The Ice Houses Hudson River Maritime Museum
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The structure covering the pit took a variety of forms and materials. The feature ranged from a simple earthen mound, seen in Samuel McIntire’s sketches of the ice cellar at Pleasant Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts [Fig. 1], to the more elaborate ornamental styles that harmonized with larger landscape design. For instance, at Montpelier, Thomas Jefferson designed a neoclassical temple to cover the subterranean icehouse, a style that echoed the architecture of the nearby main house [Fig. During the 19th century, icehouses were designed in a variety of architectural styles to complement landscape design, as illustrated in designs for ornamental icehouses published in the Horticulturist in 1846 [Fig.
Ice Houses
Ice house recovered on Detroit Lake - KVLY
Ice house recovered on Detroit Lake.
Posted: Sun, 31 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The foundation of the ice house was uncovered during the 13-day archaeological dig, 50 feet from where it originally was believed to have stood. In addition, while volunteers were digging around the excavated ice house, the ground collapsed and they located an underground chamber that no one knew previously existed. Scrape off the snow and plane any soft, porous ice away from the area of the lake’s surface that you plan to harvest. Mark the hard ice you intend to cut into blocks (two feet by two or three feet is a good size) with a series of grooves about three inches deep . Make the door or doors (one big one may be too heavy and you might prefer to split it in two across the center) as thick as the space between the inner and outer walls and pack it or them with insulation. Add a suitable outside and inside latch and your ice house is finished.
ICE HOUSE (SMUD) (ICH)
“One of the main things we did was add a window seat, which looks like it should always have been here,” Slesinski says. “Our whole goal with this space was basically to turn the lights on in the room, bring in the garden that’s outside, and kind of have an experience of a breath of fresh air,” Brosio says. Cozy Stylish Chic Creative Director Jeanne K. Chung and designers Angela Lee and Caroline Meloche brightened the dark wood-paneled library to create a space where residents can unplug.
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Furthermore, ice houses played a significant role in the growth of the ice trade industry during the 19th century. Ice would be transported from ice houses to nearby cities and towns, where it would be sold to businesses, households, and even shipped overseas to regions with limited access to natural ice. Lastly, proper packing and stacking techniques were essential to maintaining the cold temperature. The ice blocks were carefully stacked with minimal air gaps between them to maximize insulation and minimize heat transfer.
Ice was harvested during the winter and stored in these houses to be used throughout the year, particularly during the warmer months. The primary purpose of an ice house was to preserve perishable food items such as meat, dairy products, and fruits. By keeping these items stored in a cold environment, they could be kept fresh for longer periods.
Historic Ice Harvesting in Woods Hole
Since the second type of house is probably easier for a duffer to build, we’ll consider the frame design more closely. All these methods combined allowed ice houses in the 19th century to store ice for extended periods, enabling people to have access to ice even during warmer months when it was not readily available. Ice houses revolutionized the 19th-century society by providing a means to preserve and transport ice efficiently. They not only contributed to the development of the food industry but also played a pivotal role in enhancing comfort and quality of life. Despite the advancement of modern refrigeration technology, the significance and functionality of 19th-century ice houses remain influential in understanding the challenges and innovations of that time period. Designers Frank Slesinski and Serena Brosio collaborated on the charming living room in the Gatehouse.
Cutting Ice
It was typically made from thick layers of thatch or shingles, which provided further insulation against heat from the sun. Overall, ice houses were essential for providing a reliable source of ice, which had a wide range of uses and allowed societies to cope with a lack of modern refrigeration technology during the 19th century. Firstly, the ice house was usually constructed with thick walls made of materials such as brick or stone. These materials provided insulation to keep the interior of the ice house cool. Maria Videla-Juniel, who designed the primary bathroom of the main house, also devised a welcoming entry to the Gate House. A Thibault wall covering graces the entry, and a Fibreworks runner leads guests up the stairs.
If you try the latter method, keep the trellis at least a foot from. The building beneath (this creates a space for cool air to circulate). Natural ice was harvested from frozen bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers, during the winter months when the ice was thick enough to support the weight of workers and equipment. Icehouses were sited in relation to a combination of factors, including accessibility to the kitchen, proximity to an ice source, a location on an elevated and potentially well-drained place, and aesthetics.
Upstate New York and New England sent their ice as far as India and Australia! At Hanford Mills Museum we still harvest ice from the pond every February and store it in our ice house. We use the ice to chill the ice cream that we make at our Independence Day Celebration in July. The term icehouse, or ice house, as dictionary definitions make clear, refers to a structure for preserving ice year round and for keeping food and beverages cool during the warm months. While functional requirements dictated below-ground construction, the visible parts of the structure were often designed to enhance ornamental aspects of the grounds.
This allowed people in the 19th century to have access to ice even in regions where it was not naturally available year-round. The primary utility of an ice house was to ensure a steady supply of ice throughout the year, particularly in warmer months when ice was scarce. Ice would be cut into blocks and stored in layers, separated by insulating materials such as straw or sawdust.
It was built under the order of Zimri-Lim, the King of Mari, and it was said that "never before had any king built" such a building. Archaeologists have found in China remains of ice pits from the 7th century BC but there is also written evidence that Chinese used them before 1100 BC. Alexander the Great used them around 300BC while it is known that Romans used them in the 3rd century AD. Jefferson also built an ice house at the President’s house in Philadelphia.
For Jefferson there was no other method to nicely preserve his butter and meat. During heat waves, while others sipped tepid water, those who were able to drank cool drinks. The roof of the ice house was also crucial in maintaining the cool environment.
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