Tobyhanna Ice Harvest

02/06/2026

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST - WRAP UP

Saturday, January 31, 2026

2071 Lakeside Drive, Tobyhanna



The 2026 Millpond #1 Ice Harvest is now part of our history, and what a memorable chapter it was! What began as a one‑time celebration for the Coolbaugh Township Bicentennial in 1994 has grown into a tradition that has brought friends, families, and neighbors together for more than a third of a century.

Early last week brought its share of challenges, with a foot and a half of snow on the lake, but thanks to the support of good friends, everything came together. The weather was cold (4 degrees at 6 AM, rising only to 16 degrees by 3 PM) but by day’s end, we stored 35 tons of clear, 15‑inch‑thick Millpond ice.

Our fully restored Gifford‑Wood ice saw was a true highlight. It ran as if it had just rolled off the factory floor in 1918. As for attendance, it’s impossible to know the exact number, but estimates ranged from 600 to 700 visitors. One thing was certain: everyone left with a smile.

A new friend and videographer joined us this year and created this extraordinary video. Enjoy:
https://youtu.be/-sBMwJ8S8S8

God willing, we’ll see you next year, Saturday, January 30, 2027.

Living history event in Tobyhanna, PA

01/28/2026

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST
OLD IRON OF
BYGONE WINTERS
Step back in time with us at the Tobyhanna Millpond #1 ice harvest, where vintage machinery and volunteer craftsmanship bring early 20th century ice harvesting to life.
1918 Gifford-Wood Ice Saw “Buda”
Bill Leonard Sr. acquired a 1918 Gifford Wood ice saw known as Buda from Surinchak’s Junkyard in the early 1990s. Likely used by the North Jersey Ice Company at what is now Gouldsboro State Park, that lake’s ice harvest ran until 1952. After years exposed to the elements the saw—powered by a four cylinder Buda WU engine—was restored to running condition by Nelson Saxe and Harry Smith and first used at our modern harvest in 2002. In 2025 Mike and Dave Fairservice and Harry Smith completed a full rebuild—engine, carburetor, gearboxes, guides, hood and side panels—logging 700+ volunteer hours and returning the saw to near factory condition. The Coolbaugh Township Historical Association funded parts and materials. We believe this may be one of the few, if not the only, operating saw of its type.


1922 Gifford-Wood Ice Saw “LeRoi”
In November 2021 we acquired a 1922 Gifford Wood ice saw called LeRoi from a Lackawanna County barn. Harry Smith and Lester Miller cleaned the magneto and got it started; Mike and Dave Fairservice, with Harry’s help, replaced the carburetor, spark plugs, wires, and fuel lines, cleaned the tank, repaired the radiator, and fabricated parts. The saw remains remarkably original and still shows late 1920s service markings inside the chain guard.


1926 Fordson Tractor
Our 1926 Fordson tractor was used by the Tobyhanna Creek Ice Company to scrape snow at Warnertown Lake, where ice was harvested from 1902–1952. Purchased during the mid 1950s liquidation for $20 and later used to power a circular saw, the tractor was donated to the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association in 2018. Though not operable, it now stands along the shore of Tobyhanna Millpond #1, watching over the annual harvest as it did a century ago.

01/27/2026

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST
Saturday, January 31
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
2071 Lakeside Drive, Tobyhanna

The 2026 ice harvest will be held as scheduled.

The heavy snowfall certainly put our ice‑harvest preparations to the test, but thanks to a few friends we cleared an area on the lake and we’re ready to go. We expect to start cutting ice around 9:00 AM on Saturday, and it’s shaping up to be a classic Tobyhanna winter morning with temperatures in the low teens with a brisk 15‑mph wind. Bundle up and come be part of the action.

Two local community offerings while you are in Tobyhanna:

The Coolbaugh Township Historical Association will open the historic Wills Mansion Museum from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Stop in to warm up, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, and explore ice‑harvesting tools, memorabilia, videos, and exhibits on local history. The Wills Mansion Museum is located just over a mile from the icehouse on Route 611 at the Coolbaugh Township Municipal Complex, 5590 Municipal Drive, Tobyhanna.

VFW Post 509, located at 1917 Goodwin Street in Tobyhanna, less than a half‑mile from the icehouse, will be serving a hearty and affordable breakfast from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by hot dogs for lunch until 2:00 PM.

