Pelham Breathed a Sigh of Relief as Prospect of a Summer "Ice Famine" Eased in 1907

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It was an age in which electric refrigerators were not in widespread use in Pelham.  Instead, nearly every home and many businesses used the ubiquitous "ice box" -- typically a wooden box with interior insulation where blocks of ice could be stored to cool the interior (and food items stored there) while dripping water from the melting ice drained into a pan below to be removed by the owner as necessary.

Horse-drawn ice trucks delivered ice to Pelham homes throughout the year.  Delivery drivers would grab the ice from the truck with giant ice block tongs.  They then would hold the tongs by the handle and swing the ice block secured in the tongs along their sides or throw everything over their shoulders as they carried it into the home and placed it in the ice box.

Ice Block Tongs

Before modern ice manufacturing complexes dotted the Pelham region, much of the ice had to be harvested from local bodies of water and stored in ice houses for months on end until the ice could be delivered to local homeowners.  In such circumstances, a warm winter raised the prospect of a local "ice famine" during which the price of ice trucked from distant climes skyrocketed.  

Pelham and the surrounding region suffered such an ice famine during the summer of 1906.  The winter of 1905/1906 was so warm that ice was not widely harvested by ice companies in the region.  Throughout the Summer of 1906, ice was hard to come by and was far more expensive than normal.  Pelhamites resolved to build their own personal ice houses and lay in their own ice the following winter to avoid predatory pricing in the future.  Human nature being what it is, however, few kept their resolutions.  A local newspaper reported:

"During the famine of last summer, much was said about individuals erecting their own ice houses and securing a supply during the winter but if any such enterprises have been formed and carried out little has been heard of them, so it is supposed that nothing has been done." 


In late 1906 and early 1907, matters began to look grim again.  The weather stayed warm through mid-January.  Pelhamites began to fear another "ice famine" that would drive up ice prices locally, especially during the upcoming summer months.

As the weather remained warm in early January, 1907, Pelhamites were worrying.  Then, in mid-January, the weather turned.  Bitter cold blew over Pelham and ice began to appear on Pelham Reservoir.  For the next two weeks, the bitter cold did its work as the ice on the reservoir began to thicken.

By Saturday, February 2, the ice was thick enough to permit men from the local ice house onto it to begin harvesting reservoir ice as quickly as possible before the weather warmed and the ice began to disappear.  For the next 48 hours there was a flurry of activity on the reservoir ice as 75 men sawed, cut, and harvested ice to be carried to the two nearby ice houses where it would be packed amidst hay and sawdust to serve as insulation to slow the melting of the ice during the remainder of the year.  Ice wagons would then deliver the reservoir ice throughout the year to nearby homes and businesses for use in their "ice boxes."

The Herculean work was extraordinarily successful.  By early Monday, February 4, about 2,000 tons of ice were harvested and stored into the ice houses.  A local newspaper reported that day as follows:  "As matters stand today, already more ice has been harvested in this section than was obtained last year and another forty-eight hours will see capacity storage reached with the expected prospect that the companies and dealers will be in a position to meet the usual summer demands as well as in normal years and much better than last season."  The paper further reported, with a sense of relief:  "that there will be plenty of ice this summer is good news as it means beyond a doubt that the price will be less than last year.  Advices from the north state that the ice cutting and harvesting is also proceeding there and that the supply will be far in advance of last year."

Pelham, it seems, had avoided another dreaded "ice famine." 

 

Ice Box

*          *          *          *          *

"NO ICE FAMINE IN THIS CITY NEXT SUMMER
-----
Prospects Are Good For Big Supply --- Harvesting Going on Night and Day
-----
FORCE OF 75 MEN AT WORK SINCE SATURDAY MORNING
-----

There should be no ice famine in Mount Vernon this summer.  Sufficient cold weather has been endured within the last two weeks to form good quality ice.  Saturday and last night and all day yesterday a force of 75 men were at work cutting and harvesting ice on the reservoir at North Pelham and at noon today it was announced that one of the two big houses had been filled and that the work would proceed tonight and and tomorrow and until such a time as the entire crop was packed away into the houses.  About 2,000 tons are in now.  As matters stand today, already more ice has been harvested in this section than was obtained last year and another forty-eight hours will see capacity storage reached with the expected prospect that the companies and dealers will be in a position to meet the usual summer demands as well as in normal years and much better than last season.  

