Howdy neighbor!
This week, as we begin the long climb up March hill toward the promise of a brighter, warmer Spring to come — and since I heard so many pleased reports on last week’s old portrait of bygone industry — I thought I’d write up another account of a more seasonal trade that once flourished here in Bridgton, even as in all Maine’s small backwoods towns, in the days before electrification made it obsolete. I’m speaking of course, of the old “Frozen Water Trade,” ice harvesting.
kAmx? E96 52JD 367@C6 6=64EC:4 C67C:86C2E:@?[ E96 @?=J H2J J@F 4@F=5 6?;@J E96 =FIFCJ @7 2 4@=5 5C:?< :? DF>>6C H2D E@ 92G6 D@>69@H D2G65 2 A:646 @7 ?2EFC2= :46 7C@> E96 H:?E6C 367@C6] %96D6 A:646D @7 :46[ 4FE 7C@> E96 DFC7246 @7 =@42= =2<6D[ C:G6CD 2?5 A@?5D[ ?2EFC2==J 3642>6 2 EC2523=6 8@@5[ 2?5 D@ :E 92AA6?65 E92E :? E:>6 7@CEF?6D H6C6 >256 E9C@F89@FE }6H t?8=2?5 3J >6C492?ED H9@ 564:565 E@ 86E :? D6==:?8 (:?E6C E@ E96 H@C=5]k^Am
kAmx46 92CG6DE:?8 925 366? AC24E:465 96C6 :? qC:58E@? D:?46 2E =62DE E96 `gb_D[ H96? E96 :46 EC256 C62==J E@@< @77 8=@32==J 7@==@H:?8 E96 H:56DAC625 5:D4@G6CJ @7 D2H5FDE’D :?DF=2E:?8 BF2=:E:6D] $6328@ {2<6’D :46[ 42C67F==J 4FE 2?5 D9:AA65 3J E96 E@? E@ !@CE=2?5[ H2D D9:AA65 3J D62 2?5 C2:= E@ A@:?ED D@FE9 :? E96 `gd_D[ 2?5 :? E96 324< 4@F?ECJ >2?J =@42= 72C>D 3F:=E D>2== “:46 9@FD6D[” @C D965D 7:==65 H:E9 D2H5FDE[ :? H9:49 E@ DE@C6 A:646D @7 :46 4FE :? H:?E6C 7@C 5@>6DE:4 FD6] x? E9:D 4@??64E:@?[ >@DE ?@E23=J x D9@F=5 >6?E:@? E96 !623@5J\u:E49 72>:=J @7 $@FE9 qC:58E@?[ H9@ 4FE E96:C :46 7C@> p52>D !@?5 2?5 5C28865 :E 324< E@ E96 72C> @? D=65D[ 2 8@@5 >:=6 2?5 2 92=7 FA9:== 7C@> E96 A@?5] $:>:=2C H@C< H2D 5@?6 96C6 :? E96 r6?EC6 ':==286 7C@> w:89=2?5 {2<6[ :? }@CE9 qC:58E@? 7C@> {@?8 {2<6[ 2?5 @FE :? w:@ 7C@> |@@D6 !@?5] qFE 46CE2:?=J[ E96 =2C86DE :46\4FEE:?8 @A6C2E:@? :? qC:58E@? @A6?65 27E6C E96 r:G:= (2C[ >@E:G2E65 3J E96 C:D6 @7 E@FC:D> :? E96 {2<6 #68:@?] x? E96 `gg_D[ E96 qC:58E@? w@FD6 925 2 DA64:2= :46 9@FD6 D6E 2D:56 7@C :ED 8F6DED[ D:EF2E65 5@H? ?62C w:89=2?5 {2<6[ 2?5 E96 w@=:52J x??[ ?@H |6CC:7:6=5 r@G6[ 925 2 D:>:=2C C@@> 5@H? 3J E96 H2E6C=:?6 H9:49[ 2D x’G6 962C5 @? E96 36DE 2FE9@C:EJ[ :D DE:== D2H5FDEJ E@52J]k^Am
