South Bristol’s Annual Ice Harvest Keeps ‘Working History’ From Melting Away

South Bristol’s annual ice harvest. (Rebecca Conley/Maine Public)

Ice harvesting was a thriving industry in 19th century New England. Using large, jagged-toothed saws, workers would cut heavy blocks from frozen rivers, lakes and ponds, pack it in sawdust and sell it around the world. Then came electric refrigeration, and ice-cutting became all but obsolete. But there are still a few places where the tradition is carried on.

It’s a postcard-perfect winter scene — a small, snow-covered pond framed by tall trees and a rustic barn. Here in South Bristol, Ken Lincoln and several other men are out early in the morning, doing what they learned to do as kids. They’re removing the first blocks of ice from the pond.

Lincoln is the president of the Thompson Ice House Preservation Corp., which operates an on-site museum and sponsors the old-fashioned ice harvest every Presidents Day weekend. He wears thick coveralls and ice grippers on his boots — this is slippery work.

“Every year someone ends up in the pond, but no tragedies. We grab ’em out pretty quick,” he says with a laugh.

Read the rest of this story at Maine Public’s website.