There is a place about 1/2 way between Placerville and South Lake Tahoe
called Ice House which was named, appropriately, for an ice house
constructed and run by a Placerville businessman named John Pearson in the
1850s.  He supplied ice for much of Placerville from this location until
about 1880.  I don't know if the structure is standing anymore - i doubt it,
but it's a shot.  I do believe, however, that there are photos of the
structure at the El Dorado County Historical Museum, or through one of the
descendants who is living in Bakersfield.  If you are interested in
contacting the descendant, let me know.

You can start by contacting Judy Rood, who is the archaeologist for one of
the districts on the Eldorado. Her number is 530-647-5326.  She can give you
the number to the archaeologist whose district Ice House (there is a lake
there, the center for a recreation area) is in and could refer you to the
rest of the Tahoe area archaeologist for other possible sites as well.  Good
luck.  I'd like to know what you find.

-----Original Message-----
From: William White <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, January 08, 2001 6:59 AM
Subject: Re: Still Working Icehouses?


>Ms. Springate:
>
>Its been some 30 years since I have lived at Lake Tahoe (ski-bum days), and
>I don't remember the lake ever freezing, except in the most shallow of
bays.
>And yet, some of the turn-of-the-century mansions there did have small
>icehouses so they must have been harvesting local ice, nothing industrial
>though.  The railroad icehouse here in Las Vegas (once listed on the
>National Register) was set on fire as an anti-preservation measure, nothing
>reaches 50 years old here in Vegas except the people.  Sorry, not much help
>here......
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Megan Springate" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2001 5:58 PM
>Subject: Still Working Icehouses?
>
>
>> Greetings.
>>
>> I have been contacted by a TV producer looking for an icehouse still in
>> operation, preferably in the Lake Tahoe region. They are looking for an
>> industrial-type icehouse (vs. a single family-sized construction).
>> Unfortunately, all I can tell them about are small farm-sized houses, one
>> of which has since been converted into a storage shed!
>>
>> Anyone on the list have any leads?
>>
>> Please send any questions, ideas to: <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Megan Springate