Ice chipper | c. 1930-1960

1996.48.7

In the decades before electric freezers, ice was delivered in large blocks and kept in insulated “ice boxes.” A chipper like this one made quick work of breaking off small pieces of ice to chill a pitcher of lemonade--while at the same time promoting the name of the ice company.

Although we don’t have the date of manufacture for this ice fork, visitors might be interested to know that ice used to be harvested from New England lakes and ponds in winter, including Dug Pond in Natick. The ice would be stored in large blocks in icehouses, insulated with straw and sawdust to preserve the ice into the summer.

Further reading: Kathy Uek, “Icehouse Memories in MetroWest”. (Metrowest Daily News, Oct. 5, 2009) http://www.wickedlocal.com/x1128396220/Icehouse-memories-in-MetroWest