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Ice Harvest on Pigeon Cove
The Ice business in Green Lake was started in Green Lake by Mr. Sommerfeld and Mr. Jessie, with Frank Heller joining the company in 1913. After a few years Mr. Heller bought out Mr. Sommerfeld and Mr. Jessie. In 1926 Mr. Heller sold the ice business to Frank Kasten when Mr. Heller lost his hearing and felt that he could no longer drive the ice trucks safely. The last ice was harvested on Dartford Bay in 1941. This group of pictures are of the ice harvest on Pigeon Cove on the GLCC Grounds. The style of cards and postmarks dates these cards from the 1950’s. Since the Green Lake ice business stopped harvesting ice in 1941, I wonder if this was a special historical event hosted by the Northern Baptist Assembly.
A cyclone in 1914 touched down to demolish Green Lake extensively. Large trees were uprooted on the Court House grounds and a weathervane blew off the roof of the Court House embedding it in a building across the street. Homes were damaged by the strong winds and huge trees uprooted on many lawns and streets. Heritage History of Green Lake p391
On Washington’s Birthday, February 22, 1922, a bad sleet storm hit the Green Lake community, paralyzing it for six weeks. Sleet and ice bult up in heavy layers on trees, bushes, poles and wires causing whole trees to snap off and fall to the ground and endangering life and property. There was no electricity, no telephone service , and people stayed indoors near their wood stoves. After it was safe to go outdoors, children would skate up and down the roads. Heritage History of Green Lake p391
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