Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-02-10


Paul was not sooner suggested than it
was acted upon, and receiving the
sanction of the Chamber of Commerce
the project at once commanded the
interest of the public to such a degree
that for quite space it has seemed as
if the entire population, male and te~
male, had united as a committee of the
whole to contribute to its grandeur and
success. Very soon after the proposal
was made for a winter carnival with
an ice palace and attendant sports the
following official organization was
effected and vigorous preparations for
the festivities begun.
President, George R. Finch, 1st Vice
President, George Thompson. End Wee
President, w. A. Van Slykc, Secretary
A. 3. Tallmadge, Assistant Secretary J. Il
Hanson, Treasurer, Albert Scheffer.
Executive Committee: The above Off
GERS, and Messrs. u. R. Noyes, Fl. G. Ives.
and John Summers.
Board of Directors: George r. Finch,
w. A. Van Slyke, Albert Shelter, Alvaren
Allen, Dennis Ryan, D. r. Noyes r. Mann
heimer, W. II. Dixon, II. G. Ives, +. 3.
Clark, R: Puppy, George Thompson, J; W
+ L: seh A a L. E: Massld, j. +.
Odell, W. H. Fisher, L. F. Kimbail, John
Summers.
1t was at once decided to erect an
Ice Palace, establish Carnival Hall,
provide Toboggan slides, an ice rink
for skating, polo and curling tourna-
ments, driving track for speed con-
tests and other sports, the whole
together forming an aggregation of
winter recreations worthy of the
enterprise and public spirit which
characteristics the people of St. Paul,
and has given the city tho widest
prominence in all that goes to con-
stitute leadership in business under
takings and social amenities.
In the descriptive souvenier issued
by the Association it is mentioned that
the first ice palace of which there is
historical record was built by oder of
Empress Anna of Russia. near the
river Neva, in 1741. 1t was tifty.six
feet in length, eighteen in depth and
twenty-one in height, the pallisading
being eighty-seven feet in length by
thirty-six feet in depth. In 1854, when
Empress Elizabeth held a winter feast,
an ice palace of much greater proper
tons was builded on the Neva. The
idea was introduced into America, by
the enterprising citizens of Montreal,
in 1883, and q palace was erected on
the park adjoining the Windsor Hotel.
In 1854 another palace, more ornate
than the first, was built, and on the
last week in January, 1885, a grand
carnival was hold there with still
more elaborate ice editice as the CEN
trail attraction.
After deciding upon carnival grounds
for which Central Park was secured,
$500 feet north and south by 7OO feet
east and west) with vacant blocks on
either side added, the whole forming
the existing grand Carnival Park, with
an area of fully eight acres, the cree
ton of the now famous ice palace was
begun, the toboggan slides, Kinks &c
provided. For the erection of the ice
palace the carnival association was so
fortunate as to secure the services of
Mr.. j. H. Hutchinson of Montreal,
whose plans were adapted, and on the
14th of January the corner block was
laid with imposing ceremonies, witness
ed by thousands and participated in by
the Governor of the State and Mayor of
the city. The ice palace, of which truth
full illustration accompanies this article
- oxn hn~lro1 onl foot ~,
length by one hundred and twenty feet
in width, with agrand, massive. CEN
trail tower attaining an altitude of one
hundred feet. This tower is provided
with oattlements and embrasures, and
the architecture throughout is of the
pure medieval type. The main tower
Is defended by an outwork about thirty
two feet in height with battlements and
towers at the angles. The outer walls
are twenty inches thick, and the CEN
trail tower forty inches, and something
over 10000 blocks of ice were required
in its construction. The interior is
lighted at night by about so large cleo
trio lights and on the occasion of the
'.storming of the palace by the army
of uniformed sno xshoers, various col
ored lights were burned within, ane
immense quantities of fireworks dis
charged from the towers and battle
ments, producing an effect indescrib
ably magnificent. There are four CRANE
entrances to the palace, through which
spectators pass to the labyrinth O
apartments, viewing the magical ettec
of the solid crystal walls.
While these preparations for the car
nival season were in progress the for
nation of participating clubs was taker
in hand and the following appeared il
the procession upon the opening of thu
St. Paul winter carnival Monday even
ing, February LIST:
FIRST DIVISION.
Platoon of Police.
Commander of Carnival Clubs and Aids
First Regiment
Honored Guests in Carriage.
st. George Snowshoe Club, Dr.. Macdonald
Commanding.
Nakwa Toboggan Club, Minneapolis, w
E. Burweu.
Wacoutas Toboggan Club, Capt. W. H
Adams. Gentlemen and Ladies'
Scandinavian Ski Club, Col. G. Brandt.
Windsor Toboggan Club, Capt. }. II. Un
derwood. Gentlemen and
Ladies.
sxcoxD DIVISION.
/ Can't. William Dawson, Commanding.
| ~ Sons OF Veterans Drum Corps.
North Star Toboggan Club, Capt r G.
:. Wright. :@.