 The Ice House. A pink, part-circular, wedding cake-like building on the Chennai sea front. It hasn't stored ice for well over a century. But that's how this extraordinary building is still generally known. It was built in 1842 - one of three ice houses in India established by the Boston-based 'ice king' Frederic Tudor, and the only one of the three to survive. And yes, it really did store ice, transported all the way from New England. Tudor hit on the idea of harvesting ice from the freshwater lakes of New England (it was after all free), using sawdust for insulation, and then sending the ice out from Boston where ships often travelled empty to the Caribbean and further afield. Yes, a lot of the ice melted - but enough made the journey, and was sufficiently prized, to earn a profit. A decent profit to judge by the splendour of this building.  The poet and essayist Henry David Thoreau saw ice being harvested for Tudor at Walden Pond in the winter of 1846-7. 'The sweltering inhabitants of Charleston and New Orleans, of Madras and Bombay and Calcutta, drink at my well', Thoreau wrote. 'This pure Walden water is mingled with the sacred water of the Ganges.' By the 1880s, the long distance ice business declined as other ways of making ice came to prominence. The Ice House changed use. In 1897, Swami Vivekananda stayed in the building during a crucial period in his preaching, having just returned from the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. The building is now known as Vivekananda House and houses an exhibition about the man. That's cool! But then, this place is built to be cool.. 
31 Comments
22/10/2017 06:11:11
A term in chennai the last house standing has a colonnaded entrance eaves and sharp angles keep it up. All are getting the better peep through the window for the more changed the charming the long may it last. 28/3/2018 13:00:06
I forgot there were times when ice business existed. In fact, I made a review on it on Paperhelp not such a long time ago! Oh, dark times! 20/6/2020 13:38:14
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18/3/2021 17:40:24
If you can understand Tamil - listen to this true story behind this Ice House in Chennai - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm_4bphJjjA 12/10/2021 08:23:48
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The history behind the Ice House in Chennai is fascinating—imagine storing ice from New England in the 1800s! It's incredible that this unique building has stood the test of time. If you happen to need roofing contractors for preserving historic buildings or your own property, feel free to visit our site! 25/9/2024 16:19:19
Thank you for this fascinating glimpse into the history of the Ice House and its connection to Swami Vivekananda! It’s amazing to see how places transform over time while retaining their significance. If you happen to need roofing contractors, feel free to visit our site! 2/10/2024 07:39:25
The Ice House in Chennai is a fascinating piece of history! It's incredible to think about how ice was transported all the way from New England in the 1800s. The architecture is beautiful and a reminder of innovative solutions from the past. If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site for quality services! 15/10/2024 15:35:56
The Ice House in Chennai has such a fascinating history, from storing ice imported all the way from Walden Pond to hosting Swami Vivekananda. It's amazing how places can transform over time. If you happen to need a roofing contractor to preserve your own piece of history, feel free to visit our site! 15/10/2024 16:36:23
The Ice House in Chennai is a fascinating piece of history! It’s amazing to think of ice traveling all the way from New England back in the day. If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site for expert services! 22/10/2024 14:06:00
The Ice House in Chennai is such a fascinating piece of history! It’s incredible to think about how ice was transported all the way from New England over a century ago. If you happen to need roofing contractors, feel free to visit our site! 25/10/2024 13:32:21
The history of the Ice House in Chennai is truly fascinating, transforming from an ice storage facility to a center for Swami Vivekananda’s legacy. A building built to stay cool, indeed! If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site! 11/11/2024 12:12:59
The Ice House in Chennai has such a fascinating history! Who would’ve thought ice from New England made it all the way to India in the 1800s? If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site! 12/11/2024 12:36:14
The Ice House in Chennai has such an interesting history, especially with Swami Vivekananda staying there during a pivotal time in his journey. It’s fascinating how spaces evolve over time to serve different purposes. If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site! 19/11/2024 13:04:38
The history of the Ice House is fascinating—what a transformation over the years! If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site! 12/12/2024 06:46:05
The history of the Ice House is truly fascinating—transforming from an ice storage facility to a hub of inspiration connected to Swami Vivekananda. If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site—we’re here to keep your home as functional and enduring as this iconic building! 12/12/2024 07:26:43
The Ice House’s history is a fascinating example of innovation and resourcefulness—harvesting ice for profit in such a creative way! If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site—we’d be happy to assist! 21/12/2024 06:18:49
The transformation of the Ice House into Vivekananda House is fascinating, especially with its connection to such an important figure in history. It’s a reminder of how buildings evolve over time and carry layers of significance. If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site! 21/12/2024 07:17:48
It's fascinating how the idea of harvesting ice became such a profitable venture! The ingenuity behind it reminds us how clever solutions have always shaped industries. If you happen to need a roofing contractor, feel free to visit our site! Leave a Reply. |
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