July 24, 2204 Geri Duff
This is the Leavitt ice delivery wagon at the corner of South and Lafayette Streets. Back in January of 1898, Charles T. Leavitt harvested ice from Cushing Pond and stored it in an icehouse on the pond’s edge. Come summer, he and his men made the rounds delivering blocks of ice to families, markets and restaurants. At times he couldn’t keep up with the summer demand and had to import ice from further north or even Europe. Knowing that the ice box days would come to an end, clever Mr. Leavitt was also an agent for Eddy Refrigerator. The photograph is from the Hingham Historical Society.
I believe that it is South Street and Bates Way. Someone used to travel down Bates Way every year from Lafayette Avenue to keep it open, just because he could! It annoyed the neighbors, and when he stopped, the Town closed the Lafayette Ave. end.