in St. Andrews this week. Yesterday one of the most poignant scenes ever witnessed in the old shiretown of Charlotte County was enacted as the five victims were buried with impressive funeral rites. . . .
            The party went to Mr Craig’s camp on Chamcook lake Sunday afternoon, driving up over the lake ice which was of ample thickness to support the heavy car. Near the end of the lake next the road was a gaping hold in the white expanse—left by ice-cutters of William McQuoid and Son, who on Saturday were at the lake getting out a supply of ice under the supervision of Henry McQuoid. After spending the balance of the day about the camp the six men boarded the car for the return trip, leaving the camp about 9:45 Sunday evening. During down over the smoothly frozen ice the car skidded but did not get out of control. The driver straightened away on what he believed to be the course once more. The night was clear but an overcast sky hid the stars. In years of camping on the lake William Craig had come to know it intimately. A shadow appeared on the ice ahead, but no one noticed until suddenly the black patch slid under the car wheels and Mr. Gibson shrieked a frantic warning: “We’re in McQuoid’s ice-hole. Get out!”
            Sole survivor of the ill-fated outing, Mr. Gibson cold not explain how he escaped from the car while the others stayed inside. When the car struck the open space he shouted a warning, and as the car began to sink pried at the nearest door, but it would not open. The machine settled to the bottom of the lake. Somehow, the door did open and Mr. Gibson felt himself outside rising to the surface of the lake. He came up under the solid ice the first time, but the second time he broke through in clear water and a few minutes later scrambled out on the frozen surface of the lake. His clothing soaked with the chill lake water, he walked and ran three-quarters of a mile to the home of Mrs. Ernest Watts, where the nearest telephone was located, and from where news of the tragedy was sent to Wilfred and Max Rankin.
            While they went back to the lake with a truck, Mrs. Watts telephoned St. Andrews where the town marshal, Howard MacNichol, and others made up a party of volunteers. Despite his wet clothing, Mr. Gibson insisted upon returning ot he lake with the Rankins, but when they arrived they were unable to do anything until further help came on the scene.
            The headlights of the car, shining through 15 or 20 feet of water, made it easy for the volunteers to locate the scene of the tragedy. Willing hands cut a lane through the ice to the lake shore, then a stout chain was dropped to the car and worked around until a hook on the end caught on the bumper, after which the car with its five victims still inside, sitting in the positions they occupied when Gibson last saw them, was hauled ashore by a heavy truck.
            Beyond a scratch on Mr. Craig’s nose there were no marks n any of the bodies. Nothing about them indicated that they had made an effort o get out. Mr Craig, who had been driving still the wheel. Both he and Mr. Storr had been smoking and in the hands they held their pipes. In the front seat with the driver were Mr. Storr and Mr. McCurdy. In the back seat Mr. Hivon was on the left side, Mr. Rowe in the centre, and Mr. Gibson had been on the right hand side until he made his way to safety.
            . . . Mr. Gibson was, strangely enough, the only member of the party who could not swim and he was the only one to escape. Apparently little the worse for his soul-searing experience he later gave a graphic description of the horror he passed through while his companions were going to their deaths.
            “I’ll never forget it in my life,” he said.
            “What did you think about when you were under the ice?”
            “I couldn’t tell you what I thought. It all happened in the twinkling of an eye,. When the car struck the open space I shouted—‘We’re in McQuoid’s ice-hole, Get out!’”
            “I put the pressure to the door but it wouldn’t open. I didn’t expect to get out alive. The car settled to the bottom and somehow I got the door open and I could feel myself rise. Then my head bumped against the ice. I was under the solid ice. The bump didn’t hurt, I couldn’t feel any pain. I just knew I had struck the ice. Then I sank again, I rose the second time—and I came up I the open water.”
            His lungs bursting he came up where he cold breathe again and clawed at the jagged edges of the ice. With an almost superhuman effort he dragged himself out onto the solid ice and looked down into the hole.
            The Car lights were still burning. He could see the dim beams in the depths. Heavy clothing soaked, overshoes full of water, he set out on a three-quarter of a mile run to the nearest house where there was a telephone. He was almost exhausted when he struggled into the home of Mrs. Ernest Watts and panted the story of the tragedy. She telephoned Wilfred and Max Rankin.
            Disregarding the fact that he was wet to the skin, Mr. Gibson hurried back to lake Chamcook with the Rankins. They took a truck with them. “We couldn’t do a thing,” Mr. Gibson said. More than 150 men arrived at the lake. Through the ice they sawed a channel eight feet wide 175 feet to the shore from where the death car lay at the bottom. “We left he camp (Mr. Craig’s) at 9:45, watch of one man stopped at 10:45, and that of another at 10:20. Mr. Storr’s watch was still running when they got the car ashore.”
            Mr Gibson said the automobile, a sedan, did not turn over, but simply settled down to the lake bottom on four wheels. He estimated that there were tow fathoms of water over its roof.

