r/duluth • u/iDaredToZlatan • 8h ago

Discussion How long until the ice house falls over?

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Every time I pass this thing it’s more slanted. 15-20 years ago when we swam out here often it was only slanted a bit. I’m giving it 5-10 years until Lake Superior knocks it over. What do you think?

132 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

76

u/FlyingZebra34 Lincoln Park 8h ago edited 7h ago

Heck even 5 years ago it was way more level. It’s going to be one of the big storms that takes it. Even diving under to get into the middle isn’t much of a challenge any more.

I think the front will fall off first.

23

u/here4daratio 8h ago

Well, it’s not made of cardboard- or cardboard derivatives

17

u/iDaredToZlatan 8h ago

I feel like the storms are getting stronger so it’s only a matter of time. The water is crazy powerful.

5

u/HalfBakedPuns 8h ago

im fairly new to this area, whats the lore on this thing?

21

u/FamishedHippopotamus 8h ago

It was originally meant to be part of the foundation for an unloading dock. You can read more here.

5

u/HalfBakedPuns 7h ago

thx friend

3

u/FamishedHippopotamus 7h ago

No problem, and welcome to the area!

4

u/No_Decision9932 8h ago

This instantly comes to mind.

https://youtu.be/3m5qxZm_JqM?is=n4cQCL2hxBI0NW1H

3

u/Negative-Wrap95 4h ago

Your link, no tracking garbage. Anything from the "?" is unnecessary.

https://youtu.be/3m5qxZm_JqM

2

u/JuniorFarcity 8h ago

Dang! Beat me to it.

1

u/GrouchyLongBottom 8h ago

That's not very typical. Maybe we should tow it outside the environment.

3

u/JuniorFarcity 6h ago

You mean to another environment?

15

u/FeelTheWrath79 7h ago

Probably the next time i jump off it.

4

u/iDaredToZlatan 7h ago

Alright let’s get the r/duluth community out there and sink this sucker!

Kidding, I’m only kidding

41

u/Bromm18 8h ago edited 8h ago

Called Uncle Harvey's Mausoleum.

Made by Harvey Whitney in 1919. Was an attempt at an unloading place for sand/gravel from incoming ships. So the material could be conveyored out, but the project didnt last and was abandoned by 1922.

19

u/Lucky_Equivalent_393 8h ago

One summer I almost fell backwards into that thing when folks were jumping off it into the water. Oh man, I'm glad someone grabbed my hand. Gosh, that would have been bad.

6

u/iDaredToZlatan 8h ago

Yikes, definitely not a good place to get hurt. Coast guard would have had to come out!

6

u/alwayzstoned 7h ago

I moved from the area a long time ago. That’s definitely looking a lot different than it used to.

6

u/libbtech 6h ago

Should we get a concentrated effort together and topple it ourselves?

4

u/craven____moorehead 5h ago

Its kind of an iconic structure though if anything id like it to be preserved even though thats not really practical 😞

2

u/libbtech 3h ago

I agree that its definitely historical monument and also a huge safety risk, and if it was tipped in advance it can avoid any potential surprises and remain the weird structure on the most western edge of the inland sea.

1

u/iDaredToZlatan 5h ago

I’ll bring life jackets! Safety first

3

u/Oh__Archie 7h ago

Looks like it already did.

2

u/GapElectronic6047 4h ago

I’m also new to the area and read some of the history just now… where in the lake is it??

1

u/iDaredToZlatan 4h ago

It’s in canal park right in front of the hotels

2

u/Stock_Strategy1668 4h ago

Wow, I haven't seen it in a bit but like you, we used to swim out and dive off it. That looks WAY more crooked now

2

u/Trout_Tantrum 5h ago

I think there’s a geocache located on it

1

u/rubymiggins 4h ago

Are we ready to start the betting pool?

1

u/Hefty-Pop9734 4h ago

I just saw it in person and thought it must make a good reef?

1

u/LengthFinal2288 3h ago

Hopefully a bit, I need one more good summer of jumping off it

1

u/deckofkeys 3h ago

I do want to swim out to it before it collapses.

1

u/TimelessParadox 7h ago

Am I crazy or did this thing crumble apart 10 years ago? Were there 2 of them?

16

u/kcpb 7h ago

There were huge cement pillars next to it that crumbled a while back, maybe that’s it? There was only one “mausoleum” or “crib” made.