A CHIP OFF THE OLD ICE BLOCK
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TAMWORTH VILLAGE, NH, FEBRUARY 12, 2020:
On Saturday, February 22, 2020, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm in the village of Tamworth celebrates a New England winter tradition with its 17th annual Ice Harvest & Outdoor Winter Fun event.
This signature event showcases the historically commonplace practice of producing—or harvesting—ice blocks from a frozen body of water. From the cutting of blocks to their insulated storage in the nearby Ice House, visitors gain hands-on knowledge of the work once undertaken to turn winter's frozen crop into a hot commodity.
Participants in the day’s activities get an up-close look at the ice harvesting tasks of
ice block cutting, piking, hoisting and transporting as it takes place on the frozen farm pond
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In addition, try-it-yourself block cutting and transporting take place off the ice using traditional 19th-century equipment.
A yolked steer team demonstrates how ice blocks were traditionally moved by wooden sled for storage. At the Ice House visitors can see how ice was once effectively stored and insulated for use throughout the year to cool beverages and ice boxes before electric refrigeration.
Other outdoor activities include horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice harvest-themed games provide a fun test of wintertime skills, and a scavenger hunt takes place across the farmstead.
Warm up as you watch an outdoor cooking demonstration and try a hot-off-the-coals sample. See an ice fishing demonstration and Trapper Dave displays animal pelts and discusses the winter trapping equipment of snowshoes and animal traps. See the Museum’s antique snow roller and a
traditional ice boat provided by the New Hampshire Boat Museum.
A visit to Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm would be incomplete without a visit with the animals, currently resplendent in their winter coats as they reside in the farmstead’s barns, pens and pastures.
Remick-made foods are for sale in the Sugarhouse, available while supplies last. Lunch options include Beef Chili or Macaroni and Cheese for $5.
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la carte items include hot chocolate, and hot dogs and s'more kits for a “toast-you-own” treat at the outdoor fire pit.
Admission to this event includes all activities and is $10 for ages 11 and up, $5 for ages 5-10, and free for ages 4 and under. Museum members receive $2 off the admission price. Some activities are scheduled and dependent upon weather conditions. For additional information, call 603-323-7591 or visit the Remick website at
www.remickmuseum.org.
In the event of severe weather, the event will take place on Sunday, February 23.
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PHOTO CAPTION, TOP
Ice Harvest and Outdoor Winter Fun attendees proudly show off the ice block they guided off the pond surface using a historical pair of ice tongs. The block rests on a wagon that is pulled to the nearby Ice House by a team of yolked steers.
