Ice House Street 雪廠街

Before 1874 ice was imported from the USA.
On 17 May 1845 it was reported that arrangement had been made for building an ice house and for obtaining a supply of ice from the United States, for the purpose of comfort or luxury, and valuable medicine in hot months of summer and autumn. It was proposed to meet the expense by disposal of shares: shareholding for first year privilege of certain quantity of ice daily for nothing, and surplus stock will be sold at reasonable rates; a quantity of 10 shares for hospital. The Government gave a site for the erection of the building. On 21 June it was reported a cargo of ice was on way from Boston. On 21 October 1845, led by Mr. L.A. Stone of #2 Gough Street, arrangement was made for erection of an Ice House, for regular supply of ice. Two years later, it was reported on 28 July 1847 that the ice ship Ashburton, which sailed from Boston on 9 March, had arrived. On 18 August 1847, the Ice Committee set ice price at $4 cents per pound, but summer was almost over. Around 19 March 1848, Hamilton from Boston arrived with 200 tons of ice, in time for the hot months.
在1874年以前，香港的冰是從美國運來的。最早有關記載是1845年的5月17日，殖民政府提供土地建冰廠房。香港最早見到冰的大約是1847年7月底，約8月中旬才開始販賣於公眾；1848年開始有按期即時供應市場。至於中文為什麼翻譯成「雪廠」？沒有明確記載。可能當時的人，冰與雪分不清，或者開始是以像雪一樣的刨冰形式零售的。
《廣東新語》：「粵無冰 ...... 即或有微冰，輒以為雪；或有微雪，以為冰。人至白首有冰雪不能辨者。」