 

St. Croix Courier
Feb 3, 1938
Victims and Scene in Chamcook Lake Tragedy
Pictures made from an unfinished roll of film found in Carten McCurdy’s clothing when his body was removed from the bottom of Chamcook lake after the tragedy which took the lives of five St. Andrew men Sunday night, Jan 23, formed the basis of the above group of pictures. At top is shown William Craig’s camp where the party spent their will-fated outing and the ice-boat on which they were riding that afternoon. Below, at left, is Louis Hivon; centre, above, Albert Storr, and William Craig; centre, below, Ralph Howe, at right, Carten McCurdy. Two of the pictures, that of the ice-boat and that of McCurdy, were taken the day of the tragedy and were on the roll of film taken from his camera and developed by Archie Shirley, the St. Andrews photographer. The film was undamaged by its immersion in the water. The snapshot of Carten was taken in the yard of his home that tragic Sunday before he left to spend the day at the lake, and he himself took the top view wile at the camp. These and other pictures were made available to The Courier through the kindness of relatives and friends of the five victims, and are believed to be the best and most recent now available.

 

St. Croix Courier
Feb 20/1941
Shiretown Items
Clear and Cold. McQuoids, with a fleet of trucks and a crew of men, have been busy during the past few weeks filling local ice-houses. Conley’s alone have put in about a thousand tons which will be used next summer in shipping fresh live lobsters to all parts of the States and Canada. . . . Lack of snow had made for good hauling. The ice is now 21 inches thick and crystal clear. The blocks weigh about 450 pounds each. One drive told me he sometimes loads hauls and delivers over two hundred of these blocks a day, and sleeps quite well at night.

 

St. Croix Courier
March 6/1941
Shiretown Items—Improvements. An up-to-date refrigerator is being installed at J. A. Doon’s store. Formerly, depending on ice alone, much meat was lost during the summer weather. The proprietor hopes by another year to be able to install a refrigerator counter as well, in order to property display cuts of meat.

 

St. Croix Courier
Sept 27/1951
News Notes from SA
Shortage of Ice: This part of the country is experiencing a severe shortage of storage ice for domestic use. Even with the great number of electric refrigerators in use today large numbers of householders till use natural ice. George Higgins, the local ice merchant, supplies over 150 accounts with block ice during the summer season. During the last month he has been buying up any surplus stock wherever he can find it. Finally he has had to call on the artificial ice plant in Saint John for assistance. With so much ice available in Chamcook Lake in the winter it would seem like a wise move to establish a large ice house at the lakeside and save the expense of trucking it to town to be stored. In the spring and summer the ice has to be dug out of the sawdust and trucked again to the consumer. By having a storage supply at the lake it could be sluiced into the icehouse easily and then the one trucking and handling would give it to the consumer directly from the lakeside.

 

St. Croix Courier
March 3/1966
The day of the Ice Cutter Fast Slipping into History. Brief history of Chamcook ice-cutting business, which is still operating albeit with more modern equipment; but still hauling ice into town to be packed into sawdust. 17 inch thick cakes 300 pounds apiece.