Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
CUSHING, FISCHER & COMPANY
CUSHING, FISCHER & CO. The Dubuque Herald reported in January 1873 that Cushing, Fischer & Company was harvesting 500 tons of ice daily by employing fifty men and sixteen teams of horses. (1) In that year, James CUSHING sold his interest to H. Ripon and Henry WHEELER joined the company that was renamed FISCHER, WHEELER & COMPANY.
In 1876 the company leased ZOLLICOFFER'S LAKE for ICE HARVESTING. The company maintained an ice house at the site and visitors aboard the ferryboat "Key City" were able to see the loading of ice onto another ship on May 11, 1876. Ice harvested by the company was sold locally and exported to cities like Davenport.
In January, 1885 the company had 250 men and 40 teams involved in cutting ice. Of these, one hundred were working at ZOLLICOFFER'S LAKE. The firm already had 5,000 tons of ice, sixteen inches thick being stored. An estimated 150 men and 40 teams were involved in filling the ice houses at the foot of Third Street. Workers were also involved in filling 300 railroad cars with ice for destinations between Dubuque and Cairo, Illinois. An order of 1,000 tons was to be shipped to Jackson, Mississippi and an equal amount to Cairo, Illinois. The company estimated that at the finish of the ice harvest an estimated 25,000 tons of ice would be placed in storage. (2)
Wages paid were an important source of income in Dubuque. Teams were paid $3.00 daily with laborers earning from $1.25 to $1.50.
The 1867 through 1873-74 Dubuque City Directory stated that this business was located at the northeast corner of Iowa and 3rd.
The 1874-1875 and 1875-1876 Dubuque City Directory stated that this business was located at 332 Iowa.
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Source:
1. "New Ice Firm," Dubuque Herald, April 4, 1873, p. 5. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18730404&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
2. "The Ice Harvest," The Dubuque Herald, January 16, 1885, p. 4
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Source:
1. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, January 11, 1873, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18730111&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
2. "Aquatic," Dubuque Herald, May 11, 1876, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18760511&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
3. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, May 17, 1876, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18760517&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
