Gladieux Ice Company

Joseph Gladieux (1855-1937) and sons harvested and sold ice in Chillicothe from 1883 to 1913. A favorite collection site was the mill pond at Graham's Mill on the east fork of Grand River. The work crew typically consisted of 50 to 55 men, collecting 3,000 tons of ice annually. If warm weather reduced the harvest, Gladieux had ice shipped in from northern states. In January 1891 he received 25 freight car loads of ice from Ottumwa, Iowa. After 1913 the family stopped selling river ice and purchased exclusively from a local refrigerated ice plant. This photo shows family members with ice delivery wagons.

Thanks to Diane Gladieux for sharing this old photo!