The Icehouse
has been a Grayling landmark since the earliest railroad days.
It was built adjacent to the Pennsylvania Central Railroad and
was specially constructed to bear the heavy load of ice and
to be insulated against heat. Its foundation is deep 
and
wide and the walls are thick with five layers of wood and tar
paper. The upper story floor has closely spaced support beams.
The four-by-twelve
inch beams are spaced 12 inches apart. They are covered with
tin to form the upper level "ice floor." This floor
sloped to the center of the building so water from the melting
ice would flow to a vertical drain and empty onto the ground.
Ice
from nearby lakes was cut into blocks, transported to the icehouse
and stored for use during the warmer season, primarily to preserve
food.
The railroad
owned the icehouse and the ice was used on the railroad dining
cars. As refrigeration equipment was invented and automobile
transportation replaced traveling by train, the original purpose
of the icehouse became obsolete.
Subsequently,
the building was used to store feed, beer, and building materials.
In the 1930's, Rasmusson Lumber leased the building from the
railroad and utilized it as a warehouse. This use continued
by DuBois Lumber until 1980, when Dave
Wyman decided to turn the old icehouse into a retail store.
After
months of extensive remodeling, The Icehouse Quilt Shop opened
in June, 1980. Original owners Dave and Jill Wyman enjoy antiques
and used them throughout the store for displaying merchandise.
It was Dave's idea to call the business "The Icehouse"
-- trains still run behind the building daily as a reminder of
its original use.
The Icehouse
Quilt Shop is a specialty shop for the person seeking quality
in quilting, needlework and gifts, as well as people who enjoy
and appreciate old buildings.
And the
tradition continues as daughter Ali, along with her husband
Ted Bayhnam and son Cody have purchased the family business.
So begins another generation...
