Hunter Family Video Text
Henry and Lemont Hunter moved from Wisconsin to Niles in 1898. They purchased 22 acres of land near Barron Lake in Howard Township and founded the Hunter Brothers Ice Company.
Before the days of artificial ice production, people took advantage of natural resources to preserve food. Homes were outfitted with an icebox, which held a large block of ice delivered, first by horse drawn wagons and later by truck. Beyond home use, the ice industry saw massive growth at the end of the 19th century, with rising demand for fresh dairy, produce and meat which were transported over great distances.
The Michigan Central Railroad was a major consumer of Hunter Brothers ice, with tracks located near the ice houses on Barron Lake. The railroad used ice to keep food fresh in the dining cars and to refrigerate the agricultural products being transported to other cities and towns.
As artificial refrigeration was replacing ice boxes, the company found ways to innovate, producing dairy products such as butter and ice cream. In 1914, the name was changed to the Hunter Ice and Ice Cream Company. The Hunters prided themselves in using local sources for all products. Cream for their ice cream and butter came from dairy farms in the neighboring towns of Buchanan and Goshen. Advertisements for the ice cream proclaimed “Every Bite a Delight.”
In 1919, the first of the Hunter Brothers’ two ice houses burned down. That same year, the company built a freezing plant at Hickory and 9th Streets where they produced 25 tons of artificial ice daily. In 1924, the Hunter Ice and Ice Cream Company was sold to Consumer Ice Company in Jackson, Michigan.
In 1981, Irma Hunter, the last of the Hunter children, died and the Hunter Foundation was funded, cementing the company’s legacy here.
Since 2004, the City of Niles has hosted the Hunter Ice Festival to celebrate winter and pay tribute to this local industry.
Henry Hunter is buried in the CITY section of the cemetery with his wife, Martha, and children Edward and Irma.
Lemont Hunter is also buried at Silverbrook, in the NEW section.