Then and Now preview: Pacific Pak Ice plant

The building housing the Pacific Pak Ice plant was built in 1911 as a meat packing facility. Although the meat packing is gone, the ice factory still uses some of the original refrigeration equipment for ice storage. The old building at 124 S. Jefferson is over a century old, but it is still adequate for ice making, which has been its sole use since 1969. The owner told me that in the 1960s and 1970s, their main business was providing “cocktail ice” for bars and restaurants. Today, it’s mostly supermarkets and convenience stores, partly because bars sometimes have their own ice machines and partly because mixed drinks aren’t as popular as they once were. The building bears the name “Morris and Co.” above the door. Check out Monday’s Spokesman-Review for the story of Nelson Morris and his adventures.