Sunday Bulletin Board: This was the Ice Palace that looked like no other, before or since!

Where we live

Gregory of Dayton’s Bluff: “Subject: The forgotten Ice Palace.

“There have been many Winter Carnival Ice Palaces built since the first one was constructed in 1886. We see pictures of them every year at Winter Carnival time — but one is usually forgotten, probably because it didn’t look like any other Ice Palace before or since. It was the Ice Court of 1938, built in Dayton’s Bluff.

”The 1938 Ice Court consisted of an Art Deco design with an ice throne in front of two huge disks, the taller being 60 feet in height. An ice-skating rink in front of the grand ice staircase measured 100 feet by 300 feet.

“The Ice Court’s location is often misstated as being either in Indian Mounds Park or in the Bluff Playground. It was actually located in a large empty lot at Plum Street and Mounds Boulevard. The construction of I-94 destroyed most of this area, but the actual spot where the Ice Court was built survived and has since been annexed to Mounds Park.

“Here are three postcards of the 1938 Ice Court — showing it in daylight, at night, and in a tinted version of the night photo, although according to a newspaper article from the time, the artist took considerable liberties with the colors.”

Where we live

See world

KH of White Bear Lake reports: “Subject: Name That Creature.

“The first photo, taken in a tidal pool, is a ‘chiton.’ According to the naturalist (who identified it by matching it to a picture in his reference book), its mouth is located on the underside of the animal, and contains a tongue-like structure called a radula, which has numerous rows of 17 teeth each. The teeth are coated with magnetite, a hard ferric/ferrous-oxide material. This allows it to ‘chew’ a pit into even the hardest rock. The chiton makes a secure home in this pit and ventures out only to forage for food at night.

“The second photo was taken in the same tidal pool. The naturalist was unable to find a matching picture in his reference book.”

BULLETIN BOARD SAYS: We make no pretense to being an Edge of the Sea Authority, but are quite confident in saying that what we have here is the exceedingly rare and elusive Four-Holed Gray Button. Add that to your Life List!

Our theater of seasons

Or: Now & Then

Gregory of the North: “My beautiful wife and I were talking this morning about how the current electronic media outlets catastrophize winter weather these days. When I was growing up, we walked to grade school and high school (there were no buses), and we went regardless of the temperature or snow. I distinctly recall walking to school when the temperature was -20, because my dad made such a notable deal about it. He worked outside at the Great Northern Railway in those days, so bundling up was necessary for him. And so I’d be bundled up to walk to school. There were no down jackets or heated boots in those days. We just put sweaters on over our shirts, and wool coats over that. We also made ample use of scarves and headgear. I remember the mittens having been woven by my aunt, made of woolen yarn. Galoshes that were put over your shoes kept your feet dry and warm. And in spite of this, we maintained the school dress code of cotton shirts and slacks (not jeans) with oxford shoes for the boys, and skirts or dresses for the girls, although they were allowed to wear tights or woolen leggings, the latter of which had to be removed during class hours. We all survived just fine in the cold, and the snow always seemed much deeper in those days. (Remember putting chains on the back wheels of cars to improve traction?) And no one shouted how awful it was; it was just a normal Minnesota winter.

“Stay warm!”

Our theater of seasons

Little Sister: “Like most sane people, my thoughts are turning to spring. Despite the ominous forecast for the coming week, I hold on to whatever shreds of hope I can muster that winter will pass. Among these are knowing that every trace of Christmas has been thoroughly swept from my house, glimmers of daylight remain past 5:30 in the afternoon, and Valentine decor now brightens every Big Box store. When chocolate bunnies replace chocolate hearts on the shelves, I know we’ve really turned a corner.

“To make these cabin-fever days more productive, I’ve been sorting through and digitalizing my dad’s old slides. At last count, there were over 650 I’d uploaded. This does not count the many scenery shots discarded that were lacking any sign of humanity. One picture of Mount Rushmore is adequate, not half a dozen from varying angles. It’s evident Dad thought that more was better.

“Most of the slides were taken during the 1950s through the ’70s and chronicle the passing chapters in our family members’ lives. The photo I’m sharing is one that not only feeds my nostalgic nature, but intensifies my yearning for spring. (It also reminds me of how much I hate wearing hats of any kind. The fuzzy one I have on in the picture was itchy where it tied under my chin, and the static made my hair stand on end when I took it off.)

“There was a low spot between some trees on our farm that was a glorious collection of melting snow, usually making an appearance in late March or early April. Most springs, we could count on at least a couple feet of icy water at its deepest point  — which provided endless entertainment opportunities for us kids. We would take turns poling our way around in a makeshift raft on warm days, or daring each other to take off our rubber boots and socks and see who could endure wading around in the muck the longest. Sometimes we would put on our skates and race across when freezing temperatures left behind a rink sturdy enough to hold us. I was insulted that my older brothers were instructed to keep an eye on me, because I knew my mother kept watch on the whole scene from her vantage point at the kitchen window.

