The ice industry was called "ice mania" by a Maine newspaper in the 1869-1870 season. The winter was warm, so Massachusetts and New York had to buy their ice from Maine.

Tons of ice were shipped south during the latter half of the 19th century.

Forty-two ice houses such as this one lined the shores of the Kennebec River. These men are guiding ice blocks toward the steam-powered conveyor belt that lifted the blocks up and into the ice house for shipping later.