In the old days before Refriderators/Freezers, how did they have ice in the summer?

Question

In the ol days, how did they have ice in the summer time...For their drinks and stuff......Give me some answers

Sorry, Refrigerators

Answer 1

They stored it in icehouses, which were insulated and cooled by the ground. During the 18th century, it was common for ice to be delivered regularly during the summer.

Answer 2

Well, it wasn't as much for drinks and stuff as it was to keep food safe. This is where the word icebox comes from. You notice lots older people still use that word instead of refrigerator. My friend lives in a neat house in Iowa City built in the 1920's that still has an original icebox that's in great shape. Its a two section smallish metal cabinet, about the size of today's freezers. One section opens to the kitchen and the other the porch. They were separated so the iceman didn't have to come in house. The iceman came in his truck and used tongs to put a block of ice in the outside section. That kept the food cool. So If you're talking about the early 1900's, I think those folks shopped more often than we do because they didn't have the means to store things safely. Have no idea where ice companies got the blocks of ice during the summer. I live in Illinois and I do know that during the winter they used to go up to northern Illinois and literally cut blocks of ice from the tops of some lakes to use in the iceboxes. Maybe someone else can say where the summer ice came from.

Answer 3

My grandpaw said they would break ice in the winter, the bury it in a pit of saw dust, this insulated the ice all year, and during the summer they would dig up a chunk and wash it, he says thats what they did when he was little.

Answer 4

ice boxes thy kept ice cold for 12 hrs you could buy the ice or in the winter go to a pond and cut your own

Answer 5

they didn't