City Government :: City History :: Ice Man

The Clinton Ice Man Came & Went, 1920

Before Clinton got an ice factory in 1920, only grocers and the very well-to-do could afford to have ice shipped in by railway. There was no electrical refrigeration available here at that time, so what did folks do? For generations people had kept their milk cool by putting it in a jar, tying a strong cord just below the jar lid, lowering the jar down part way into the cool water, and tying the cord to a nail on the well curb. Milk clabbers a lot slower at 60 degrees than at 90 degrees, which is often our midday temperature in summer-time. But all that was about to change in July 1920 when The Sampson Democrat reported that plans for an ice factory were in the works. They stated that "it is gratifying news that Messrs. J.C., R.H., and H.J. Hubbard are preparing to establish an ice factory in Clinton and have actually ordered the equipment that will be of the 12-ton capacity, but so erected that other units may be added as necessity demands. They had hoped to erect it in the rear of Vance Street but have not yet secured a building permit from the insurance department, which is necessary as they wish to erect a sheet-iron building and only brick is permitted within the fire district. However, Mr. Robert Hubbard informs us that they will assuredly have the plant in operation before the 1920 season is over if the railroad will make prompt delivery."