The quote reads "...they sold ice water...in the heat of August 1893." My ignorance was made known and my curiosity was piqued. In my search for an answer, I could not locate a book to show me what I wanted to learn. I met many men who thought they knew, but I could find only one who really knew the answer. Mr. Max Brown, presently of Overland Park, Kansas, but previously of Kay County, Oklahoma, explained to me the process his family had previously used. An "ice house" was dug out of the ground. Each wall was then built four feet deep and filled with sawdust for insulation. In February, when the ponds were frozen over, and the rivers were clogged with ice, men would go to the ponds, lakes and rivers to begin their work. The first step was to drill holes into the ice. Then two men would set to work with a cross cut (two man) saw. They would saw the ice between the holes and proceed to cut the ice into blocks. These blocks would then be loaded upon a nearby wagon and transported to the "Ice House"-where the ice could be stored year round.
Submitted by William "Bill" S. Platt
Found on page 67 of NCOHA's award winning book.