This oak ice box is in good condition and an interesting fact is that most ice boxes were popular only until the 1930s when the new electrical refrigerator was invented.
The ice box was often known as a cold closet, where large blocks of ice were placed in the upper portion.
"Iceboxes had hollow walls that were lined with tin or zinc and packed with various insulating materials such as cork, sawdust, straw or seaweed. A large block of ice was held in a tray or compartment near the top of the box. Cold air circulated down and around storage compartments in the lower section."
Source:
Wikipedia
HISTORY
The Westbank Museum was established in 1978 to provide a repository for artifacts of the early days of the Westbank area, to generate community programs of historic and cultural worth and to Westbank museum preserve Westbank heritage. The museum has grown since inception and now houses over 6500 artifacts in its collection. It also has an impressive collection of archival documents and photographs.
Source:
Westbank Museum