kAm|2:?6 H:?E6CD H6C6 A6C764E 7@C E96 92CG6DE:?8 @7 :46] pD vFJ |@?< C6A@CED :? 9:D 9:DE@CJ @7 }@CE9 qC:58E@?i “qJ E96 u:CDE @7 y2?F2CJ[ :46 @? E96 !@?5 H@F=5 36 23@FE `a :?496D E9:4<[” 2?5 =:<6H:D6 E96 C64@C5 @7 =@42= C6D:56?E p=:46 w:== C6A@CED E92E :? E96 =2E6 `hE9 46?EFCJ[ E96 =2<6D 4@?D:DE6?E=J DE2J65 7C@K6? :?E@ =2E6 pAC:= 2?5 D@>6E:>6D 6G6? |2J] q=@4<D @7 :46[ 42==65 “42<6D[” H6C6 4FE :? G2C:@FD D:K6D[ 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 E9:4<?6DD @7 E96 :46 2?5 E96 D:K6 @7 E96 :46 9@FD6] %96D6 42<6D H6C6 A24<65 :? D2H5FDE[ H9:49 7@C>65 2 =2J6C @7 :?DF=2E:@? D@ 67764E:G6 E92E >@DE :46 9@FD6D H6C6 23=6 E@ AC6D6CG6 E96:C DE@C6 @7 :46 E9C@F89 E96 DF>>6C 2?5 :?E@ 72==] {2C86C 42<6D H6C6 36EE6C 7@C DE@C286[ H9:49 H6C6 E96? 4FE 5@H? E@ >2?28623=6 D:K6 7@C 9@FD69@=5 D2=6] x? }@CE9 qC:58E@?[ H96C6 2 D>2== :46 92CG6DE:?8 @A6C2E:@? @? {@?8 {2<6 D6CG65 E96 G:==286[ 4@>>@? D:K6D @7 :46 42<6D H6C6 `aI`a[ `aIac[ `cI`c[ 2?5 `eI`e :?496D] r2FE:@? 925 E@ 36 E2<6?[ 9@H6G6C[ ?@E E@ A24< E96 :469@FD6 E@@ E:89E — D@>6 J62CD[ :7 :E H2C>65 FA E@@ BF:4<=J[ E96 >6=E:?8 :46 H@F=5 D2EFC2E6 E96 D2H5FDE 42FD:?8 :E E@ DH6== D@ AC@7@F?5=J E92E :E 4@F=5 3@H 2?5 6G6? 3C62< @FE E96 H2==D @7 2? :46\9@FD6 :7 C@@> 7@C 6IA2?D:@? H2D ?@E =67E 7@C :E]k^Am
kAm%96 =2C86DE :46 4FEE:?8 @A6C2E:@? :? qC:58E@? H2D 2E H92E :D ?@H E96 E@H? AF3=:4 36249 :? r6?EC6 ':==286] p =2C86 32C? H2D 3F:=E E@ D6CG6 2D 2? :46 9@FD6 :? E96 `gg_D 3J t582C w:=E@?[ @? E96 D9@C6 @7 E96 A@?5 ?62C H92E :D ?@H zC2>6C’D {2?5:?8[ :>>65:2E6=J =67E @7 E96 AF3=:4 36249] w:=E@? @A6C2E65 E96 :46 9@FD6 F?E:= 23@FE `h__ H96? 96 D@=5 :E E@ |JC@? {:33J[ H9@ 4@?E:?F65 E96 3FD:?6DD F?E:= 9:D 562E9 :? `hbc[ 27E6C H9:49[ 9:D H:5@H D@=5 @FE E@ $E2?=6J zC2>6C @? $6AE6>36C `] %96 zC2>6C’D H@F=5 4@?E:?F6 E@ @A6C2E6 E96 :46 9@FD6 F?E:= `hcd]k^Am
