| The Ice Man Cometh | | | | if I remember right he got paid cash on the spot. |
| Of course no one had electric refrigerators in the | | | | Along his route as he was delivering he would sound |
| 1940's, at least not in our neighborhood. So we were | | | | the call "Ice Man", for those who needed ice but |
| solely dependent on the "Ralph Kramden" ice box. | | | | forgot to put up the sign. Or, the kids who forgot to |
| This gadget was unique and useful. A two | | | | do what their parents told them. If no one was |
| compartment unit made out of wood. And, it was | | | | around to corral him then you got no ice. And, trouble |
| lined with steel painted white. The top compartment | | | | was afoot. For you. |
| was usually smaller and that held the food that | | | | Now there were times when thing just didn't work |
| needed refrigeration. The bottom section was larger | | | | out. We would run out of ice and the Ice Man wasn't |
| and held the block of ice. | | | | due to deliver for some time. Here's where the |
| The top didn't have any shelves as I remember so | | | | advantages of having a child came in. Mom would |
| food was kind of stuffed in as best you could. The | | | | say, "Get the wagon and go get some ice.". I don't |
| bottom could if needed be used to keep things cold | | | | know where the wagon ever came from but one |
| as well as keep the ice. No Freezer Section. If you | | | | became available. It was our job to go over to the |
| wanted ice for drinks you just grabbed the ice pick | | | | Ice House and bring home a block of ice. For me that |
| and chipped off some ice for your drink. Or, take a | | | | was a 10 block round trip. And, sometimes Mom |
| large chunk wrap it in a towel and beat it with a | | | | would let you pick up a block of ice for a neighbor |
| hammer on the kitchen table. The early ice crusher | | | | too. |
| was born. Let me tell you how impressed I was just | | | | Wagon in tow off you would go to get the ice. 8th |
| with ice cubes in water. When my parents finally | | | | and Dupont Street on the corner across from Dela |
| upgraded to a different home my Mom one day set | | | | Donnes Store was the Ice House. It was a 8' X 10' |
| out a pitcher of water with ice cubes in it. No holiday, | | | | wooden shed. Lined with steel and full of ice. It was |
| no special occasion. I thought we were rich. | | | | a sub station for Diamond Ice And Coal. You just |
| The whole operation depended on keeping a regular | | | | asked the attendant for two 15cent blocks of ice |
| supply of ice in the ice box. The ice company | | | | and he hacked them off for you and with his tongs |
| provided a sign that could be hung in the front | | | | loaded them on your wagon. |
| window of your house. It had four side with four | | | | Now this Ice Man was too scary for us kids. He was |
| different sizes of ice on each side. Our job as kids | | | | an aged black man. Looking back probably not paid |
| after we were told was to hang the ice sign in the | | | | very much in a labor intensive job. He was bent over |
| window and to make sure the size needed was at | | | | and had a contorted body and face. I don't |
| the bottom. And you better not forget. | | | | remember whether he was friendly or not. I just |
| The ice man would come along in his delivery truck | | | | wanted to get my ice and get out of there. When |
| on some designated schedule. He would read the sign | | | | no one was buying ice he had a stool in front of the |
| in the window. Cut a block of ice that matched the | | | | ice house he would sit on. To me he just looked |
| signs requirement. He had a leather sling and shoulder | | | | menacing with those tongs and ice pick. |
| pad that he used to carry the cube up on his | | | | The trip home with ice in the summer time was a fun |
| shoulder with.Our guy was lucky. We lived in a house | | | | trip. Usually there was some change. And, I would |
| and the ice box was in the kitchen on the first floor. | | | | take the change and put it on top of the ice and let |
| Sometimes the Ice Man had to carry the block of ice | | | | it melt down into the block of ice. By the time I got |
| up flights of stairs to people who lived in apartments. | | | | home it could be several inches down into the ice. A |
| His tools were ice tongs and ice pick. and of course a | | | | perfect vertical column. How we got the ice cube |
| strong back. Just think about this mans job. All day | | | | into the house I don't remember. We probably had a |
| long up into the truck, cut a chunk of ice. Dismount | | | | set of ice tongs at home to carry the block of ice in |
| load the block on your back and carry it to the Ice | | | | with. |
| Box. And, ice tongs and ice picks, us kids were | | | | I never relished these jobs our parents put on us. But |
| impressed. | | | | liking wasn't an option for our generation. We were |
| You got automatic delivery if the sign was in the | | | | the cheap labor and yet most of us grew up without |
| window. The ice man just opened the front door | | | | going to jail. And we got an education that allowed us |
| with the cube of ice on his shoulder and hollered out | | | | to support and raise our families. Chores were just |
| "Ice Man". In he came found the ice box and put the | | | | like growing up - they just happened. The chores |
| new block of ice into it. Didn't matter what was going | | | | were there and we were expected to help. |
| on in the family. He just let himself in the house. And, | | | | |