01/31/2025

2025 Tobyhanna Millpond #1 Ice Harvest
Wrap-up

The 2025 Tobyhanna Ice Harvest will be remembered as one of the best we have had in the 32 years of holding our “modern-day” ice harvests. It was an ice harvest like no other. We had 13 inches of clear, grade-A ice. The weather was a bit cool, but there was no wind, and the warming fire was a popular attraction. All in all, it was a perfect day for an ice harvest. One of our friends created a great drone video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5PPKv6JO2w

Plenty of willing volunteers helped to cut the 200-pound ice cakes from the pond, move them to the icehouse, and stack the 42 tons of ice. The equipment, including the first use of our 1922 Gifford Wood ice saw, worked flawlessly. A record crowd attended, including local folks with ancestors in the ice business, kin from across the nation, and even some international visitors. We had visitors from ages 1 to almost 90 years, and everyone enjoyed it. They all came to experience the living history of the once-important natural ice industry. A group of energetic Boy Scouts from Troop 71 in Doylestown returned, worked the entire day, and enjoyed every minute of it. Our friends, the Strack family from the Antique Ice Tool Museum in West Chester, PA, were also there. Check out their fascinating museum for an outstanding display of ice harvesting equipment and artifacts dedicated to preserving the natural ice trade. https://www.antiqueicetoolmuseum.org/

The Norwegian Fjord horses, Reggie and Guerilla, willingly pulled the ice cakes up the ramp and into the icehouse, and posed for plenty of pictures. Another friend brought his beautifully restored 1929 Ford Model AA truck.

Many folks enjoyed breakfast and lunch at the VFW Post 509. There were plenty of visitors at the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association (co-sponsor of the event) Wills Mansion Museum to learn more about ice industry history and browse the displays about our local history. Feel free to post your photos on our page

We are eternally grateful for all who help keep this ice harvest going year after year and for all the friends we have made over the years. If you attended, if you helped, thank you.

The next harvest is scheduled for January 31, 2026, God and weather permitting.

Have a good and healthy year.

The Leonard Family
4th Generation Ice Harvesters

01/16/2025

TOBYHANNA MILLPOND #1 ICE HARVEST update
Saturday, January 25 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

This cold January weather has been great for the ice crop, and as of January 16, we have 9 inches of ice. Barring any unexpected weather events, we are almost certain that we will be cutting ice on Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The icehouse is located at 2071 Lakeside Drive in Tobyhanna. Check the ice harvest hotline at 570-894-8205 for updates.

This ice harvest will feature the first use of our "new" 1922 Gifford Wood Ice Saw with a two-cylinder Le Roi engine. We acquired the saw a few years ago and, thanks to the efforts of local wizards of old engines—Mike Fairservice, Dave Fairservice, Harry Smith, and Lester Miller—the saw is now ready for its maiden 21st-century ice harvest.

While you are in Tobyhanna on Saturday, be sure to visit the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association Wills Mansion Museum and stop by the local VFW for breakfast or lunch.

The Coolbaugh Township Historical Association (co-sponsor of the ice harvest) will open the historic Wills Mansion Museum from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Stop by to warm up and to see ice harvesting tools, memorabilia, ice harvest videos, and tour the displays of local history. The Wills Mansion Museum is located just over a mile from the icehouse, on Route 611 at the Coolbaugh Township Municipal Complex, 5590 Municipal Drive, Tobyhanna.

VFW Post 509, located at 1917 Goodwin Street in Tobyhanna, less than a half-mile from the icehouse, will be serving a great and affordable breakfast from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and lunch, consisting of hot dogs and chili, until 2:00 PM.

01/09/2025

01/09/2025

The Annual Tobyhanna Millpond #1 Ice Harvest is planned for Saturday, January 25, 2025, from approximately 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Come out and see how ice was harvested over a century ago. All are welcome to help cut ice, guide the ice cakes to the icehouse, and store the ice in the icehouse.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 8, we had about 5 inches of good clear ice on the Millpond, and the weather forecast looks cold and favorable for an ice harvest. For the past two years, the ice was too thin for harvesting. Last winter, in late January, we had only three inches of ice, and the previous year, the ice was barely one inch thick on the harvest date. The ice had been 10 inches thick in late December that year, but it completely melted in less than a week. On the other hand, during the winter of 2021/22, the lake did not freeze over until January 3rd, and we had 16 inches of ice for the harvest later in January.

This free event is organized by the Leonard/Saxe families with financial support from the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association.

Check the Ice Harvest Hotline at 570-894-8205 for updates on ice conditions. We will post an update as the harvest date approaches.

12/05/2024

Ice Harvest at the Millpond
Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 9 am until about 2 pm
2071 Lakeside Drive, Tobyhanna, PA 18466
570 894-8205
Weather permitting
with the support of the Coolbaugh Township Historical Association