Fife Lake in Grand Traverse County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Ice Plant
1890
| | Fife Lake Historical Walk | |
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 13, 2024
1. Ice Plant Marker
Before refrigerators, people used ice-boxes and ice was a valuable commodity. Every winter from 1890 thru 1920, the Kalamazoo Ice and Fuel Company operated an ice plant on the shores of Fife Lake. The ice was cut from the lake and hoisted by way of an elaborate wooden structure (shown above) to a massive warehouse (upper right). During the summer months, the ice (packed in sawdust to keep it cold) was loaded into railway cars (lower left) and shipped to the Grand Rapids area.
Erected by Fife Lake Historical Society. (Marker Number 9.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 44° 34.623′ N, 85° 21.071′ W. Marker is in Fife Lake, Michigan, in Grand Traverse County. It is on West State Street just west of Main Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 W State St, Fife Lake MI 49633, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula and in the Grand Traverse Bay Region. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hodges House (within shouting distance of this marker); LaBar House (within shouting distance of this marker); Bandstands (within shouting
this page online
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 13, 2024
2. Ice Plant Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 146 times since then and 20 times this year. Last updated on September 30, 2025, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 28, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
