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Dr. Ronald P. Rogers CHIROPRACTOR Support for your body's natural healing capabilities 270-384-5554 Click here for details 
  
Columbia Gas Dept. GAS LEAK or GAS SMELL Contact Numbers 24 hrs/ 365 days 270-384-2006 or 9-1-1 Call before you dig 
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Ice - A Curse on the One Hand, A Luxury on the Other 'The ice house was a fixture on many farms and in towns. Originally, they were dug into the side of a hill, as would be a root cellar, lined with thick oak or hickory planks for insulation, and well covered. At the turn of the last century, Gradyville boasted four ice houses. . . There were sources of ice and house to store it in at Neatsville, Cane Valley, Montpelier, Crocus, Glensfork, and many other points in the county . . . ' - MIKE WATSON By Mike Watson Adair County Historian While most of us would rather stay inside on days like this--with a mug of hot coffee, cocoa or tea, we take the simple commodity of ice for granted. No one wants to see sleet and snow fall from the heavens only to make travel more treacherous than it normally is, but that may be because we have easy access to ice in our modern homes. However, subfreezing temperatures were a boon in one way. A century ago there was no easy way to have ice for any use in the heat of summer, unless one had an ice house. The ice house as we know it dates back many centuries. Ancient man tried and was successful in storing chunks of frozen water for future use. In the 1800s and early 1900s the production and sale of ice was a very big business. Even today, bulk ice sales are lucrative...even in Columbia! Adair County being no exception, the ice house was a fixture on many farms and in towns. Originally, they were dug into the side of a hill, as would be a root cellar, lined with thick oak or hickory planks for insulation, and well covered. The ice was cut from ponds and other bodies of water, stored in the ice house as large, but manageable blocks until needed in the warmer times of the year. Once there had been a big freeze and water sources were frozen a foot deep, men and boys would flock to the ponds with axes and saws. Holes were made and saws then used to cut the ice into blocks. These were then transported, often by sled or slide to be stored, packed tightly, often on an additional bed of sawdust to hold in the cool and prevent melting. At the turn of the last century, Gradyville boasted four ice houses around town. J.A. Diddle, of Gradyville, "will erect an ice house. This is something every citizen should have. Ice is very cheap in the winter season for those people who live on the creek..." December 1907. There were sources of ice and house to store it in at Neatsville, Cane Valley, Montpelier, Crocus, Glensfork, and many other points in the county. The ice cut around Columbia averaged six inches in thickness in December 1903. S.D. Barbee and the Sandusky Brothers filled ice houses with seven-inch block cut from Russell Creek in January 1912. Manufactured ice in Columbia will be a topic for another cold day. - Mike Watson This story was posted on 2013-01-26 09:19:07
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Bro Jr. Holmes to preach Sunday at Flatwoods SBC Card of Thanks from family of Frances Smith Thanks to our hardworking road crew Doug Beard now Manager, Global Strategic Meetings and Events Adair Co. hosts Whitefield Academy, Saturday, January 26, 2013 Fatality in Metcalfe County on Bill Pedigo Road, Knob Lick J J Garbage alters pickup because of icy roads I urge everyone to stay put until ice melts Adair Band Bingo canceled tonight, Friday, January 25, 2013 Sad word of the passing of Stewart Walker, 51 View even more articles in topic News |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
 Provided by the Adair Co Fiscal Court and the Adair Co. Emergency Mgt. Agency 
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