Peaveys and Ice Tongs

Ice Castle at Saranac Lake

     The first Saranac Lake Winter Carnival was sponsored by the Pontiac Club in 1898. It was a two-day, mid-winter carnival featuring a parade, skating races and the construction of an ice tower. Over time, a castle took the place of the original ice tower.
     Men with hand saws cut 2' x 4' blocks of ice on Flower Lake and hauled the ice blocks to shore by a conveyor belt. The ice blocks were handled with peaveys and tongs, and hoisted with cranes and log loaders. They were cemented in place with slush.
     See how it was done at Saranac Lake Winter Carnival History and Ice Palace History.

     The largest and most extensive man-made snow and ice sculptures are found at the annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival.  Harbin is a city located in Northeast China. Its month-long festival begins each year on January 5. View magnificent photos of the 29th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival at Framework--LATimes.