The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 12, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 May 1989 — Page 14

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., May 3, 1989

Dream for artificial ice at North Webster comes to a close

| By MARY JANE LORTON Staff Writer It started as a dream of Harold Siders — to have beautiful, clean, artificial ice for those who lived on Webster Lake. For years when he and his wife Helen travelled to their home at the lake, the only ice available was that from the lake. As Kip Sullivan described it in his book: "People always tried to make ice’ when it was hard and clear and about eight inches thick. The plow was usually pulled by a single, steady, unexcitabie. horse wearing can't slip' shoes. It made thin cuts into the ice five or six inches deep, and two feet apart. A marker extended out to the side, to scratch where to make the next cut . Various methods, all vigorous, were used to get them < the ice blocks 1 into the ice house. After a thick layer of sawdust was laid over the dirt floor the cakes were stacked in a great cube encased in a foot or

JifiA kBJRI YflK M .—. ip** 3 »- t* - Ml 111 - '■ R 4 «a S \FETY CLASS CERTIFICATES — This group of youngsters recently received certificates.for completing a four-week boating safety class at the Lakeland Youth/ enter in Syracuse. Sue Gaugler. of the Coast Guard Auxiliary s District Public Education program, taught the kids about such topics as boating rules and regulations, flotation devices, fires and hypothermia. Kneeling at the bottom is Shaun Coy. Stated, from left, are Ryan Davis. Wes Lantz, and Shawn Johnson. Standing in the back are .left Hodgson. Aaron Kryder. ( has Knafel. Ryan Schw alm. (.angler and youth center board president Judy Bowman. I Photo by Mitchell Stinson)

7*^ LOOKING Bp P’ ■ Tm I < If you can’t visit our offices in Milford and Syracuse, we | jshould have papers at these locations on Wednesday] Jafternoon. | | MAIL-JOURNAL OUTLETS: C ★ Cromwell ★ Milford ★ Oswego 1 1 Hursey’s Garage Campbell’s IGA Tippy Tackle 1 1 & Mercantile Walter Drugs, fnc. & Mini Mart | ★ Goshen ★ Syracuse 1 1 ‘the PAPER’Office * Nannanpe Augsburger’s Super Valu 1 * ★ Nappanee Bales’Butcher Shop i ■ Dunham Rexall Dru Hooks Drug Sto’re I ■ ★ Lake Wawasee Thornburg Drugs s Thornburg Drugs J 1 Waterson’s Grocery Mike s Red-D-Mart 1 ■ -—. Pace Station w ■ ~ Wawasee Service Center I 1 ★ Leesburg ★ North Webster vniage Butcher shop I 1 Jones Grocery Augsburger’s Super Valu , I 1 r rys ?n Fl ! s £ ★ Warsaw I I . GaSt Quick Service <the PAPER ’ Off ' Ce 1 3 LlQOnier Hooks Drug Store I Family Fare — Thornburg Drugs I \ ~ The Mail-Journal Sx|

more of sawdust." According to Helen Siders, Warsaw, this ice put up from the lake was generally dirty or covered with sawdust. Although it was a-necessary chilling agent before electricity and electric refrigerators were around, it was not a very appetizing sight to see sawdust or dirt floating around in one's lemonade. In the early 1930 s the Siders began working on their dream for artificial ice. They bought the ground which is now part of East Washington Street. North Webster, where an old blacksmith'shop was still standing An expensive venture, little by little, they began to add the necessary equipment for the process By 1936. they made their first artificial ice. making North Webster's Artificial Ice Co. the first artificial ice plant in Kosciusko County and making the Siders' dream a reality. However, in 1937 Mr. Siders was badly burned with a blowtorch while working in the plant. What could have meant the end of

a dream did not. "Realizing the business meant a lot to him." Mrs. Siders said she took over the operation of the plant. Open seven days a week, the North Webster plant boasted “clear" ice according to Mrs. Siders. With "the help of "the engineer of the place." Lawrence Warble, and Mrs. Siders' brother. Lee Lorton, the business was back on the path to success At first, the plant had a diesel engine that generated power for the complex machinery, but later they had to buy electricity because at that time. North Webster did not have enough po\\er for the plant. The success of the plant afforded the Siders the opportunity to expand in 1943 At this time, a 30-ton capacity plant was built Mrs. Siders remarked that she enjoyed working with the employees at the plant. She shared how she kind of "adopted" the boys that worked for her and how the boys came to call her "Ma Siders." She speaks fondly of the running the ice

