Long Ago in a Kingdom Far Away.

The spectacular work done by Local 1 MN members kept nearly 750,000 visitors mesmerized at the 2004 St. Paul Winter Carnival. Pictured behind the Palace is the Cathedral of St. Paul – winner of the 2003 Craft Award for Best Restoration Project.

The folklore began in 1885 with J.H. Hanson’s “The Crystal Carnival.” The following year marked the first St. Paul Winter Carnival and for over a century, visitors have come to partake in the festival and the legend of King Boreas – created by a St. Paul Dispatch columnist to revive the festivities after a 15-year absence during the Great Depression. This year’s festival was a revival of its own – marking the first time in over a decade that an Ice Palace was constructed.

Of the over 1,300 union volunteers from across the state, 137 were members of Local 1 Minnesota – including many apprentices. Local 1 MN President James Lundquist couldn’t be more proud of the members. “It was a large project to undertake in such a short amount of time,” he said. “We are so appreciative of their selflessness and dedication.”

Members of Local 1 MN took an active role in coordinating the placement of massive 500 pound ice blocks cut from Lake Phalen. Approximately 27,000 blocks of ice were used on the project.

Under the guidance of Apprenticeship Coordinator Mark Wickstrom, Local 1 members installed ice blocks ranging between a massive 400 and 500 pounds, building upwards to a height of 60 feet. Union volunteers were essential in the creation of the Ice Palace – this year an estimated $1.9 million was saved through volunteer efforts putting the total cost of the sculpture at $8.4 million.

Vulcanus Rex, the folklore’s god of Fire and antithesis of King Boreas, unveiled once again his bitter resistance to the celebration by using his forces to produce an unseasonable 48-degree heat wave, putting construction on a three-week delay. Production began in early January when Lake Phalen finally froze. Volunteers cut 27,000 blocks of ice, trimmed them down to size, lifted and placed with cranes, and finally melted them cohesively with LP torches. By January 22nd – the festival’s opening day – a palace fit for King Boreas and his Queen of Snows was erected.

Members of Local 1 MN helped construct the Carnival’s Ice Palace.

Dick Anfang, President of the Minnesota State Building Trades Council, was pleased with the outpouring of union support. He commented, “It’s a challenge, anytime you take on something like this, where you depend on the generosity of people and their own pride and talent. Knowing our history and the pride that members take in their community, we took a gamble, figured we’d win, and we did.”