Saturday, January 27th 2024 |
- If you’re interested in experiencing the process of harvesting ice, we invite you to come to the lake and watch. You can even participate and help cut the ice and remove it from the lake, if you’d like.
- Time: 10am – 1pm at Nepco Lake: 11am-3pm at Site
- Where: Historic Point Basse | 364 Wakely Road | Nekoosa WI 5445
During the late 1800s, the sale of ice was the third largest export in the United States, with cotton and grain occupying the top two spots. The ice harvested in Wisconsin was transported to various destinations, such as Milwaukee for brewing beer, Chicago to cool meat in slaughterhouses, and even as far as South and New Orleans to cool beverages during hot and humid summer days. The ice was kept in sawdust, which was abundant in Wisconsin, to preserve it, and high-quality ice could last well into the summer, and if enough was harvested, even until the next winter.
