Glen Rose in Somervell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Ice House

Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2024

1. Ice House Marker

Inscription.
In the days before refrigerators, passing by this Ice House conjured up visions of ice cream or iced tea. What little child couldn't visualize cold homemade ice cream on a hot summer's day? And what adult, who had been working hard outside and swigging luke-warm water from a jar, couldn't wait to get back to the house at dinner time to drink a cold glass of tea made from ice chipped off a block? Texas summers can be brutal without the luxuries of air conditioning or refrigerators. There was no such thing as "Cold" in the summer until technology prevailed, unless it was one of Glen Rose's famous springs and artesian wells.

Ice was manufactured elsewhere and brought to this little stone house in huge blocks of perhaps 50 or 100 pounds. Sawdust or straw insulated around the blocks; an old quilt or gunny sack provided insulation for the trip home. Depending on the size of an ice box in the kitchen, one of these blocks fit nicely in there to preserve milk, butter, and cooked food. This one innovation helped keep people from getting sick from nearly-spoiled food.

In the early days of Glen Rose, community picnics were

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held in the park near the mill. Vendors of lemonade put blocks of ice in washtubs with the lemonade and hawked their product: "Ice cold lemonade! Made in th' shade - stirred with a spade! Good enough for any old maid!" cost: 5 cents per cup. And the cup was rinsed in cold water and used by the next customer! As someone said, "That was the days before germs!"

Erected by Somervell County Historical Commission: Glen Rose-Somervell County Chamber of Commerce.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Food & Drink • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 32° 14.089′ N, 97° 45.361′ W. Marker is in Glen Rose, Texas, in Somervell County. It is on Elm Street east of Vernon Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on the southwest section of the Glen Rose Historic Downtown Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 109 Elm St, Glen Rose TX 76043, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

The entrance to the Ice House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2024

2. The entrance to the Ice House and Marker

Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Somervell County (within shouting distance of this marker); Somervell County Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); The Barnards of the Brazos (within shouting distance of this marker); Somervell County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Dinosaur Tracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Old County Jail (within shouting distance of this marker); Dinosaur Footprint (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glen Rose.

The Ice House is located on the left side of the two buildings image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2024

3. The Ice House is located on the left side of the two buildings

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 64 times this year. Last updated on September 24, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 9, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.