Tobyhanna Ice Harvest

01/16/2025

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST update
Saturday, January 25 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

This cold January weather has been great for the ice crop, and as of January 16, we have 9 inches of ice. Barring any unexpected weather events, we are almost certain that we will be cutting ice on Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The icehouse is located at 2071 Lakeside Drive in Tobyhanna. Check the ice harvest hotline at 570-894-8205 for updates.

This ice harvest will feature the first use of our "new" 1922 Gifford Wood Ice Saw with a two-cylinder Le Roi engine. We acquired the saw a few years ago and, thanks to the efforts of local wizards of old engines—Mike Fairservice, Dave Fairservice, Harry Smith, and Lester Miller—the saw is now ready for its maiden 21st-century ice harvest.

While you are in Tobyhanna on Saturday, be sure to visit the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association Wills Mansion Museum and stop by the local VFW for breakfast or lunch.

The Coolbaugh Township Historical Association (co-sponsor of the ice harvest) will open the historic Wills Mansion Museum from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Stop by to warm up and to see ice harvesting tools, memorabilia, ice harvest videos, and tour the displays of local history. The Wills Mansion Museum is located just over a mile from the icehouse, on Route 611 at the Coolbaugh Township Municipal Complex, 5590 Municipal Drive, Tobyhanna.

VFW Post 509, located at 1917 Goodwin Street in Tobyhanna, less than a half-mile from the icehouse, will be serving a great and affordable breakfast from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and lunch, consisting of hot dogs and chili, until 2:00 PM.

01/09/2025

01/09/2025

The Annual Tobyhanna Millpond #1 Ice Harvest is planned for Saturday, January 25, 2025, from approximately 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Come out and see how ice was harvested over a century ago. All are welcome to help cut ice, guide the ice cakes to the icehouse, and store the ice in the icehouse.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, we had about 5 inches of good clear ice on the Millpond, and the weather forecast looks cold and favorable for an ice harvest. For the past two years, the ice was too thin for harvesting. Last winter, in late January, we had only three inches of ice, and the previous year, the ice was barely one inch thick on the harvest date. The ice had been 10 inches thick in late December that year, but it completely melted in less than a week. On the other hand, during the winter of 2021/22, the lake did not freeze over until January 3rd, and we had 16 inches of ice for the harvest later in January.

This free event is organized by the Leonard/Saxe families with financial support from the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association.

Check the Ice Harvest Hotline at 570-894-8205 for updates on ice conditions. We will post an update as the harvest date approaches.

12/05/2024

Ice Harvest at the Millpond
Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 9 am until about 2 pm
2071 Lakeside Drive, Tobyhanna, PA 18466
570 894-8205
Weather permitting
with the support of the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association

09/16/2024

Yes, we're planning and hoping to harvest ice on Saturday, January 25, 2025. More details to follow.

01/24/2024

https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/monroe-county/tobyhanna-ice-harvest-canceled-again-because-of-warm-weather-coolbaugh-township-millpond/523-9efc2ef0-8d61-499e-91ed-4e5381e2542a

The lack of ice and warmer temperatures are keeping the ice harvest from happening this year.

01/21/2024

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST cancelled for 2024

Unfortunately, we must cancel the 2024 Ice Harvest planned for Saturday, January 27th. This is an unprecedented second year in a row we will not be able to have an ice harvest in our 30+ year history of modern-day harvests due to weather conditions.

2024 has been challenging for ice harvesters. The Millpond did not freeze over until January 15. The cold weather recently has been accompanied by occasional snow. An odd ice phenomenon: Snow insulates the ice and slows the ice formation. As of today, we only have 5” of ice on the Millpond. Rain is the most problematic weather for us, and that is exactly the forecast for this weekend with temperatures in the 40s. Conditions would be unsafe.

If you would like to stop by, we will also be available from 10am to 2pm to tell the story of the once important ice industry of the Poconos. Our boxcar with an extensive collection of ice harvesting tools and equipment will be open if you would like to stop by at 2071 Lakeside Drive. The Boston & Maine wooden boxcar was built by Western Steel and Foundry in 1908, and is painted it to replicate an ice car that was used for transporting ice to major cities.

