DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to Ida, who wanted more information about the ice palaces in Lewiston, I believe I can elaborate on the information provided by Doug Hodgkin (May 30).

The ice palaces were an important component of snowshoe club conventions in Lewiston and elsewhere. As Professor Hodgkin noted, there was often a mock attack on the palace as part of the festivities. The Franco-American Collection has lots of images and memorabilia from the snowshoe clubs and their conventions.

As far as I can identify, ice palaces were built for all or most of the conventions held in Lewiston. I could only find one example of an ice palace on Main Street in Lewiston. The rest appear to have been constructed in City (later Kennedy) Park, probably much to the relief of local motorists!

Lewiston was actually the site of the first international snowshoe convention in North America. Snowshoeing had been popular in Canada since the 19th century, and it was introduced to the United States by the French-Canadian immigrants.

In 1922, Louis-Philippe Gagne came to Lewiston from Quebec, where he had been a sports reporter for Le Soleil. Soon afterwards, he formed the first permanent snowshoe club in Lewiston, Les Montagnards (The Mountaineers).

In 1924, this single club of only 30 or so members (only three of whom had uniforms) took on the ambitious project of inviting every Canadian snowshoe club to Lewiston for a convention.

Between Feb. 7-9, 1925, more than 800 Canadians from 25 clubs joined the small American contingent, represented by the Montagnards. The program for the convention included a mock attack on City Hall by the Canadian snowshoers, followed by the firing of cannon in defense of the city building by the hosts.

The “attack” forgiven, the snowshoers were then greeted by Gov. Percival Baxter and Lewiston Mayor Charles Brann at City Hall. The afternoon saw races in City Park — 100-, 220-, 440- and 880-yard runs, a 3-mile run and a 3-mile walk. A

fter a baked bean supper at the Armory, there was another “attack” on the ice palace in the park, which was constructed with ice from No Name Pond in Auburn, where the Montagnards had their chalet. The Lewiston Daily Sun reported:

“The evening was featured by a parade and a fireworks exhibition in the ice palace in the city park, the like of which was never before seen in this city, if in any Maine or New England city. The spectators thronged the streets and stood about the city park, completely surrounding the ice palace, forming a mass at least 100 deep. In fact, so many were on the streets that it almost seemed as if every person in the town able to get outdoors was on the scene.”

Like many snowshoe gatherings, the event was bawdy and raucous. Despite being held during the Prohibition era, the press described the event as having a “Mardi Gras” atmosphere, and implied that the participants were not as “dry” as the law demanded. This might explain the “mutual petting party” described by onlookers, and pranks such as false fire alarms, joy rides in hearses and women’s lingerie worn as headgear.

At least 10 international conventions were held in Lewiston — 1925, 1935, 1950, 1956, 1961, 1970, 1974, 1979, 1983 and 2009. Ice palaces were constructed for these occasions and for other national or local gatherings of snowshoers. — James Myall, coordinator, Franco-American Collection, University of Southern Maine

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