2023.07.20 THROW BACK THURSDAY - MORE ON THE ICE HOUSES PLUS LOTS OF CLASS NEWS
THROW BACK THURSDAY - MORE ON THE ICE HOUSES
PLUS LOTS OF CLASS NEWS
Wonderful remembrance from Rodger Pat Lewis concerning ice houses and summertime growing up in Little Rock.
Summertime, especially July, was homemade, hand-cranked ice cream-making time, requiring a fair amount of ice beyond the refrigerator’s
generating capacity. We also needed an ample supply of milk - whole milk in a glass bottle where the cream floated to the top. And eggs
from the chicken coop/hen house of our neighbor across the street. I think that neighbor lived in the first house built on Maple Street.
I lived in the 300 block. Also on that street was Terry Watson and Willis Callaway in the 100 block and Janet Spears in the 400 block.
Another ingredient needed for our ice cream was peaches - peaches grown on our family farm in SW Arkansas, near Nashville. The peaches
were shipped to Little Rock by Railway Express, which took forever. That meant that the peaches were sometimes over-ripe by the time they
reached Little Rock. So we had to start using them ASAP. The peaches we didn’t need for the ice cream were stored in the crawl space
underneath the house which was wonderfully cool. A good place for a little boy to hide in to cool down on a hot summer day. But back to the
ice cream.
To get the ice and the milk, we drove down to 9th Street to an ice house. I’m thinking it was named the 'City Delivery Co.' Johnson's (?)
BBQ, an open-air , Black-owned establishment, was across the street from the ice house. Both of these businesses were there before the
Wilbur Mills Expressway (I-630) was built in the early 60’s that wiped out 9th Street. Coleman Dairy was next door to the ice house. We
would buy a big block of ice, maybe 20 pounds, and then go next door to Coleman's Dairy for extra, super-fresh milk. Most times, we'd
pick-up some great Johnson's(?) BBQ before heading back home.
1956 CLASS NEWS
Our condolences to Midge Brown in the death of her husband, John Rush. John attended many of our Reunions.
Our condolences to Sylvia Ellis in the death of her husband, Jon DeMorales. Jon also attended many of our Reunions.
Received the sad news last week that Sue Runnells Alzheimer's has advanced so that she can no longer read our TBT's. Her son is taking care of her.
Congratulations to VIRGINIA WATT and BYRON CRAIN ('55) who will celebrate their 64th Wedding Anniversary on July 25! WAY TO GO!!!!
* * * * * * * *
The Iceman used to let us ride on the back of the truck for about a block while he was making deliveries...we ate small chunks of ice, and boy
howdy, was that ever refreshing during the August heat before the days of air conditioning !!!
Betty Chandler
My aunt who lived on High Street (now MLK) had an ice box. The iceman who brought the ice were big, strong, burly guys-had to be for the job-
whose equipment besides tongs, was a large reverse apron affair down their back, made of heavy leather to protect them from the cold and wet
of the ice they carried. We had a song in Boy Scouts about horse drawn ice wagons which never ended and was sung at the top of our voices;
"Here we go a riding on the ice wagon,
Riding on the ice wagon, Riding on the ice wagon,
Here we go a riding on the ice wagon, Listen to the tale of wo-o-o-ah!
Any ice today, lady? No-o-o!"
Over and over and over and over… Well, now you know.
Joe Crow
In 1947 we lived at 353 Roosevelt Road where the old Veterans Hospital sits today (my Dad worked on the Cotton Belt Railroad nearby).
Our house was next to Mrs. Dowd’s Grocery Store where I would help out as a 9 year old by sacking groceries or helping her restock.
As we all know, housing, cars and luxury items were very scarce for a few years following WWII. We had an ice box and received a delivery
of 25 pounds of ice each day by a friendly guy with a leather cover on his shoulder and big ice tongs. There was a card you hung on the
door to show if you wanted a 5, 10 or 25 pound block each day. My younger brother was only 4 and had nose bleeds a lot so Mother
prepared ice packs in a little sack for him frequently. I loved to eat ice chips (still do) and would sneak in and chip ice to eat at every
opportunity, and was caught as often with a reprimand from Mother of: “Billy, get out of the ice, that is for the baby!”
Thanks, Bill Harmon
Yes, I remember the “Ice House” for our area was I believe on 7th or 8th Street, about Cross Street. The Delivery people for our area
was the Hightower family that lived at 8th and Rice. When son Melvin ( "Sambo” ) was not helping Dad deliver ice, he would play football
on Rice Street with Benny Wise and me in front of Benny’s house at 9th and Rice in back of my home on 9th and Denison behind Benny’s.
We had an “electric” refrigerator on Denison and did not need block ice, but do remember living earlier on 13th and Pine with an “Ice Box”
which required block ice delivered periodically. We lived there a short while after moving to Little Rock from El Dorado where Dad had
worked for Lion Oil before WW II . We 4 kids were all born in Little Rock, however, at the old St. Vincent’s Hospital with the same Doctor
delivering Mother ( by choice etc.) Years later, daughter Becky was born at the “new” St. Vincent’s on Markham with Carolyn’s doctor
delivering her. Incidentally, we were then living in Fayetteville with “electric” refrigeration. Thanks for the memories ….
Jimmy Martin
My Grandmother, and I remember this, so must have been as late as the early 1940's, had ice delivered
by a man with a mule and a wagon. And the mule would walk down the street and knew where to stop at
each delivery without being reined. No truck in Wynne, Arkansas.
Jan Nix
I have a old pair of ice tongs from the Grimmett's side.
Marcella Rowland Grimmett
I remember that as late as the early 40s several older women on our 100 block of N Spruce had regular deliveries of ice for their ice boxes.
WW II shortages might have prevented them from buying a refridgerator. We had a fridge with a small two-tray freezer.
Don Manes (’54)
1955 CLASS NEWS
Dear Mary Lou, I do thank you for asking me to let you know my status. First of all, I have been, and still am surrounded by such caring people.
My neighbors, good friends, and yes, high school. Kenda Treadway told me that she is earning points for driving folks where they need to go.
All she can do anymore. Roselyn Parrish. told me that she has a car too!! Anyway, no problem in that category, at all! Have a soft collar now
(till the middle of Aug.) Can take it off to shower. Have a brace on my wrist now; and am having PT twice a week, for a month, so far. Very little
pain anymore. I consider myself very fortunate to be in this particular shape, at this point! It could have been so much worse! One day at a time,
is my guess. My very best to all.
Anne Bone Brantley
Thanks from all of us for your research and wonderful Joy. Lana Douthit
1957 CLASS NEWS
Got some bad news about my good old friend from West Side and LRCHS--- and lots of life and fun in LR---Jerry Masters Jerry passed away
last month at his home in Alabama. Got the word from his wife, Jan. Jerry was LRCHS57 and a Swing Band member. Jerry had 2 brothers, Jimbo
and Dennis. Now all of them have left God's green earth. Mary Lou, -let everyone know as Jerry .was well thought of as a life long musician.
Gaylon Mulkey
***************************************************************************************************************************
If you've missed a TBT, go to our website: www.lrchs1956.com
ML
ReplyReply allForward