A Maine ice cutter in 1873.

In the 1870s, ice cutting was a major industry in New England, employing thousands of men who harvested ice from frozen rivers and lakes to supply cities across America and beyond. These workers labored in sub-zero temperatures, using hand saws to cut massive blocks of ice that were then stored in insulated warehouses. The work was dangerous—men fell through thin ice, suffered frostbite, and worked in brutal conditions for low pay. Yet this ice was essential before refrigeration, keeping food fresh and drinks cold for millions of people who had no other way to preserve perishables.