kAm%96 r6?EC6 ':==286 :46 9@FD6 H2D 2? :>>6?D6 DECF4EFC6[ H:E9 2 7=@@CA=2? @7 b[_d_ DBF2C6 766E] %@ 7:== :E[ 2D >2?J 2D ed_ E@?D @7 :46 H6C6 4FE 2??F2==J[ 2?5 7C@> A9@E@8C2A9:4 6G:56?46[ E96 D:K6 @7 E96D6 42<6D H6C6 >F49 =2C86C E92? E9@D6 E2<6? 2E }@CE9 qC:58E@?[ 2?5 D66> 36EE6C >62DFC65 :? 766Ej aIa[ aIb[ 2?5 6G6? bIcP %96 zC2>6CD 6>A=@J65 36EH66? `d 2?5 a_ A6@A=6 6G6CJ H:?E6C[ E96 =2C86 7@C46 36:?8 ?66565 E@ 4FE[ >@G6 2?5 DE24< FA E@ e_[___ :46 42<6D 6249 H6:89:?8 @?6 9F?5C65 A@F?5D @C >@C6] sC6DD65 :? 962GJ 4@2ED 2?5 DA:<65 3@@ED[ 2? 6IA6C:6?465 :46>2? 4@F=5 4FE 2C@F?5 a__ 42<6D 2 52J[ H:E9 A2J 7@C 4FEE:?8 2G6C28:?8 D@>6 `½ 46?ED A6C 42<6]k^Am
kAm|@DE @7 E96D6 42<6D H6C6 4FE @FE 3J 92?5[ FD:?8 =@?8 2?8=65 :46 D2HD] p 8C:5 H@F=5 36 D4@C65 @? E96 =2<6’D 7C@K6? DFC7246 FD:?8 2 DA:<6 2?5 >6? H@F=5 4FE E96 9F86 3=@4<D @FE @7 E96 “:46 7:6=5” :? 2 8C:5] %96D6 3=@4<D H6C6 E96? AFD9\A@=65 2=@?8 2 492??6= E@ E96 :46 9@FD6[ H96C6 >6? H:E9 =2C86 E@?8D H@F=5 =@25 E96> @?E@ 2 >6492?:K65 4@?G6J@C H9:49 42CC:65 E96> FA E@ E96 :46 9@FD6 7@C DE@C286] %9:D H2D @A6C2E65 3J 2 9@CD6 :? E96 62C=J 52JD[ 2?5 =2E6C 2 u@C5 |@56= % H9@D6 324< H966= H2D 9@@<65 E@ E96 AF==6J DJDE6>] r@?E:?F:?8 :? E9:D DA:C:E @7 >6492?:K2E:@?[ 3J E96 `hc_D[ E96 zC2>6C’D 925 2DD6>3=65 2?5 AFE :?E@ FD6 2 =2C86 4:C4F=2C D2H[ 2=D@ A@H6C65 3J 2 ECF4< 6?8:?6[ H9:49 E96J 4@F=5 AFD9 2=@?8 E96 =2<6] %9:D >249:?6 4FE 2 C@H @7 :46 2?5 2=D@ D4@C65 E96 ?6IE =:?6 36D:56 :E[ E9@F89 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 E9:4<?6DD @7 E96 :46 >6? H6C6 DE:== D@>6E:>6D ?66565 E@ 7:?:D9 E96 4FED H:E9 92?5D2HD]k^Am
kAmkDA2?msFC:?8 E96 DF>>6C[ H96? A6@A=6 ?66565 :46[ E96J 4@F=5 6:E96C 3FJ :E 5:C64E=J 7C@> E96 :46 9@FD6 @C D:8? FA 7@C C68F=2C 56=:G6CJ D6CG:46] x? E96 62C=J J62CD[ E96 :46 H2D 56=:G6C65 E9C@F89@FE qC:58E@? 3J H28@?[ 3FE 3J E96 `hb_D zC2>6C’D H2D C6=J:?8 @? ECF4<D] %96D6 ECF4<D[ H9:49 @A6C2E65 D:>:=2C=J E@ E96 >:=<>2? @7 3J8@?6 52JD[ H@F=5 DE@A 2?5 56=:G6C 2 42<6 @7 :46 E@ 2?J 9@FD6 @? E96:C C@FE6 H9:49 AFE 2 D:8? FA :? E96:C H:?5@H] x46 D@=5 7@C 2?JH96C6 7C@> `_ E@ ad 46?ED 2 42<6 56A6?5:?8 @? D:K6[ 4@>>@?