Circa 1900 image shows the Whitaker Ice Wagon delivering blocks of ice throughout Millville.
Restoring the 1886 Whitaker ice wagon took many hands.
The Millville Historical Society invites the community to celebrate the completed restoration of the Whitaker Ice Wagon on Saturday, September 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the David C. Wood Mansion, 821 Columbia Avenue, Millville. This project took a village as donors, volunteers, and skilled artisans all helped bring the wagon back to life. Few communities still have horse-drawn wagons that once delivered ice to homes and businesses, making this restored wagon a treasured piece of Millville history.
Franklyn Pangburn, 93, a Korean War veteran who rode the ice wagon as a child, will serve as master of ceremonies. At age six, Franklyn sat beside his father—and at times his uncle—as they delivered lake-cut blocks of ice. His grandfather also worked at the Whitaker Ice Plant, where ice was later produced. Franklyn will unveil the wagon to the public for the first time, and a recorded interview about his childhood in Millville will be shown throughout the afternoon in the Mansion parlor.
Spend the afternoon enjoying:
• Lemonade, cake, and ice cream with a variety of toppings.
• Piano and vocal entertainment by Christine Sheil of Sharing the Joy of Music, including a sing-along.
• A display of vintage ice cream utensils
• A photo exhibit showing the pole barn construction and key stages of the wagon’s restoration, including sanding, fire-damage repair, canvas roof replacement, custom painting, and final lettering.
• A chance to help make ice cream the old-fashioned way by turning the hand crank.
• Tours of the 1814 Wood Mansion House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• Photos displayed throughout the Mansion of former Millville businesses that once served ice cream.
Franklyn Pangburn, 93, who rode the ice wagon as a child, visits the wagon before its restoration. RIGHT: A new building was constructed on the grounds of the 1814 Wood Mansion to house the ice wagon. This photo shows the unrestored wagon arriving from its former location at the City of Millville’s 15th Street Warehouse.
• A preview of the Society’s next restoration project—the circa 1814 Ice House, listed as a contributing building and structure in the Mansion’s National Register nomination.
• Time to meet and visit with friends, old and new.
The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available behind the Mansion House and accessible from Church Street.