Call the ice harvest hotline at 570-894-8205 if you have questions.

We encourage you to visit the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association (co-sponsor of the ice harvest) historic Wills Mansion Museum. It will be open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday. Stop by to see ice harvesting tools and memorabilia, tour the displays of our local history, and see videos from previous ice harvests. The Wills Mansion Museum is located on Route 611 at the Coolbaugh Township Municipal Complex, 5590 Municipal Drive, Tobyhanna.
Also, the local VFW Post 509, located at 1917 Goodwin Street in Tobyhanna, will be serving a great and affordable breakfast from 7:30 am to 11:00 am on Saturday.

12/05/2023

The Tobyhanna Ice Harvest is scheduled for Saturday, January 27, 2024, weather and ice conditions permitting as usual. We hope to cut ice from around 9 am until 2 pm. We will post updates as the date gets closer. Merry Christmas to all from the Milllpond #1 Ice Harvest family.

09/03/2023

We are sad to report: Joseph P. Leonard, 62, of Tobyhanna, PA died peacefully on August 18, 2023, after a long but dignified battle with Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson’s. He endured his diagnosis with grace, tremendous patience and occasional humor.
Joe was the youngest son of the late William and Thelma Leonard. Joe retired from Toshiba Medical, where he worked as a Service Technician for 27 years.
Joe was a proud fourth generation ice harvester. Together with his brother, sister, extended family and friends, Joe played a pivotal role in the Millpond #1 Ice Harvests held each winter for the past 30 years in Tobyhanna, PA. He was a key planner and organizer of the annual event, which reenacts an important industry in the Poconos. He thoroughly enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones every year.
Joe had an amazing ability to figure things out and fix problems. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a member of the Tobyhanna Conservation Association. He was an avid cyclist, and he enjoyed finding and exploring caves. He had a keen eye for photography. Best of all, he had a dry sense of humor and a quick wit.
Joe had a special gift for making friends. Almost without exception if you met Joe, he liked you, and you liked him. His engaging humor and sincere honesty provided him with the ability to connect with everyone he met. His childhood buddies from Tobyhanna remained his lifelong good friends. His co-workers at Toshiba had great respect for and thought the world of Joe even years after his early retirement. One of his co-workers recently commented that everyone liked Joe, even the most difficult customer. A handyman and thoughtful neighbor, he had lots of friends when he lived in Lititz. Even near the end of his struggle with Lewy Body, he made numerous new friends in Ohio. Joe’s kindness and genuine care for others was an inspiration to all. His last thoughtful act was to proudly donate his brain for research to help find a cure for dementia for the next generation.
Joe is survived by his “favorite” sister, Marilou Hitt and her husband, Brian, of Orange Village, OH; his “favorite” brother, William Leonard, and his wife, Diane, of Tobyhanna, PA; his cherished extended family of aunts and many cousins as well as his adopted daughter, Lexi Leonard, of York, PA whom he loved.
Joe’s sister and brother would like to thank family and friends for their support and prayers during Joe’s life and in the months before his death, particularly the Cleveland Clinic neurology doctors and staff. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pocono Heritage Land Trust, 1539 Cherry Lane Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 www.phlt.org
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Most Holy Trinity Parish, Cresco, PA on Friday, September 8 at 10 am. The family will receive friends at Holy Trinity from 9 am until Mass time. Burial will be held at Saint Ann’s Cemetery in Tobyhanna, PA.

ARRANGEMENTS BY Yanac Funeral https://www.yanacfuneralhome.com/

02/12/2023

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST 2023 WRAP UP

Over the last thirty years, we could not harvest ice due to insufficient ice three times. As anticipated, that is what happened in 2023. The demonstration of ice harvesting tools and equipment included the recently acquired circa 1920s gas powered Gifford Wood Ice Saw powered by a 2-cylinder LeRoi engine. Thanks to all who came out to see our collection of antique tools and hear about the historic ice industry, particularly the boy scout troop who all had a good time. We are so fortunate and grateful to have so many loyal friends and family members who come year after year to get the equipment running, to provide coffee break and lunch and so much more.

