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When queens held court over a frozen Alpena

Memories from the now-defunct Winter Carnival

Courtesy Photos A scene outside the Alpena train depot as visitors arrive for the Winter Carnival.

ALPENA ­– At an energetic 87 years of age, Marilyn (LaComb) Bauer is a lifelong Alpena County resident.

She was a school teacher at Hinks Elementary, south of Alpena. Marilyn and her husband, Rudy, for over five decades operated the Alpena Glass Co. A son now operates the company as a family business.

As the autumn leaves change color and the temperatures become cooler, Marilyn reflects on years past, when Alpena hosted a massive Winter Carnival.

Begun in 1935, the annual Winter Carnival operated until the early 1960s. The only exception in the long run was during World War II, when it was halted in 1943 and 1945. In 1944, with a queen, it offered an abbreviated format. The carnival was traditionally held just before the beginning of Lent.

The carnival, which was held at Mich-e-ke-wis Park, attracted thousands. It also offered a Snow Train, which ran from Detroit to Alpena. With stops as it headed north, guests were from lower and Mid-Michigan. The multi-car train, which included members of the Alpena Club of Greater Detroit, arrived at the station on 11th Avenue.

Some of the pins and buttons handed out during the Winter Carnvial in past years.

In 1957, the Snow Train carried over 500 passengers, but ceased operations soon after.

As for the Carnival, records and newspaper accounts revealed it offered competitive hockey, speed and figure skating, barrel jumping, snow shoeing, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, hunting of rabbits, bob cats and fox, as well as sleigh rides and horse racing.

In more recent years, cold water ice diving was featured.

Admission to all events was free.

In the early years, the carnival offered a queen and court. During the course of years, there was periodically a king.

Marilyn recalls past carnivals that included a throne constructed from Thunder Bay ice blocks. It was engulfed in electric lights, where the queen and her court presided over the festivities.

In the mid-1980s, Marilyn had a firm and aggressive vision to bring back a Winter Carnival.

Surrounded by the talents of many, including Lorraine Graham, the late Dick Hunter, and city and county leadership, a reinvigorated 1987 carnival started with a fundraising evening held at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan. That year was the state’s sesquicentennial.

To her surprise, at this event, Marilyn was crowned queen. And, during the carnival, queens from years past were featured.

That event was followed by multi-day activities at Mich-e-ke-was and the Alpena County Fairgrounds.

“On the days before the 1987 carnival, northeastern Michigan lacked any significant snowfall and accumulation,” Marilyn said. “The night of the Besser Museum event, the region was hit by a major blizzard.”

County commissioner Don MacNall and his direct reports ensured that, after the blizzard, the fairgrounds and buildings were fully ready for the carnival.

In advance of and during the carnival, snow sculptures began to appear on the grounds of what was then called Alpena General Hospital and throughout other commercial and residential areas, Marilyn recounted.

Rumor was there was a mysterious theft of snow to construct those sculptures.

On State Avenue, where Tony’s Hamburgers once stood, is now a car wash. Across the street from the wash, owner Wayne Kowalski erected Alpena’s ice tree. That unique tree was auctioned off for future carnivals.

The carnival was financed by funds from the gala, along with gracious donors and sponsors.

Event admission was complimentary.

With excess funds, the 1987 carnival helped fund 1988 and 1989 Carnivals.

During years of the carnival, participants established skating and other state records. For the Guinness Book of World Records, Janet Hainstock was listed as world champion barrel jumper.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a former Alpena resident and retired healthcare CEO. He writes periodic historic feature stories and resides in suburban Detroit.

Historic Facts: Alpena Winter Carnival

∫ Began in 1935

∫ First queen was Mary Meherg Fletcher

∫ For a number of years, a passenger train ran from Detroit to Alpena’s Winter Carnival

∫ The carnival ceased during World War II in 1943 and 1945, offered an abbreviated format in 1944

∫ Ceased operation in the mid-1960s

∫ Resurfaced in 1987 and operated until 1990

∫ Sports and activity attendance were free. Donors

and sponsors helped underwrite.

∫ Produced a number of local, state, and national

winter sports records

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