{"id":3087,"date":"2023-02-06T10:31:09","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T16:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/?p=3087"},"modified":"2025-01-03T03:23:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T09:23:06","slug":"the-history-of-ice-harvesting-in-edmonton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/eternal\/the-history-of-ice-harvesting-in-edmonton-3087","title":{"rendered":"The History of Ice Harvesting in Edmonton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Edmonton&#8217;s ice harvesting industry played a vital role in the city&#8217;s history. Captured in Hubert Hollingworth&#8217;s renowned collection at the Edmonton Archives are unique photographs depicting men harvesting ice from the frozen North Saskatchewan River. This once-thriving occupation was a significant source of income for many. Learn about the fascinating process and purpose of ice harvesting on <a href=\"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/\">edmonton1.one<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2ef5c246922\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2ef5c246922\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/eternal\/the-history-of-ice-harvesting-in-edmonton-3087\/#Harvesting_and_Transporting_Ice\" >Harvesting and Transporting Ice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/eternal\/the-history-of-ice-harvesting-in-edmonton-3087\/#The_Early_Ice_Companies\" >The Early Ice Companies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/eternal\/the-history-of-ice-harvesting-in-edmonton-3087\/#Development_of_the_Ice_Industry\" >Development of the Ice Industry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/eternal\/the-history-of-ice-harvesting-in-edmonton-3087\/#Decline_of_the_Ice_Industry\" >Decline of the Ice Industry<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Harvesting_and_Transporting_Ice\"><\/span>Harvesting and Transporting Ice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"455\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/1-15.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/1-15.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/1-15-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/1-15-768x437.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/1-15-696x396.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ice was cut into small blocks while still in the water, using saws. Workers would then use hooks attached to chains to lift the blocks out of the river. The ice was hauled by horse-drawn sleds to nearby storage facilities. These blocks weighed between 50 and 100 pounds each. Nearby icehouses could store up to 8,000 tons of ice\u2014enough to last through the summer. Edmonton&#8217;s ice was even exported to other countries due to its high quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ice was harvested for various purposes, including preserving food and supplying caf\u00e9s and restaurants. It was also heavily used in non-mechanical refrigerator cars to protect shipments of fruits, vegetables, and frozen goods. An article in the Edmonton Journal described ice as a simple and natural way to maintain low temperatures at an affordable cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ice from the North Saskatchewan River was prized for its purity and clarity. A 1912 publication noted that the ice was formed from snowmelt filtered through gravel beds, making it soft and transparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Early_Ice_Companies\"><\/span>The Early Ice Companies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"721\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/2-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3091\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/2-10.jpg 721w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/2-10-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.edmonton1.one\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2025\/01\/2-10-696x553.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By 1912, several ice companies, including Twin City and Arctic Ice Company, were established in Edmonton. Their headquarters were located in Rossdale near 100th Street, where large icehouses, stables for horses, and delivery wagons were also stationed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ice was harvested upstream from the city to ensure its quality. This seasonal work was physically demanding, and ice-harvesting teams consisted of 40 to 60 strong, healthy men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>James Gillette, an ice cutter for Arctic Ice Company, once shared in an interview that he served 62 regular customers in his neighborhood. Ice trading was lucrative; workers earned up to $3 per day\u2014a significant sum at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Development_of_the_Ice_Industry\"><\/span>Development of the Ice Industry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although electric refrigerators started gaining popularity in the 1920s, Arctic Ice Company remained optimistic about the future of ice harvesting. In Rossdale, the company built a state-of-the-art storage and processing plant to keep up with demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By 1949, horses were replaced by trucks for ice transportation. That same year, Arctic Ice Company constructed a $150,000 plant capable of producing 72 tons of ice per day, sufficient to meet the needs of Edmonton\u2019s residents. The <em>Edmonton Journal<\/em> described the plant as the most advanced of its kind in Canada. It began producing artificial ice blocks with precise dimensions for ease of use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the rise of artificial ice, natural ice was still harvested, particularly from Lake Wabamun. Blocks measuring 600 feet were cut and transported to facilities owned by the National Railway, which stored them in icehouses in Calder and Jasper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Decline_of_the_Ice_Industry\"><\/span>Decline of the Ice Industry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Arctic Ice plant operated until 1978, when it was deemed a fire hazard and too costly to maintain. The widespread adoption of refrigeration technology ultimately rendered ice harvesting obsolete. However, the legacy of Edmonton\u2019s ice industry remains an integral part of the city&#8217;s history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Edmonton&#8217;s ice harvesting industry played a vital role in the city&#8217;s history. Captured in Hubert Hollingworth&#8217;s renowned collection at the Edmonton Archives are unique photographs depicting men harvesting ice from the frozen North Saskatchewan River. This once-thriving occupation was a significant source of income for many. Learn about the fascinating process and purpose of ice [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":465,"featured_media":3094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1168],"tags":[2747,2745,2743,2737,2744,2738,2751,2739,2748,2740,2750,2742,2746,2741,2749],"moimportance":[78,81],"motype":[1158],"moformat":[83],"class_list":{"0":"post-3087","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jobs","8":"tag-arctic-ice-company","9":"tag-early-refrigeration","10":"tag-edmonton-arctic-ice","11":"tag-edmonton-history","12":"tag-edmonton-ice-harvesting","13":"tag-edmonton-ice-industry","14":"tag-edmonton-industrial-heritage","15":"tag-edmonton-manual-labor-history","16":"tag-hubert-hollingworth-collection","17":"tag-ice-trade-edmonton","18":"tag-natural-ice-harvesting","19":"tag-north-saskatchewan-river","20":"tag-rossdale-icehouses","21":"tag-twin-city-ice-company","22":"tag-wabamun-lake-ice","23":"moimportance-golovna-novina","24":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatori","25":"motype-eternal","26":"moformat-vlasna"},"modified_by":"Viktorij Voitova","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/465"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3087"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3097,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3087\/revisions\/3097"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3087"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3087"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3087"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edmonton1.one\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}