<P> The ice trade, also known as the frozen water trade, was a 19th - century industry, centering on the east coast of the United States and Norway, involving the large - scale harvesting, transport and sale of natural ice for domestic consumption and commercial purposes . Ice was cut from the surface of ponds and streams, then stored in ice houses, before being sent on by ship, barge or railroad to its final destination around the world . Networks of ice wagons were typically used to distribute the product to the final domestic and smaller commercial customers . The ice trade revolutionized the U.S. meat, vegetable and fruit industries, enabled significant growth in the fishing industry, and encouraged the introduction of a range of new drinks and foods . </P> <P> The trade was started by the New England businessman Frederic Tudor in 1806 . Tudor shipped ice to the Caribbean island of Martinique, hoping to sell it to wealthy members of the European elite there, using an ice house he had built specially for the purpose . Over the coming years the trade widened to Cuba and Southern United States, with other merchants joining Tudor in harvesting and shipping ice from New England . During the 1830s and 1840s the ice trade expanded further, with shipments reaching England, India, South America, China and Australia . Tudor made a fortune from the Indian trade, while brand names such as Wenham Ice became famous in London . </P>

Where did they get ice for ice boxes