The Tobyhanna ice harvest is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan.29 Saturday at the icehouse at 2071 Lakeside Drive in Tobyhanna.

This ice harvest is held to share an important part of our local history. It is a free event sponsored by the Leonard/Saxe families with financial support from the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association. Volunteers use a 1919 Gifford Wood Company power ice saw to cut two-thirds of the ice thickness. Volunteers and visitors then cut the individual 22-inch by 22-inch ice cakes loose with hand saws, and move the ice through a channel to a ramp along the shoreline.

Horses pull the ice cakes up the ramp and into the icehouse, which holds about 50 tons of ice and is located at the same site where a 60,000-ton capacity icehouse stood a century ago.

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

The Coolbaugh Township Historical Association (co-sponsor of the ice harvest) will open the historic Wills Mansion Museum from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Stop by to see ice harvesting tools and memorabilia and tour the displays of local history. The ice harvesting collection includes a display of rare ice tongs, various tools and equipment, and videos of ice harvesting. 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. COVID protocols are in effect at the museum for the protection of all visitors.

VFW Post 509, located at 1917 Goodwin Street in Tobyhanna, less than a mile from the icehouse, will be serving a great and affordable breakfast from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Check the ice harvest hotline at 570-894-8205 for updates.