Ice Houses & Ice Sheds in the 20th Century

Before fridges became common place, what did cottagers use to keep food cold and fresh?  Welcome to the frosty world of ice sheds (or ice houses), the 20th-century Canadian essential that proved we’ve always been obsessed with keeping things chill.

What Were They For?
Think of an ice shed as a "pre-electric freezer." Their main job was to store massive blocks of lake ice to keep dairy, meat, and—most importantly—beer cold during the sweltering summer months. Without them, your 1924 garden party would have featured lukewarm lemonade and questionable potato salad.

The "Cool" Construction
Building an ice shed wasn't just about slapping some boards together. To fight the Canadian sun, they were built with:

• Double Walls: These were packed with "nature’s insulation"—usually sawdust, straw, or even tree bark.
• Shady Spots: They were often tucked under trees or built partially underground to stay naturally cool.
• White Paint: Many were painted white to reflect heat, because even a shed knows that dark colours are a summer "no-no".

The Great Ice Harvest
How did the ice get there? It wasn't exactly a "click and collect" situation:

• The Wait: Workers waited until lake ice was 12–18 inches thick.
  The Cut: Using horse-drawn plows and massive 6-foot hand saws, "fielders" carved the lake into a giant frozen grid.
  The Commute: 400-pound blocks were hauled by horse-drawn sleighs to the sheds.
  The Stack: Inside, the blocks were layered with more sawdust. If done right, this "giant ice cube" could stay frozen for up to a year, lasting until the next winter's harvest.

Famous Owners & Modern Use
Even the "rich and famous" needed to keep their butter from melting. A classic example is Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada's seventh Prime Minister; his estate in Ottawa, Laurier House, featured a traditional ice house to support the grand entertaining required of a PM.
Today, most ice sheds have been converted into "cute" garden sheds or guest cottages. However, in some remote areas, they are still used today to keep the catch fresh without the cost of electricity.