The prospect of an ice famine here this summer seemed to be almost assured in the early part of January and speculation was rife as to what high prices the commodity would attain in the hot season, but this is all changed now and the reports are that Mount Vernon consumers will not have to be warned to cut down their supply, neither will they have to join the millionaire class to buy it.  Nothing has as yet been heard from the independent dealers, but it is safe to say that wherever an ice field exists in this locality, the commodity will be harvested and stored to provide for the regular demand.

During the famine of last summer, much was said about individuals erecting their own ice houses and securing a supply during the winter but if any such enterprises have been formed and carried out little has been heard of them, so it is supposed that nothing has been done.  But that there will be plenty of ice this summer is good news as it means beyond a doubt that the price will be less than last year.  Advices from the north state that the ice cutting and harvesting is also proceeding there and that the supply will be far in advance of last year."

Source:   NO ICE FAMINE IN THIS CITY NEXT SUMMER -- Prospects Are Good For Big Supply --- Harvesting Going on Night and Day -- FORCE OF 75 MEN AT WORK SINCE SATURDAY MORNING, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Feb. 4, 1907, No. 4537, p. 1, col. 3.  

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News Reported by the Pelham Press on February 13, 1897

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For a brief time in the late 1890s, Pelham had its first local newspaper named the "Pelham Press."  I have written before of the founding of that little newspaper and have quoted the following account of its creation written by J. Gardiner Minard of the Village of North Pelham:

"During the winter of 1895-96, the late Mark A. Hanna, chairman of the Republican National Committee was forcing the presidential nomination of Governor William McKinley, of Ohio. There was much opposition to McKinley and Hanna with his millions was purchasing the support of certain newspapers. There lived in Stamford, Conn., a tall old gentlemen [sic] by the name of John T. Trowbridge. He resembled Charles Evan Hughes with his flowing beard. Trowbridge saw that Hanna was proceeding with a very expensive program and getting audience with the political leader unfolded the scheme which brought the Pelham Press into being, as well as several other weekly newspapers along the Long Island Sound shore from the Bronx to Milford, Conn. 

These newspapers were to sponsor the McKinley cause. A representative in each city, town and village would edit his particular sheet. All the papers would be printed alike with the exception of the heads, and subheads on the editorial page. Each group of news would be printed under the heading of the locality where it was to be circulated. The papers were printed in New York City and delivered in the various communities by train. The only expense to the editor was the fifty cents express charges. 

Mr. Trowbridge came to Pelham hoping to establish a link of his chain journalism here. I was recommended for the position as editor and I accepted the very flattering offer. 

It was never intended that these newspapers should survive the election, but the Pelham Press had made its mark and when the time for suspension came, the circulation list was rather substantial, and although I pocketed everything, Trowbridge continued to supply me with papers". 

Source: Minard, J. Gardiner, MANY NEWSPAPERS HAVE ENTERED PELHAM FIELD SINCE PELHAM PRESS WAS PUBLISHED IN 1896, The Pelham Sun, Apr. 5, 1929, p. 9, cols. 1-6.

Although copies of the Pelham Press no longer exist, The Pelham Sun periodically published the contents of the tiny little newspaper in the late 1920s as a column entitled "Pelham 30 Years Ago."  By republishing the news of the day thirty years previously in such a fashion, The Pelham Sun created a series of tiny, written time capsules that are the only record of certain happenings in Pelham during 1896 and 1897.

In its February 11, 1927 issue, The Pelham Sun published the Pelham Press news of the week ended February 13, 1897.  Much of the news summarized developments relating to the local fire department including election of leaders of the Relief Hook and Ladder Company as well as an upcoming special election of voters to approve the fire fighting budget for the ensuing year.  

