Ice Houses History 1940-?

1940 - Jan. 10 taking advantage of the continued cold weather which produced ice about ten inches thick, the Medbourn Ice company inaugurated its annual ice harvest Monday afternoon on Lake Maxinkuckee

1940 - Jan 18 - Annual Ice Harvest On WIth 10-inch Ice

Taking advantage of the continued cold weather which produced ice about ten inches thick, the Medbourn Ice Company innauguarated its annual ice harvest Monday afternoon on Lake Maxinkuckee. the Culver Citizen Says.

Ninety-six men are engaged in the work, which is expected to be finnished up by Wednesday/ Two ice houses are to be filled.

Due to the steady freezing temperature without any htaws the ice os of the best quality harvested in several years.

As the lake is unusally low this year it was necessary for the workmen to din a channel cut into the lake to get sufficient water to float the ince into the conveyer. - Bremen Enquirer (Indiana)

Culver Citizen dated 24 March 1943 - Medbourn Ice House Burns The last vestige of a once booming business was destroyed by fire early Tuesday morning when the Medbourn Ice House burned to the ground with a loss estimated at around $5,000. The above photo is the same one that appeared in an advertisement that was found in the 1922 Maxinkuckee yearbook, but gives some details of the ice harvest.

1946 - Dec 11 - Charles Bush Reaches 40 Years Of Service Charles Bush Reaches 40 Years Of Service With Medbourn Firm Friday, Dec. 6, was quite an occasion for Charles E. Bush as it marked 40 years of continuous service with the Medbourn business.

He started 40 years ago with the Medbourn Ice founded by Sam Medbourn, and helped construct the ice houses that were landmarks here for a number of years.

During the span of years that followed he learned more about handling natural ice than any man in northern Indiana and was the guiding force in the annual harvest on Lake Maxinkuckee, a big occasion in the community.

When the ice business was sold and the Culver City Grain Coal Co. was purchased by the Medbourns, Mr. Bush became affiliated with the feed department, where he is now the foreman.

Although 40 years is a long time to be wrestling blocks of ice and sacks of grain. Mr. Bush today can keep ahead of any of the younger men connected with the business.

An unusual feature of the occasion with the Medbourn company is that during the summer three generations of the Bush family are helping with the grain and coal business. 15 years ago the son, Kenneth Bush, joined the force, and for the past three summers, Kenneth Junior has been working with his father and grandfather.

With a trio like that there is no beating around the Bushs at the Culver City Grain Coal Co. Citizen

1952 - Rochester Sentinel - Thursday, May 1, 1952

Charles Medbourn
Final rites will be held at the Culver Methodist church Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. for Charles [E.] MEDBOURN, 70, prominent Culver business man who succumbed Tuesday afternoon following a brief illness.

Mr. Medbourn, a lifelong resident of the Culver community was well known through his interests in the Okay Rubber Welders business, the Medbourn Ice & Coal Co., Maxinkuckee Ice & Coal Co., and as a travelling representative of the Muelhausen Spring Co.

He had long been active in church, fraternal and civic affairs in Culver, and was well known in Fulton county

1882-1889 ~ ~ 1890-1899 ~ ~ 1900-1909 ~ ~ 1910-1919 ~ ~

1920-1929 ~ ~ 1930-1939 ~ ~ 1940-1950s ~ ~