plant, although from her description it sounded like hard work. The process involved in making ice first requires the purification of water. Tanks that held 3,000 gallons of water were used in the North Webster plant. After having been softened, and purified by running through sand " and a gravel filter, the water was used to fill 300 pound molds. These molds were then submerged in a brine that was cooled by ammonia. The freezing agent was transmitted byway of long coils, which each weighed four tons. took about 48 hours to make a found cake of ice, according to Mrs. Siders. In the North Webster plant, the water was agitated as it.was frozen thereby making the ice appear clear. After the ice was "cured,” it was ready to be put in the storage room. The temperature of the storage room/ was maintained from 20 to 24 degrees Fahrenheit. Before the ice was put in storage, it was first removed from the molds. In order to release the ice from the molds, they were dunked in water and then were put down a chute into the storage room. Cutting the ice was done by a scoring machine. One could set the scoring machine according to the size of blocks wanted, and electric saws would then cut the ice. Mrs. Siders said that they had a separate and smaller machine to cut ice cubes. If crushed ice was desired, it was crushed right in the storage room, according to Mrs. Siders. The ice plant itself distributed ice in paper bags, but according to Mrs Siders. most of the time people brought their own containers to take home ice From everything from buckets to tubs, people used a variety of containers After years and years of running the plant, the Siders sold it to Peter Reimer in 1967. Although Daley wins mayor's office CHICAGO — Richard M. Daley won election to the mayor's office his father held for 21 years, dashing Chief rival Timothy C Evans' hope of extending the brief era of black leadership at Citv Hall.

Mrs. Siders could not be certain, she said she thought the name of the plant was changed to Reimer’s Ice Service, “or

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OLD ICE PLANT — The old North Webster artificial ice plant, located on what is now East Washington Street, brought the first artificial ice to Kosciusko County. Originally an old blacksmith shop, the

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COXfsTRUCTIOX WELL UXDERWAY — Construction of the new McDonalds in Syracuse is progressing rapidly. Don Alspaugh. job supervisor for Hudson Construction. Indianapolis, general contractor, stated workers will spend this week laying brick and pouring concrete. It is hoped that by next Thursday the building's roof will be on. The masonry work is being done by Mike's Masonry, Sidney.

/ /A TO DIVE LECTURE — Marjorie P. Matchette will give a free lecture on Tuesday, May 9, at 8 p.m. at The First Church of Christ Scientist. She will be speaking on "Upholding God’s Law ." This lecture on Bible texts, a gift to the community from the Christian Science Church for all denominations or non-attendants, will be of interest for health, family, or business problems. The speaker was raised in the farming area of the .Midwest and attended Indiana University, graduating with a r degree in business and education. She taught high school for several years and then started one of the first telephone answering services in the suburban areas. Mrs. Matchette has raised two sons, has been a campus religious counselor, and is a journal-listed practitioner and teacher of Christian Science. She has worked with young people in church and civic capacities including state 111 leadership programs and seminars. She currently resides in Okemos. Mich., where she raises champion Morgan horses and Chesapeake Bay retrievers. The First Church of Christ Scientist is located at 111 X. F ifth St.. Goshen, in back of Klines. Child care will be available

Ladies Thursday Night League Every Thursday Beginning May 18 9 Holes & Cart 5 10°° 5:30 Starting Time SOUTH SHORE GOLF CLUB 457-2832

something like that.” Mr. Siders worked for Reimer until 1979 “doing the books.” The plant was closed in the ear-

| — x 3 ■■ : m GRAND OPENING — The public is invited to the grand opening of Pier II Restaurant and W awasee Golf Course on Thursday . May I. Grand opening special is a free fish dinner from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday. Pier II will be serving lunch and dinner specials. Hours for the restaurant are Monday, 5-9 p.m.; Tuesday thru Saturday. II a.m.-2p.m.; and Sunday . 11 a.m.-lp.m. MBTShown. left to right, are Carl Hepler and Kathy' Hepler, who are running the restaurant, and Rick Baker, who is manager of the golf course. (Photo by Glen Long) Wawasee Golf Course is located on the north side of Wawasee Lake on Warner Road.

£ American Heart Association WERE FIGHTING FOR SOUR LIFE

ly 1980 s, per Mrs. Siders, as it was “lost to the bank.” Jon Sroufe, Syracuse, recently purchased the building and although

ground was purchased by Harold and Helen Siders and the first artificial ice was made in 1936, (Photo by Glen Long)

Employees of Garber Electric, New Paris, have also been on site preparing for electrical work. Alspaugh stated it is hoped the golden arches will be erected the first of next week. He noted that work is progressing on schedule Completion is still set for .lune 2Q. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

FREE LECTURE Tuesday May 9, 1989 8:00 P.M. , "Upholding God's Law" By Marjorie P. Matchette , Os Okemos, Michigan . Held At The First Church Os ‘ Christ Scientist In Back Os 11 in Fifth st /gj GOSHEN /AMI — Child Care —

he could not specify what the building is to be used for, he did say ‘it will never make ice again.”