The Antique Ice Tool Museum

04/05/2025

After a long winter, the Antique Ice Tool Museum is open for the season! Hope to see you soon

02/01/2025

So cool!!

2025 Tobyhanna Millpond #1 Ice Harvest
Wrap-up

The 2025 Tobyhanna Ice Harvest will be remembered as one of the best we have had in the 32 years of holding our “modern-day” ice harvests. It was an ice harvest like no other. We had 13 inches of clear, grade-A ice. The weather was a bit cool, but there was no wind, and the warming fire was a popular attraction. All in all, it was a perfect day for an ice harvest. One of our friends created a great drone video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5PPKv6JO2w

Plenty of willing volunteers helped to cut the 200-pound ice cakes from the pond, move them to the icehouse, and stack the 42 tons of ice. The equipment, including the first use of our 1922 Gifford Wood ice saw, worked flawlessly. A record crowd attended, including local folks with ancestors in the ice business, kin from across the nation, and even some international visitors. We had visitors from ages 1 to almost 90 years, and everyone enjoyed it. They all came to experience the living history of the once-important natural ice industry. A group of energetic Boy Scouts from Troop 71 in Doylestown returned, worked the entire day, and enjoyed every minute of it. Our friends, the Strack family from the Antique Ice Tool Museum in West Chester, PA, were also there. Check out their fascinating museum for an outstanding display of ice harvesting equipment and artifacts dedicated to preserving the natural ice trade. https://www.antiqueicetoolmuseum.org/

The Norwegian Fjord horses, Reggie and Guerilla, willingly pulled the ice cakes up the ramp and into the icehouse, and posed for plenty of pictures. Another friend brought his beautifully restored 1929 Ford Model AA truck.

Many folks enjoyed breakfast and lunch at the VFW Post 509. There were plenty of visitors at the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association (co-sponsor of the event) Wills Mansion Museum to learn more about ice industry history and browse the displays about our local history. Feel free to post your photos on our page

We are eternally grateful for all who help keep this ice harvest going year after year and for all the friends we have made over the years. If you attended, if you helped, thank you.

The next harvest is scheduled for January 31, 2026, God and weather permitting.

Have a good and healthy year.

The Leonard Family
4th Generation Ice Harvesters

01/26/2025

Field trip to Tobyhanna for the Leonard Family annual ice harvest! It was 18 degrees and the ice house was full of ice by 2:00. The ice cakes were 14 inches thick!! So cool!!

01/02/2025

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST - SATURDAY JANUARY 25

Notice #1

Happy New Year!

The Annual Tobyhanna Millpond #1 Ice Harvest is planned for Saturday, January 25, 2025, from approximately 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, provided we have sufficient ice. Come out and see how ice was harvested over a century ago. All are welcome to help cut ice, guide the ice cakes to the icehouse, and store the ice in the icehouse.

As of late December, we have about 3 inches of ice on the millpond, but with the weather forecast for a cold January, there is a good possibility that we can harvest ice this January! For the past two years, the ice was too thin for harvesting. Last winter, in late January, we had only three inches of ice, and the previous year, the ice was barely one inch thick on the harvest date. The ice had been 10 inches thick in late December that year, but it completely melted in less than a week. On the other hand, during the winter of 2021/22, the lake did not freeze over until January 3rd, and we had 16 inches of ice for the harvest later in January.

This free event is organized by the Leonard/Saxe families with financial support from the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association.

Check the Ice Harvest Hotline at 570-894-8205 for updates on ice conditions. We will provide another email update as the harvest date approaches.

12/12/2024

Check it out!

09/23/2024

https://www.dellafh.com/obituary/JoannLink-stack
Our hearts are broken
*the museum will be closed this Saturday

Share memories & support the family

09/15/2024

The museum will be closed to the public on Saturday, October 5 as we join Chester County Day and help support The Chester County Hospital. Check it out!

The nation’s longest running house tour. A one-of-a-kind event showcasing Chester County’s finest homes!

08/30/2024

Remembering the original iceman, John F. Stack, Pete's Father. 12/12/1901-8/30/1990 ❤️

07/28/2024

Happy Birthday Dad! ❤️ Doing what he loves today, eating blueberry pancakes at Two Birds and sharing the history of the natural ice industry!

06/07/2024

Best of luck to Sam this weekend!!

We're calling upon your well-wishes once again for youth volunteer Sam Mandell, who will be competing this weekend for National History Day at the NATIONAL level! He recently placed 2nd in the state competition with exhibits (for PA). His topic? The history of the ice trade business, all thanks to a visit at the local The Antique Ice Tool Museum. Break some ice, Sam 🧊

04/01/2024

The museum is now open for the season! You are welcome to visit on "drop-in" Saturdays for guided tours beginning at 9am and 10am or check our website to schedule another day. AntiqueIceToolMuseum.org. We look forward to your visit!