Guide to the Consolidated Ice Company Records 1814-1951

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Consolidated Ice Company Records
Creator
Consolidated Ice Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Collection Number
MSS 000
Extent
11.5 linear feet (12 boxes)
Date
1814-1951
Abstract
The Consolidated Ice Company transported, stored, and distributed natural lake ice throughout the Pittsburgh region during the first half of the 20th century. Established by the merger of several ice companies in 1901, the company was located in Pittsburgh's Strip District. The Consolidated Ice Company Records reflect the company's mergers and business activities through financial and real estate documents, including ledgers, employee records, and property deeds.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Nick Hartley.
Sponsor
This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

The Consolidated Ice Company transported, stored, and distributed natural lake ice throughout the Pittsburgh region during the first half of the 20th century. The company operated out of the Strip District, with its main offices and primary facility located on 13th and Pike St. (now Smallman St.) within the building that is now home to the Senator John Heinz History Center.

The building was originally owned by the Chautauqua Ice Co., which sold ice harvested from Chautauqua Lake in Mayville, New York. Constructed in 1898, it replaced a nearly identical building that had been destroyed by a fire in the same year. Chautauqua Ice strategically designed its Pittsburgh operations for the optimal transport, storage, and manufacture of ice, as the Allegheny Valley Railroad lines provided its warehouse with convenient transport and delivery options. Its ice supply was shipped by rail from Chautauqua Lake as well as from Lakeville, Ohio and Sandy Lake in Mercer, Pa., and distributed throughout Pittsburgh on horse-drawn carts.

By 1901 Chautauqua Ice merged with other local ice companies to form Consolidated Ice Co. Advances in refrigeration technology allowed Consolidated Ice to make its own ice on demand, so the company shifted its focus from ice storage to merchandise storage, establishing Consolidated Storage in 1907. Consolidated continued to sell distilled water until 1948, as well as iced box cars for distributors in the Strip District. The company's assets were ultimately sold to Adelman Lumber Co. in 1950.

Scope and Content Notes

The Consolidated Ice Company Records contain inventories, correspondence, payroll records, and real estate records including property deeds, appraisals, and lease agreements. Much of the material documents the activities of the ice companies that merged to form Consolidated Ice. Several ledgers in the collection document the company's ice shipments, financial transactions, and stockholder information. Box seven, containing payroll and tax information, has been placed on restriction. Also included in the collection is an oversized reproduction of a photograph of the Consolidated Ice Co. building in the Strip District.

Series I. Business Activity Records (c.1890-1950), Box 1 and 8 journals/ledgers

Series one includes shipment journals, tonnage ledgers, and transportation records.

Series II. Consolidated Ice Companies (1843-1951), Boxes 1-3 and 2 journals

Series two includes records of merged ice companies, including business journals, by-laws, correspondence, and merger records.

Series III. Financial Records (1886-1951), Boxes 3-8 and 8 ledgers

Series three includes financial records for the Chautauqua Ice Company and the Consolidated Storage Company, including accounts payable records, tax records, cash books, and ledgers of receipts, sales, and stockholders.

Series IV. Incorporation Records (1871-1924), Boxes 8-9

Series four includes incorporation documents, charter records, and contracts for the Chautauqua Ice Company and the Consolidated Ice Company.

Series V. Real Estate Records (1814-1951), Boxes 9-12

Series five includes property deeds and appraisals, including the deeds for lots 23-29 of Smallman St. (formerly Pike St.) in the Strip District.

Arrangement

The Consolidated Ice Company Records are housed in 12 boxes and have been arranged into the following 6 series: Series I. Business Activity Records; II. Consolidated Ice Companies; III. Financial Records; IV. Incorporation Records; V. Real Estate Records

Conditions Governing Access

Box 7 has been placed on restriction until 2046.

Preferred Citation

Consolidated Ice Company Records, 1814-1951, MSS 000 , Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

Preliminary processing by Nick Hartley on 02/20/2013.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Consolidated Ice Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Chautauqua Ice Company (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Geographic Names

    • Strip District (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

    Other Subjects

    • Ice Industry--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.

Container List