The reports also remind us of a simpler time when the ice man made horse-drawn deliveries of large blocks of ice for placement in wooden "ice boxes" in nearly every home, forerunners of modern refrigerators.  The reports mention the ice houses that once stood near First avenue to store harvest of ice blocks cut from the Reservoir.  

The news of Pelham for the week ended February 13, 1897 offers a fascinating and entertaining glimpse of the nature of our Town shortly before the turn of the 20th century.  Below is the news of that week.

"PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO
(Pelham Press February 13, 1897)
-----

Prof. Van Buskirk of River avenue, North Pelham, for whose benefit a show was given at the town hall last Saturday night, moved with his family to New York City last Monday.

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Willis Morse, a young lad living on Loring avenue, Pelham Heights, has placed on sale at Lyman's pharmacy a number of 'Cuba Libre' buttons with a miniature Cuban flag.  The money derived from the sale of them will be devoted to the assistance of the sick and wounded patriots.

+++

The Christian Endeavor Society of the Church of the Covenant held a very enjoyable social at the church on Second avenue last Wednesday evening.

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Monday night a party of North Pelham men suddenly decided to have a good time, so they engaged two large sleighs in Mount Vernon for a straw ride; telephoned Thomas McMahon, proprietor of the Neptune house on Shore road for a beefsteak supper and dance.  'Aunt Jane' Burnett of Prospect Hill was asked through a messenger to collect about twenty dancing partners for the men for a dance to follow at the Burnett residence.  A long drive began at 8 o'clock which led through New Rochelle and landed the party at McMahons at 9 o'clock where a fine supper was awaiting.  After eating the party continued to Aunt Jane's where the dancing partners were waiting and dancing was kept up until 2 a.m.  It was unanimously voted a complete success.

+++

At the regular meeting of Relief Hook and Ladder company held at the fire house last Monday, James W. Penny was nominated for chief and Walter Barker was nominated for assistant chief.  Louis Epple was elected a member and William Edinger, who resigned last year was re-elected to membership.

+++

Notices have been posted for a special election of the taxpayers of the first fire district to be held at the fire house next Monday evening to vote upon the following proposition for the maintenance of the department for the ensuing year:  $50 for a new hose rack on which to dry the hose; $50 for premium on the fire insurance policy which is now due; $50 for lighting and heating the fire house; [illegible] for bills now due and overdue, and $75 for running expenses and repairs.

+++

The ice houses on First avenue having been filled with the last big crop from the reservoir and the prospects for another crop good, Lawrence B. Holler has started work on a second building to immediately adjoin the present structure.

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The U.S. Senate on February 9th confirmed the reappointment of Mrs. Katherine L. Merritt as postmaster at the Pelham station.  The local station is at present fourth class and the postmaster is dependent upon the number of stamps and postal orders sold for salary, so all residents are urged to buy at the Pelham office.

+++

Both Democrats and Republicans will hold their annual spring primaries for the nomination of town officials next week.

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The Pelham Social club has tickets out for a Calico Hop to be given at the court house on February 25.

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William H. Cars and family of Sixth avenue and Third street, moved last Monday to the Hiawatha-Evangeline apartments and store on the corner of east Third and Fourth streets, Mt. Vernon.  Mr. Cars also moved all his machinery from the Gurney hall and will re-establish his printery at the new location.  All the labels used by the Fleischmann Yeast company are printed at this plant.  Mr. Cars possesses a patent gum which causes paper to stick to tin foil."

Source:  PELHAM 30 YEARS AGO -- (Pelham Press February 13, 1897), The Pelham Sun, Feb. 11, 1927, p. 11, cols. 1-2.  

Detail of 1910 Map Showing Pelham Reservoir,

Filter Beds, and Area Where Ice Houses Once

Stood.  Source: Bromley, George W.

& Bromley, Walter S., Untitled Map Bounded by

Town of East Chester, City of New Rochelle,

Pelham Station, Clarefmont Avenue and Central

Boulevard in Atlas Of Westchester County, Vol. One,

p. 17 (Philadelphia, PA: G. W. Bromley & Co., 1910).

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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