Originally published on January 30, 2019 (Episode 96)
Long before the hum of refrigerators became background noise in every home, people depended on ice harvested from frozen ponds and rivers to keep food fresh. In the early 1800s, Frederic Tudor—dubbed the “Ice King”—realized he could ship New England ice to the Caribbean, insulate it with sawdust, and turn frozen water into a global commodity. Eventually Tudor sent ice all the way to India, which became one of his most profitable markets.
But that was just the start of the history of keeping things cold. After that it got really complicated.
Jonathan Rees tells this remarkable story in Before the Refrigerator: How We Used to Get Ice. The book explores how what he calls the “modern cold chain” developed without monopolies or central planning, but through innovation, persistence, and sheer entrepreneurial daring. In our conversation, we discuss how ice transformed diets, trade, and daily life, and why the history of refrigeration is about more than convenience—it’s about how societies build complex systems that quietly reshape the world.
About the Guest
Jonathan Rees is Professor of History at Colorado State University–Pueblo. He specializes in the history of technology and food systems. His books include Refrigeration Nation: A History of Ice, Appliances, and Enterprise in America and Before the Refrigerator: How We Used to Get Ice. Rees also writes widely on food, technology, and history for academic and public audiences.
For Further Investigation
Jonathan Rees, Before the Refrigerator: How We Used to Get Ice (Hopkins, 2018)
—, Refrigeration Nation: A History of Ice, Appliances, and Enterprise in America (Hopkins, 2016)
—, Refrigerator (Bloomsbury, 2015)
Related Episodes
Listen & Discuss
How did something as simple as ice become a global commodity?
What does the rise of refrigeration teach us about the building of complex systems without central direction?
How might our own lives be shaped by technologies so ordinary we no longer notice them?
If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with a friend who takes their freezer for granted.
