Removal of One of the Last Ice Houses in Canada Rachel Morgan Redshaw Early Icehouse & Creamery in Downtown Ayr, ON Removal of One of the Last Ice Houses Remaining in Canada located in the Heart of Ayr, ON By Rachel Morgan Redshaw On behalf of the North Dumfries Municipal Heritage Committee Unassumingly, the building at 18 Tannery Street stands in its own dire state as a cadaver of chipping plaster and crumbling limestone. However, amongst its own destruction it stands strong even as the old vines creep up along its walls seeking desperately for a place to get inside. Deep amber hoists and pulleys contrast with the once bleached plaster, and inside the building remains silent except for the odd screech or cry of curious animals that have crept their way through the nooks and crannies of its wooden ribs and stony skeleton walls. The doors keep it that way, unwelcoming and closed to wandering eyes. Many are not aware of this building, concealed behind the storefronts of Northumberland Street, nestled down a dusty path that lies across from the once greatly renowned Watson factory. I remember in my early teens heading down to the river and wondering what had left it there standing on its own looking out onto its fellow remains of Abel Mudge s Mills. They seem to be hidden, a forgotten chapter in a long, continuous story, unfortunately to seldom be reflected upon. As I organized some of the files at the Township, I came across a report called The Ayr Ice House and Creamery written by Shelley Respondek in 2002 who, after gathering information from a report in 1989 and 2001 by other students under the authority of the North Dumfries Municipal Heritage Committee (formerly L.A.C.A.C.), completed a thorough, detailed account of the building that stands at 18 Tannery St, Ayr. I have heard about harvesting ice and ice houses from my father but it was the first time I had seen one of limestone and plaster. Many of these were made of wood framing, as can be seen in Hamilton Bay. This could explain the limited number of ice houses still existing in Ontario. The structure of the ice house in Ayr is actually one of only four remaining ice house structures across Canada. According to the report, the building began as an ice house in the 1850s and the addition of the creamery/ cooling house came in the 1870s. This combination was quite common since the ice was placed in the top rafters so that the melting water from above could be used to cool dairy products underneath as well as in the adjacent cooling house. The twenty plaster markings on the outside of the building were to support tongs that would lift the ice into the building. The floor boards would be slanted so that the cold water would be directed to the cooling room. According to an 1884 Fire Insurance Map, the ice house had three floors which were essential for ice storage and cooling functions. The cooling house attached has some similarities to photographs of cooling houses in Scotland, perhaps influenced by Scottish William Baker. The ice house, and eventually also creamery, provided general stores on Northumberland with a space to keep dairy products cold. In particular, the ice house served to store dairy products for William Baker s general store. Within the ice house and creamery he stored butter that he had made from local farmers milk. It was even acclaimed in the Galt Reporter to have been used to store 50,000 pounds of butter that was then taken to Europe by William Baker to sell in British markets in 1878! According to the Saturday Globe in 1889, Mr. Baker was particularly noted for selling large quantities of butter, transactions in butter, very large. When William Baker passed away in 1891, the store went to his son, Thomas Baker and daughter Elizabeth McColl who was married to David McColl. Eventually Thomas sold his share to David turning the general store into D. McColl s General Store and they continued to use the ice house and creamery. To harvest ice, they would set out with one handed crosscut saws and move the ice blocks to shore often with horse power at the driest part of winter. Even in recent research it is clear that ice harvesting was an important part of the North Dumfries community as a means of preserving food. I In 1918, the building was purchased and continued on as W.A. Ramsay Company. Unfortunately, in 1937 the owners lost control of the land and it was sold to G. H. Lawrence and became G. H. Lawrence s Bakery, known as the Home Bakery . Lawrence provided baking products for 32 years to the village. He was an important man, a trustee for the Ayr Board of Education, Master at Masonic Lodge, and treasurer for 20 years. The building was later sold to Purity Flour Mills Limited until 1958 when it was sold again. After considering the state of the roof, the report reviewed options that were presented to Council. The first option was that the ice house could be used as office space or local museum and could initiate a Request for Proposal (RFP). The second option was Council reviewing the possibility of setting aside funds for the ice house refurbishment as part of the 2013 budget process. Thirdly, the ice house could be sold. Initially, Council chose the first option of using the ice house for another purpose. The decision had to be reviewed by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA). Due to the structure s location in the middle of the flood plain the GRCA sees no development or re-purposing potential. The GRCA advised that the -refurbishment of the ice house does not meet GRCA policies for several reasons given that the structure is abandoned and due to flood depth, flood frequency, risk to life and property damage concerns. The GRCA advised that an application/ RFP is not submitted. The report also outlined the financial expenses needed to repair the roof as well as the ice house s demolition. As for the $35,000 quote for the roof refurbishment and removal of rubble, it is stated that staff solicited informally and received a quote&A local contractor was prepared to do this work for less than $35,000. The informal quote from the local tradesman did not differ from the source of the structure s demolition quote which came informally from a roofer s estimate. After the Council reviewed the GRCA s comments and the staff s propositions, they refused to pay an approximate sum of $35,000 to repair the roof. The report continued to fulfill its initial purpose by concluding with staff s recommendation of removal, Staff is recommending that the RFP not be pursued and that the Ice House be removed. At this point, there are many issues at hand. Not only is the ice house in danger from the floodplain (in addition to other heritage properties in the location), but businesses along Northumberland Street in the downtown core as well. Chief Building Inspector Official Darryl Denny stated in a meeting with the North Dumfries Municipal Heritage Committee that the roof has to be dealt with though all loose pieces were removed at this point. Although the ice house is abandoned, internal renovations could be performed. We must keep in mind that this is not one in four structures in North Dumfries, Waterloo Region, or even Ontario. It is one of four structures that exist all across Canada. The removal of the attached brick cooling house is likely to happen this summer. The North Dumfries Municipal Heritage Committee has developed alternative ideas for repurposing the building. An information/ tourist centre has been suggested, a small scale archives/ museum, an ice cream shop operating alongside its previous use as a creamery, a look-out tower over the park and Nith River, a boathouse, and even a second storey bar/ lounge called The Ice House Bar ! The building is in need of some major restoration and the GRCA regulates re-purposing of the building. Putting aside regulations, if given the opportunity what would you do with our local charm, the ice house? Feel free to submit comments or support to northdumfriesheritage@gmail.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 15:51:14 +0000
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