The Armour And Company Icehouse # 409
Posted by: 
Biker Ozzy
N 41° 05.874 W 096° 26.190
14T E 715285 N 4552792
Historical marker about an icehouse.
Waymark Code: WM6FD5
Location: Nebraska, United States
Date Posted: 05/25/2009
Views: 10
THE ARMOUR AND COMPANY ICEHOUSE
The Armour and Company Icehouse was built in 1897-98 northwest of Memphis, Nebraska. It was one of the largest icehouses in the country, measuring approximately 180 feet wide, 700 feet long, and 52 feet high. A 300-horsepower steam engine and two generators provided electrical power.
A manmade lake of about 100 acres was filled each fall from Silver Creek. Harvesting began when the ice was eight inches thick. It was scored, sawed, and the blocks poled along an open channel to elevators and into the ice rooms, where they were packed in sawdust. In the spring the lake was drained, leaving a small fish pond.
The ice was used in refrigerated railcars and meat-packing plants, and was also sold to businesses in eastern Nebraska. In 1899, 100,000 tons of ice were harvested. It was common to ship 100 or more railcars of ice each month during the summer. Twenty-five employees lived nearby, and 300 men were hired during the busy season. The icehouse burned in 1921. In 1930 Memphis State Recreation Area was established at the site of the icehouse and lake.
Ashland-Saline Ford Historical Preservation Society, 1998
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nebraska State Historical Society
Memphis State Recreation Area, on Nebr. 63 at Memphis
Saunders County
Marker 409
Marker Name: The Armour And Company Icehouse # 409
Other: yes
City: Not Listed
Roadside: Not Listed
Web Address if available:: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Post Pictures:
1. Close up of historical marker
2. Picture of surrounding area (would prefer to have the marker in the picture also). Thanks!
Recent Visits/Logs:
| There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|