it is rare to see block ice for sale in many areas. Up until the sixties it was standard delivery. Had an ice house next door to my office in the 70’s. It was run by an old Italian guy. After the owner and I arrived, the various office staff including a half dozen women would arrive. It was a rough neighborhood.
The ice house guy would stand out on the sidewalk with his hand in his jacket on a snub nosed revolver. Anyone bothering our staff would get a big growl.
Ah, civilization.
This ice house is very old (est. 1902), and in a not-so-nice neighborhood. They make the ice in big blocks, then feed it into the ice chipper—looks just like a shiny wood chipper.