AboutJohn V. Barbieri Expertise I am a New York City trivia buff. I have written "Mr. New York`s Trivia Quiz", a 600-page fun book which offers hundreds of multiple choice questions and answers. Each of the 38 chapters cover a different aspect of NYC. The topics include: places, people, history, sports, buildings, theatre, fun facts & more.
Experience I was born and raised in NYC. My website is www.mrnewyorktrivia.com
Organizations N.Y. Trial Lawyer's Association
Publications In New York magazine.
Education/Credentials St. John's Law School, New York
Question I am writing a freelance article on Old New York, and came across
smokehouses and icehouses. I wanted to know if there are any still
existing in New York, or if there is an organization that might be
able to help me locate this information.
Ruppert Ice House----
20 Bruckner Boulevard: (Mott Haven Industrial District)The Ruppert Ice House took advantage of the growing need for manufactured ice after natural icesources became too polluted. Before the advent of modern refrigeration, ice could only beproduced by large icehouses, of which this building is a rare example in New York City. Ice was aparticularly important component for the brewing of beer, and in 1899 this factory was designedand built by Julius Kastner for Jacob Ruppert, a well-known brewer.The four-story steel frame factory with brick cladding utilized a steam powered ammoniacompression system to manufacture ice and took advantage of the site's proximity to truck, waterand rail transportation for the shipment of the finished product to Ruppert's brewery at ThirdAvenue and 92ndStreet in Manhattan, in addition to other area merchants. The ice factorybecame obsolete with the invention of modern refrigeration.
