BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 18, 2026
Every winter, Munson Island on West Grand Lake carries on a tradition that has lasted decades. This past weekend, my husband, Ed Tomah, made history by completing a job that normally takes three to five men. He cut and hauled 60 blocks of ice entirely on his own — something no one had ever done before on the island. Large blocks were scored, sawn free, hauled from the lake and stacked inside the ice house on the lower north side of the island. Sawdust was packed, as it still is today, to preserve the blocks through the summer. Through changing times, modern tools and evolving island life, the winter ice harvest has remained meaningful. Three generations of my family have taken part in the work. For us, it has always been more than a job — it’s shared labor, pride and history. ~ Tonya Tobey-Tomah