This ice palace was built in Lewiston City Park, now known as Kennedy Park, in February 1925 as a feature of the first International Snowshoe Congress. Courtesy of the Franco-American Collection, University of Southern Maine Libraries

This ice palace was built in Lewiston City Park, now known as Kennedy Park, in February 1925 as a feature of the first International Snowshoe Congress.

The International Snowshoers Convention debuted in Lewiston in 1925, a year after its host, Le Montagnard club, was formed. It was the nation’s first snowshoe social club and was to be the largest of 17 such clubs in Lewiston. Ninety years later, Le Montagnard and several other Lewiston snowshoe clubs have disappeared, making the 2015 International Snowshoe Convention the last of its kind.

Franco Fridays is a recurring feature offering a photo from the Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College in Lewiston.

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