Yeah, last year was the first that the ice-harvest was almost cancelled. It's held on Feb 2. Last year we had a warm spell - but then around mid-January, temps went to zero and below and by Feb 2 there was 9" of ice (8" is the minimum). Same thing seems to be happening this year except, if it doesn't turn cold in the next few days, there won't be enough ice. It was 15 below here two weeks ago, and now it's been hitting the high plus 40s. Weird. If this weather keeps up, there won't be any more maple sugaring either. I think the maple trees are getting confused. Ice harvest is held at Hanford Mills Museum, East Meredith, Delaware Co., NY. My wife is the asst. manager there. It's a "living history" museum - i.e. it wasn't built as a musuem. It is an orignal water and steam powered grist and saw mill that is now cared for by musuem people. Historically, the mill pond has always been used for community ice. Only difference now is - it's not done for profit or out of necessity anymore. All ice is scored with an ice-marker and mules. Then cut by hand (unless the old Ford Model T ice cutter is fired up), poled up a ramp, loaded onto an ice-sled, and pulled by horses to the ice house. Local people come and cut, load, and stack the ice. Then come August, there's an ice-cream making festival where the pond ice is used to make the ice cream.
Yeah, it's a lot of work and time - but fun at the same time. Especially mid-winter if the sun comes out. I get a kick out of seeing kids coming for the first time. Kind of hard to convince some of them that this was once the only way to have ice in the summer.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Restoration Story: Fordson Major - by Anthony West. George bought his Fordson Major from a an implement sale about 18 years ago for £200.00 (UK). There is no known history regarding its origins or what service it had done, but the following work was undertaken alone to bring it up to show standard. From the engine number, it was found that this Major was produced late 1946. It was almost complete but had various parts that would definitely need replacing.
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
