c 1910s USA Fredonia NY photo postcard with horse-drawn ice wagon

Nice RPPC photo postcard image of Frank T. Swift's  horse-drawn ice wagon pulled up in front of the Fredonia Grocery Co. in Fredonia NY.

FRANK T. SWIFT  ICE Phone 155

'AZO' photographic paper dates it from 1904-1918.

Large crease UL corner. Toned on back.

Horse-drawn ice wagons were a vital part of everyday life in the early 1900s, especially before electric refrigeration became widespread.

• These wagons were used to deliver large blocks of ice to homes and businesses.
• Ice was harvested in winter from frozen lakes and rivers, then stored in insulated ice houses  last through summer.
•  The wagons were often colorfully painted with company names and logos, and some even had decorated horses.

How Delivery Worked

• Icemen used ice tongs to lift and carry blocks of ice, often weighing 25–50 pounds.
• They wore leather vests and sheepskin shoulder pads to protect themselves from the cold and wet.
• Customers placed ice cards in their windows to indicate how much ice they wanted that day—e.g., 25 lbs, 50 lbs, etc..
• The horses often knew the route so well they would move ahead to the next house while the iceman made the delivery.

AI