Volunteers corral and sort 250- to 300-pound ice blocks inside the Thompson Ice House in South Bristol during the 2019 ice harvest. This year the traditional harvest will be held Sunday, Feb. 19. (LCN file photo)
The traditional ice harvest at Thompson Ice House in South Bristol will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19.
The free event attracts large crowds every year to participate or watch as volunteers of all ages cut large blocks of ice from Thompson Pond with antique tools. The volunteers then move the blocks along a narrow channel, up a wood ramp, and into the historic ice house.
Some of the ice is used to make ice cream for the ice house’s annual ice cream social in July.
The event is free. Donations are welcome and go toward the preservation of the Thompson Ice House and pond.
The nonprofit Thompson Ice House Preservation Corp. manages the Thompson Ice House, a working museum dedicated to the methods of traditional ice harvesting in South Bristol. For more information, go to thompsonicehouse.com.
