 On June 27, 1925, an employee named O’Neill who worked at a Newcastle fruit shipping plant became violently ill. His sudden illness occurred after he drank water he cooled with ice. Because of a heatwave that week, other workers who worked at fruit shipping plants located from Roseville to Auburn also got sick after drinking ice water. John H. Robinson, who worked at the Auburn Fruit Exchange, had a temperature of 104 degrees for two days before his fever broke and he recovered.
Employees continued to get sick after drinking chilled ice water because the ice used in the Pacific Fruit Express railroad cars was manufactured in the plant in Roseville, and was not meant for human consumption. The heatwave made the ice irresistible to the workers who plopped chunks of it into their drinking water.
The freezing process of water does not eliminate many forms of bacteria. Once thawed, such as in a glass of water, the bacteria can cause illness or even death if consumed.
Workers were told to cool their water by putting it into containers that contacted the ice, rather than directly putting ice into their water.
Photo: Pacific Fruit Express automatic icing operations (Roseville), c. 1955
 Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply
Current recruitments include:
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: Fourth of July Parade & Celebration, Big trucks summer
Rocklin: Celebrate America
Lincoln: Fourth of July Parade
Loomis: Crafternoon: DIY Lava Lamps, SRP Performance: Taiko Drummers
Auburn: Summer Concert Series 2024
Colfax: Farmacy Farmer’s Market
North Lake Tahoe: Music on the Beach, Fourth of July Celebrations
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail
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