Our Story

L-R: H.L. Neuman (1839-1920), Edward W. Neuman (1868-1937), J. Wildrick Neuman (1902-1971), Edward Neuman (1931-2024)

The York Ice Company, Inc., is one of the oldest, family-owned, continuously-operating ice companies in the United States.

In 1872, Henry Lenhart Neuman, a Civil War veteran, founded the H.L. Neuman Ice Cream Company. In conjunction with the ice cream business, he began dealing in ice. At that time, natural ice was harvested each winter from ponds and rivers. Ice houses along the Codorus Creek in downtown York stored natural ice. By 1898, their first artificial ice was manufactured using steam-operated compressors at the site of the present business.

The ice business was reliant on cold winters to create product. The industry suffered in the early 1900s due to mild winters. In 1906, no ice was cut until February 16th, and then the harvest lasted just four days. After 1924, the company sold only manufactured ice. Although the ice cream business was sold in 1930, the Neuman family continues to operate the ice company, which is currently being run by the 5th and 6th generations.

When the company was first founded, ice was delivered to homes with a fleet of horse-drawn buggies. Customers would place a sign in their windows informing the delivery man to leave a specified amount of block ice. With the invention of refrigeration, ice could be manufactured on the premises rather than cut from nearby ponds and rivers.

Today, the York Ice Company can produce 230 tons of bagged Good Time Ice daily. With automated baggers and palletizers, the plant will produce over 6 million bags of ice this year. Today, high-quality bagged ice is delivered by trained drivers in refrigerated trucks. We also produce a single block weighing 270 pounds, which can be chiseled to create beautiful sculptures.

In 2022, the York Ice Company celebrated our 150th year in business. The growth of the company has resulted from keeping up with efficient methods of production and from our reliable delivery service. We are proud to have a longstanding tradition for serving the community’s needs, while at the same time adapting to a constantly-changing environment, which ensures that the tradition will continue.