DEAR SUN SPOTS: We read your column every day. Keep up the good work. We have another question. When was the ice palace in the park? We want the year. Thank you. — Ida, Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots’ colleague Ernie turned up a website, www.mainememory.net/artifact/6556/, with a photo of the ice palace and information provided by the Androscoggin Historical Society from Douglas I. Hodgkin’s pictorial history of Lewiston entitled “Lewiston Memories,” page 117.

“The snowshoe clubs were an important part of local French culture. … The winter festivities centered around an ice palace constructed in the city park … or in Hulett Square on Main Street . … Most snowshoers arrived by train from Canada on a Saturday morning at the Grand Trunk station.

“In 1925, they raced on snowshoes to ‘capture’ City Hall; in 1935 the sham attack was upon the ice palace. The weekend featured snowshoe races and a parade displaying colorful uniforms, bands, choral performances, and stunts such as throwing and catching persons in a blanket.

“The Sunday morning parade ended with Mass in SS. Peter and Paul Church.”

Sun Spots emailed Doug, who said he could not be sure of all the years or locations of the ice palace, but he has pictures that indicate it was also built in 1946 and 1950.

To see photos of the ice palace, you could go to the library or visit the Androscoggin Historical Society (784-0586). Perhaps readers will have more information.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am hoping for a little help. In the past you ran a poem about a Sunday drive to Paris, Rome, China and such, never leaving the state of Maine. Could you run it again or maybe a reader would have a copy I could get? Thank you. — Roger E. Cyr, Auburn, cyrroger@yahoo.com

ANSWER: Finding this poem took a bit of searching, as all the terms are common ones. But Sun Spots finally found it in a 2003 column. The poem was provided in response to a question about the famous signpost in Albany Township at the intersection of Routes 35 and 5.

The “Travelogue” poem is by Walter L. Colburn:

We journeyed to Vienna, to Paris and Wales, to Norway and to Denmark, by auto and by rails,

To Egypt and to Smyrna, on to China and Peru, to Sweden and to Poland, explored them through and through.

We traveled on to Naples, to Lisbon and to Rome,

To Dresden and to Athens, and there we felt quite at home.

We stopped at Belfast, at Calais and at York, at Argyle and at Limerick to hear the natives talk.

We hiked away to Milo, Palermo and Madrid, to Corea and to Gilead, by big forests hid.

To Corinth and to Bristol, to Stockholm and to Leeds, to Carthage and to Cornish, all famed for noble deeds.

Then back by way of Mexico, in sunshine and rain and throughout the entire journey, never left the state of Maine.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Woman’s Literary Union is inviting the public to participate in an afternoon of good fellowship with friends and spouses playing cards or table games from 1 to 4 p.m. June 15 in the lovely Foss Mansion, 19 Elm St., Auburn.

This fundraiser will help to support the cultural and educational mission of the Woman’s Literary Union and to maintain and preserve the former home of Horatio and Ella Foss as a museum.

Also, every spring two high school seniors are the recipients of a $1,000 scholarship.

Light refreshments will be served. Weather permitting, tables may be set up on the veranda.

We are looking for door prizes for the event, or donations to buy door prizes.

People wishing to attend or make a donation should call Stephanie at 784-7709 or email womansliteraryunion@gmail.com. Attendees must register prior to June 3

Fee per person is $5 payable at the door. Please bring your own playing cards and games.

We hope to see you there for a lovely afternoon of games and conversation. — Dot, dotbow9771@roadrunner.com

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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