Ice Was Cut from a Pond Behind What Later Became the Rogers Theatre

Before commercial ice reached Shelby, ice was gathered locally during the winter and stored for use in warmer months. Mamie Jones recalled that Albert Green operated an ice house on East Marion Street, on the site where the Rogers Theatre later stood. The ice was cut from a pond located in the hollow just behind that building. Green packed the ice in sawdust and stored it in his ice house, then sold it to local drug stores, where it was used primarily for cooking and other practical needs. This system allowed ice to be used well into the summer long before ice could be shipped in by rail or manufactured locally.

Source: Mamie Jones