Freezing temps signal ice harvest season at West Chicago farm
CHICAGO - At a West Chicago farm, freezing temperatures bring a 19th-century tradition back to life: harvesting ice from Timber Lake.
Ice Harvesting Season
What we know:
Kline Creek Farm, part of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, has been harvesting ice for more than 30 years.
Workers cut the ice, push it through the water, and haul it on wagons to the ice house, just as it was done in the 1890s.
"We usually cut anywhere between 11 and 17 tons of ice each year. We move the blocks up these ramps. You'll notice, we don't lift them. They can get heavy," said Keith McClow, the Forest Preserve District’s heritage experience manager.
Each ice block weighs 60 to 70 pounds. This year, Timber Lake’s ice is about seven inches thick, making it safe for the harvest.
"I love it just because it teaches them a lot about how lucky we are for the conveniences we have," said mom Brianna.
The backstory:
The farm relies on cold winters to freeze the lake to the necessary thickness.
Kline Creek Farm focuses on educating visitors about life in the 1890s, and the annual ice harvest has become a popular attraction for families.
"Ever since the movie ‘Frozen’ came out, people have been clamoring," said McClow.
See the Ice Harvesting:
Visitors can come out to the farm and learn more about the ice harvesting on these dates and times:
- Friday, January 24, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday, January 25, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Sunday, January 26, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Monday, January 27, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Kline Creek Farm is located at 1N600 County Farm Road in West Chicago.