Harman Ice began in Johnson City, TN in January 1915 when C.E. Walker and his brother-in-law R.E. Harman partnered together to form Walker Ice and Coal Company. Their business slowly grew over the next two decades, and in January 1935 R.E. Harman bought the company from C.E. Walker. Mr. Harman was later joined by his son Estel Harman who assisted him in operating the family business. Harman Ice continued to evolve through innovations in ice manufacturing, improvements in refrigeration after WWII, and the addition of new staff and leadership, including R.E. Harman’s grandson, Harry E. Harman in 1981, Reese Harman in 1997, and Andy Harman in 2001.
As the company grew, so did the need to produce more ice. In the winter of 2001 the Harman family decided to upgrade the Johnson City facility by installing new ice makers and packaging equipment increasing the plants capacity to 60 tons per day. The following year more production equipment was added bringing the size of the plant to 120 tons per day.