West Chicago, IL – In the heart of winter, Kline Creek Farm revives a cherished 19th-century tradition: harvesting ice from Timber Lake. This unique practice, part of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s commitment to preserving local history, draws families and visitors eager to experience life as it was in the 1890s.
The annual ice harvest is no small feat. Workers use traditional tools to cut ice, push it through the water, and haul it on wagons to the farm’s ice house. The entire process mirrors the methods used more than a century ago.
“We usually cut anywhere between 11 and 17 tons of ice each year,” explained Keith McClow, heritage experience manager for the Forest Preserve District. “The blocks are moved up ramps because lifting them would be difficult—they can weigh up to 70 pounds each.”
This year, Timber Lake’s ice measures about seven inches thick, the perfect thickness for a safe and productive harvest. Visitors can witness the operation firsthand, learning about the ingenuity and hard work required to store ice before the era of refrigeration.
“I love it just because it teaches them a lot about how lucky we are for the conveniences we have,” said Brianna, a mother attending the event with her children.
The tradition has seen a surge