River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-02-11

Some three months ago, perhaps, the
idea of holding a winter carnival at st.
Paul was not sooner suggested than 1t
was acted upon, and receiving the
sanction of the Chamber Of Commerce
the project ut once commanded the
interest of the public 20 such a degree
that for quite a space it has seemed as
if the entire population, male and fe-
male, had united as committee Of the
whole to contribute TO its grandeur and
success. Very soon after the proposal
was made for winter carnival with
an ice palace and attendant sports the
following official organization was
effected and vigorous preparations for
the festivities begun.
President, George II. Finch, LIST Vice
President, George Thompson. End Wee
President, W. A. Van Slyke, Secretary,
\. ). Tallmadge, Assistant Secretary j II
Hanson, Treasurer, Albert Schetfer.
Executive Committee: The above OIL
GERS, and Messrs. y. r. Noyes, IA. q. Ives,
and John Summers
Board Of Directors George r. Finch.
" y. hu Oily hts = AEcEb E1iiciAtt, NV a. Ni
Alien, Dennis RYAN, D. X. Noyes, II. Mann
heimer, w. II. Dixon, IL. G. Ives, L. T.
Clark, II. DuPuy, George Thompson, j. W.
McCtung, a. 5. Tallmadge, Ill. ;. Fairchld,
/. L. Srhurmeier, l.. II MaXtield, }. r.
Odell, w. II, Fisher, l.. i. kimball, John
Summers.
1t was at once decided to erect an
Ice Palace, establish Carnival Hall
provide Tobo5gau slides, "a ice rink
for skating, polo and curling tourps-
mcnts. driving track for speed con-
tests and other sports, the whole
together forming an aggregation II
winter recrcations worthy of the
enterprise and public spirit which
characteristics the people of st. Paul,
and has given the city the widest
promuonce in all that goes to con.
stitute leadership in business under
takings and social amenities.
In the descriptive souvenier issued
by tho Association it is mentioned that
the first ice palace of which there is
historical record was built by order of
Empress Anna of Russia, near the
7 .iYgr ReFa, in 1f4l. 1t was fifty-siX
feet in length, eighteen in depth and
twenty-one in height, the pallisading
being eighty-seyen feet in length by
thirty-siX feet in depth. In 1904, when
Empress Elizabeth held a winter feast,
an ice palace of much greater proper
tions was builded on the Neva. The
Idea was introduced iato America, by
the enterprisipg citizens of Montreal,
in 1883, and palace was erected on
he park adjoining tho Windsor Hotel.
In 1854 another palace, more ornate
than the first, was built, and on the
carnival was held there with still
more elaborate ice editice as the CEN
trail attraction.
After deciding upon carnival grounds
for which Central Park was secured,
600 feet north and south by 700 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 erec-
ton of the now famous ice palace was
begun, the toboggan slides. Kinks DC
provided. For the erection of the ice
palace the carnival association was so
fortunate as to secure the service of
Mr.. j. ii. 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 VI the state and Mayor of
the city. The ice palace, of which truth
full illustration accompanies this article
is one hundred and forty-four feet in
length by one hundred and twenty feet
in width, with grand, massive, CEN
tral 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
10 its construction. The interior is
lighted at night by about so large elec'
trio lights and on the occasion of the
"storming of the palace" by the army
of uniformed sno 4shoers, various col
ored lights were burned within, anC
immense quantities OF fireworks dis
charged from the towers and battle
ments, producing an effect ludescrlb
ably magnificent. There are four granC
entrances to the palace, through which
spectators pass TO the labyrinth o
apartments, viewing the magical ctlec
of the solid crystal walls.
No description that may be her
written will give adequate conception
of the splendor of the scene which sig
nailed the opening of the first ice pal
ace in the United States, well charac
terized as nc largest and grandest ic
castle in the world, exceeding IN di
mensions and details the ice Structuer
of Russia and Montreal. The line O
march of the uniformed and torch bear
ing clubs on that eventful evening
through many streets that were ga
with decorations and illumined wit
| red fire, while rockets and roman can
dies added to the inspiration OF tn
hour.
I Notwithstanding the intense cold G
: the night the witnesses Of the enchantln
, spectacle were to be counted by thou'
ands and the air was filled with shout
4; Of Generalization and approval sweetc
: than music, testifying of the enthusiast
; and interest of the people. The bri
5 liant line of torch-bearers IN their pl'
r turesque costumes, the incessant glo'
of pyrotechnics, the illuminated dwell
ings, stores and shops, the decorate
} buildings, with hags, streamers, bar
, ners and other insignia all combined
i produce an effect Of grandeur withor
r a parallel and covered the city with
: literal blaze of glory.
! At the carnival grounds the form;
{ opening of the famed ice palace too
/ place amid a scene of weird beauty an
{ facination that exceeded any possibl
t dream of fairy land and made the nigf
glorious to the brave men and IA
women Immediately participating, an
/ to the vast multitude of visiting an
: resident spectators. The ceremoni'
Df the openiuv consisted of 8 brief az