Our family started out in the “Burnside” section of East Hartford in 1826.
“Burn” is a Scottish word for “brook or stream” and the water is very much an
important part of our business. The original icehouse and pond was built by my
grandfather, Albert McClellan, on land that is now part of the East Hartford
Public Golf Course. The company was founded in 1911, delivering harvested pond
ice to homes in town via horse and wagon. The current icehouse, located at 776
Tolland Street, was built in 1933. To this day, it is the second oldest
family-owned business in town and is now owned and managed by Robert L.
McClellan, 3rd generation iceman.
As the demand for ice changed in the early 1950’s, Burnside Ice Co.
diversified into selling rock salt and and home heating oil and coal, as well as
snow removal during harsh New England winters. As time moved on, the American
population found new venues to enjoy their leisure time and ice then became an
important commodity in this equation. As American society became more mobile
with the family automobile, trips to the beach, mountains and distant road trips
became commonplace, necessitating the need for ice. As the demand for ice grew,
so did our realization that we had to move with the times and install icemaking
and packaging machinery. Today, our “Frosty Nuggets” Ice Crystals are
hygienically produced and packaged in a resealable bag for consumer
convenience.
The Burnside Ice Co. is the last block ice plant in Connecticut, one of only
three remaining in New England, and is currently being considered for
designation on the national historical register.
In 2002, The Burnside Ice Co. was
honored by the UCONN Family Business Program with the “ Connecticut
Family Business of the Year Award,” coming in first in the small
business category. This prestigious award “recognizes those family businesses
that embody core family values and the best of American free enterprise,
focusing on business success, positive family and business linkage,
multi-generational family involvement, dynamic contributions to community and
industry, and innovative business practices or strategies.
This summer, try our recently introduced new ice product called “Cooler Fuel” specifically for use in chilling canned
or bottled beverages in your cooler. Ice chunks, broken from hardened 300-lb
blocks, lasts longer than cocktail cubes and is packaged in a convenient 15-lb
reusable handle bag.
Products available at the icehouse:
Chef Paul Zdanis is a graduate of Johnson and Wales
University and a member of the National Ice Carvers Assoc. Paul is
currently Director of Education at the CT Culinary Institute in
Hartford. |
“Frosty Nuggets” Party Ice*: 5#, 20#,
35#
Crushed Ice: 20#, 40#
“Cooler
Fuel:” 15#
Block Ice; 10 –
300#
Dry Ice: 10# Min., 40# Block (Please
preorder)
*Also available at Highland Park Markets, Geissler’s Supermarkets, and M&R Liquor Stores
Self-serve Water Spigots: pure, fresh, lab-tested well
water available 24 hrs/day at only 50¢/gallon in your own container.
Spigots are located at the front of the building.
Ice Sculptures: Our award-winning carver, Paul Zdanis, can create elegant, customized works of ice art for all your special events. Check out our gallery of sample ice sculptures.
.
Ice Luges: Ice Luges by “The Biggest LUGEr”: Add some excitement and fun to your next party. Try an ice luge made from a 150-lb block. Cut edge for stabilization,: glowlights for pizzazz. Prices start at $50. Call 1-860-870-LUGE(5843)
Keg Storage: $5/day Ice is American as apple pie, but often taken for granted. Our family’s icemaking tradition is one of pride, history and dedication in providing the public the best quality ice product available, regularly tested by State-approved laboratories for quality assurance, with a secret family recipe passed down from generation to generation.
Have an ‘ice day!
The McClellan Family
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