“I’ve always had a love and fascination with water, and that first spring pond stirred up the anticipation of long summer afternoons spent swimming in the lake that was within walking distance. I remember thinking that if it warmed up enough, we could surely swim in our snow pond!

“Today, I’ll have to settle for watching the hardy winter robins out my kitchen window, while they roost in the crabapple trees and make a meal out of the remaining dried fruit. I can only pretend that they just returned from balmy points south and that spring is just around the corner.”

Department of Duh

Rusty of St. Paul: “I feel like such a dope! As does my wife.

“We have owned cars, simultaneously, that have had the gas caps on opposite sides. So we would try to remember that the Swedish car is on the right and the Japanese car is on the left and the German car is on the right. But sometimes we couldn’t remember, and would ask each other as we pulled into the filling station. Sometimes we were wrong and had to reposition — embarrassing if other cars were waiting to fill up.

“This issue came up in conversation the other day, and a relative told us all you have to do is look at the gas-pump icon on your dash and see which side the arrow is pointing to. Say what?! Look at which side the arrow is pointing to.

“I am a reasonably smart person, and I read a lot, and I don’t know how I missed this fact over the years. This makes me wonder what other simpleton facts I don’t know about.

“I decided to ask two other relatives at a party that night how they know which side the filler tube is on. One said to check the arrow. The next relative I tried, I did not feel would know the answer. She said: ‘You look at the pump symbol on your dash and see what side the arrow is pointing to.’ (!)

“What I haven’t done yet is to see if the 2003 Japanese car and the 2004 Swedish car are ancient enough not to have the arrow. I am hoping they do not!”

The great comebacks

The Doryman of Prescott, Wis.: “HELP!

“There is no mail delivery today, due to cold temperatures. Does anyone know if Kohl’s is having a sale?”

Our pets, our service/companion/comfort animals, ourselves

Kathy S. of St. Paul: “Subject: Pet Rules.

“We have gone to the dogs — or cats – or ostriches. A.k.a. Comfort Animals.

“First, I want to say that some folks need service or comfort animals, which might or might not be vetted and trained. I recently met a youngish guy who has epilepsy. His dog warns him of seizures so he can protect himself. I am glad that he has this help, no matter how his dog was trained.

“But the whole topic of pets has gone pretty crazy lately. I remember when people rarely took their pets to a vet, no matter how sick. Folks struggling to feed their kids saw veterinarians as too expensive. That has changed. Now some folks don’t leave home without their security blanket (a.k.a. dog, etc.). And pet stuff is big business.

“A few years back, I flew to Montana. I asked about pets in the plane cabin for my flights, because I’m very allergic to cats. I learned the number of pets that would be flying with us, but not their type or seat numbers. Since the pets were booked first, their locations trumped my health problems. I hope a more realistic approach may be devised so that humans’ rights receive priority where necessary.

“Pets on airplanes aren’t the biggest challenge, though. The doted-upon pets in workplaces and apartment buildings, etc., concern me much more — because I can’t count on all owners to control them in halls and lobbies. Pet holders love their darlings so much that they (drum roll!) assume that I also treasure every single thing they do — even when one escapes its home and dashes between my feet before I know it is loose. Since I use a walking stick for stability, it is sheer luck that I didn’t trip over said treasured dog.

“There are also times when strangers can’t or don’t want to touch pets, due to allergies, etc. It is like hugs. Polite people don’t touch without permission. In grocery stores, I warn people when I might bump into them.

“And, re: allergies: I became allergic to cats by touching a cat and then my face. The ‘white part’ of my left eye bulges out when I am too close to a cat — especially a Siamese. So no, I shouldn’t just ‘take a pill’ when I am around cats. I need distance — and don’t get me going on folks who demand that I adore their lovies regardless. It is really scary having your eye bulge out.

“May I propose some rules for these loves of our neighbors’ lives?

“First: Pets must be controlled by the owners in common spaces. As in: held with a short leash at all times. And prevented from lunging, etc.

“Second: I do not need to love your pet — though I may. I rejoice in your wonderful relationship. But I have a friend who once put the needs of her cat above my welfare. Tears were streaming down my face from a reaction, but she would not keep the cat away from me. Because it had rights. I had to leave.

“I’m sure BBers can add to this list. But I have one last point to make. People like the Japanese follow intricate rules of civility. They are so packed together in their spaces that the alternative could be war.

“Just saying . . .”

It takes all kinds!

Newport Reader: “I am doing some volunteer work for an organization (thankfully in Florida), and my job is to organize a massive collection of books. It is interesting to see the various kinds of bookmarks that previous readers have used. So far the most interesting is toilet paper!”

Band Name of the Day: Such Dopes

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