=J D@=5 :? :?4C6>6?ED @7 ad A@F?5D[ 7C@> ad 2== E96 H2J FA E@ `__]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?mp=2D[ H9:=6 >@56C?:K2E:@? 2?5 E649?:42= :>AC@G6>6?ED 2==@H65 E96 zC2>6C 72>:=J E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96:C @A6C2E:@? =@?86C E92? >@DE[ AC@8C6DD 6?5D 2== E9:?8D] t=64EC:4 C67C:86C2E:@? 925 4@>6 E@ E@H? :? E96 `ha_D[ H:E9 E96 7:CDE 7C:586 :? qC:58E@? 2CC:G:?8 :? `haf] (9:=6 E96 vC62E s6AC6DD:@? 925 <6AE C67C:86C2E@CD @FE @7 H:56 AF3=:4 FD6 :? CFC2= |2:?6 E9C@F89 E96 `hb_D[ =@42= 6=64EC:7:42E:@? 677@CED 4@FA=65 H:E9 E96 64@?@>:4 3@@> @7 H2CE:>6 AC@5F4E:@? D@@? 3C@F89E 2? 6?5 E@ =@42= :46 92CG6DE:?8[ H:E9 E96 zC2>6C’D 462D:?8 AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 7:?2==J E62C:?8 E96 :46 9@FD6 5@H? :? `hcd] xE 2AA62CD E92E :46 92CG6DE:?8 925 462D65 @G6C E96 H:?E6C @7 `hc_\c`[ ;F5865 7C@> 2? 244@F?E @7 E96 7:?2= D6CG:46 E96J C6?56C65 E96 E@H?] &D:?8 FA E96 =2DE @7 E96:C DE@4<A:=6[ :? u63CF2CJ @7 `hc`[ |C] zC2>6C 2?5 9:D E62> FD65 E96:C C6>2:?:?8 :46 E@ 3F:=5 E96 72>65 :46 E9C@?6 7@C @FC (:?E6C r2C?:G2= "F66?] u@C 2? :562 @7 H92E E9:D =@@<65 =:<6[ 8@ @? 5@H? E@ w:89=2?5 {2<6 36249 C:89E ?@Hj J@F’== D66 E96 =67E@G6C 3=@4<D 4FE 7C@> E96 =2<6 E9:D J62C[ E@ >2<6 C@@> 7@C (:?E6C r2C?:G2=’D uC66K:?8 7@C 2 #62D@?[ DE:== D:EE:?8 @FE :? 2 7C@DEJ 962A 36D:56 E96 36249] %96J’C6 D@ 4@=5 2?5 92C5[ E96J’== 36 E96C6 E9C@F89 $AC:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2?m%@52J[ 3FE =:EE=6 C6>2:?D @7 E96 @=5 :46 92CG6DE:?8 :?5FDECJ :? qC:58E@?j ;FDE 2 76H C@@>D @7 D2H5FDE 2?5 2? @442D:@?2= D2H @C A2:C @7 E@?8D D@=5 3J 2?E:BF6 562=6CD] qFE E96 ?6IE E:>6 J@F 8@ E@ E96 7C66K6C 2?5 4C24< 2? :46 4F36 @FE :?E@ J@FC 5C:?<[ E2<6 2 >@>6?E E@ E9:?< 324< @? E96 7C@K6? H2E6C EC256 2?5 ;FDE 9@H 5:77:4F=E :E FD65 E@ 36 E@ D2G6 H:?E6C :? 2 3@I] *@F’== 7:?5 :E >2<6D J@FC 5C:?< 6G6? >@C6 C67C6D9:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAm%:== ?6IE E:>6Pk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.