We extend a big thank you to the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association for once again co-sponsoring the event. And many of us were able to enjoy a hearty breakfast at the VFW Post 509.

For those of you who have been coming to the ice harvest over the years, we’ll share one unique and special event that occurred this year. Around 3 pm, right in front of the ice house, a wedding took place, complete with an ice harvester honor guard. Congratulation to Ice Harvesters Tina Marie (our cousin) and Ken!

We will keep you posted for 2024. Have a good winter.

01/25/2023

Mother Nature did not cooperate this year so we will not be able to actually cut ice. But stop by to see our extensive collection of ice harvest equipment. 9 am til 2 pm on Saturday

12/16/2022

Pocono Television Network featured the Tobyhanna Ice Harvest in their excellent December program of things to do in the Poconos.

Take a journey to learn about Poconos winters past and the role the ice harvesting industry played in local life.

10/29/2022

Saturday, January 28, 2023 is the date for the ice harvest. What began as our parents' idea to commemorate the bicentennial of Coolbaugh Township back in 1994 has become an annual community event. We'll post more information as the date gets closer, so mark your calendar. ❄️

02/03/2022

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST
2022 WRAP-UP

Thank you to everyone who came out to experience the century-old ice industry on Saturday. We were especially impressed with the hundreds of visitors who braved the single digit temperatures, cold wind and snow, similar to what the old-time ice harvesters had to endure years ago in order to make a living.

Some of the highlights of the successful 2022 Millpond Ice Harvest:

• Our ice saw team, a group of guys who have handled our 1919 Gifford Wood ice saw for years, did great work out there in the frigid wind. Some of them are descendants of ice harvesters back in the day.
• The field crew did an excellent job of letting everyone, old and young, try their arm muscles at sawing the cakes. We cut about 300 cakes of 16” thick ice. Visitors quickly discovered that sawing ice was a good way to keep warm.
• Great volunteers, young and old, guided the ice cakes along the channel to the base of the ramp. Many thanks to our kin and good friends who made sure that it was done safely.
• The team of strong volunteers handling the hook at the waterbox, an integral job in the operation, made sure the cakes were secure to get pulled up the ramp.
• Dave Swingle (aka the horse guy) brought a Percheron horse, Percy, and two Fjord horses, Reggie and Guerlla, who pulled 2 or 3 cakes up the ramp at a time, each weighing 250 pounds, and posed for some great photos.
• One of our seasoned harvesters worked as the switcher at the top of the ramp with the help of his petite but mighty grand daughter, Emily. This was the coldest job of the day with 20-30 mph wind. Great job!
• Icehouse workers: 4 pros including our first ever woman to work in the icehouse (you rock, Alaina!) Back in the day, this was the highest paid job in the ice industry: 35 cents per hour. They worked hard to handle and stack 33 tons of ice in the house.
• A lot of visitors checked out our large display of ice harvesting tools and memorabilia in the "ice car", a restored boxcar. The bonfire was a big hit, with folks huddling around the fire to ward off the frigid conditions.
• Many photographers took lots of pictures to record the event and passed along some nice shots of the action. Feel free to share them on Tobyhanna Ice Harvest FB.
• Our local VFW Post 509 served hot breakfast and lunch to our many visitors.
• Very sincere thanks to the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association for their financial backing and partnership for the ice harvest. We are grateful to this great organization. Visit their website at www.cooltownhistorical.org their page.

And finally, we are so fortunate to have such an amazing family (some of whom traveled hundreds of miles), lots of good and generous friends and neighbors who helped prepare the field, feed the crew and brought food. We could not have done it without you.

The next harvest is scheduled for January 28, 2023, God and weather permitting. We will post you in December, 2022. It would be the 30th anniversary of our first “modern-day” ice harvest.

Have a good and healthy year.

The Leonard Family
4th generation ice harvesters