Stadelman Ice House, 208 Laughlin Street The building was constructed in approximately 1909 for the manufacture of ice and cold storage for keeping perishable fruit. Early ice merchants often transported large blocks of ice from mountain ice caves and stored them in well insulated bays to provide ice for the drinks of thirsty customers at local hotels, restaurants, and homes. The Stadelman Ice House held the distinction of being the largest ice and cold storage plant in Eastern Oregon. Jesse Martin Mason later took over the ice business. Mason was ahead of his time in setting fair prices and delivering ice to all his customers. The previous vendor charged 50 percent more per pound and sold minimum 5 and 10 pound blocks. Mason raised the minimum to 25 pounds but guaranteed it would last longer than 5-10 pound blocks. Jesse’s method of reducing price per pound and increasing the size of the ice block reduced his net loss on the truck considerably. Therefore, in the long run his customers had a better product, and he had less ice melt loss on the truck. He made more money, and the ice lasted longer for his customers.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:41:11 +0000
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