LB2016.15.708

LB2016.15.708

Coronation of the Queen of the Winter Carnival at the Amphitheater, Camden, Maine. About three miles from the sea are Camden's lakes and ponds. At Hosmer Pond, with the National Toboggan Races over and winter coming to an end, we think of the beginning of the Camden Snow Bowl in 1936 when the site was chosen. It was one of the largest volunteer projects ever attempted in this area. All the lumber was floated across the Pond, while 150 volunteers did whatever their job was. Some did carpentry, clearing, cooking, mixing cement and the chute was built in 12 foot lengths and 12 men carried them up the slope. The WPA built the road to the Lodge house and furnished 75 men to groom the ski slopes and trails. The Lions Club sponsored the first Winter Carnival and Priscilla Bates was chosen as queen in 1936. The following queens were: Dorothy Mitchell 1937 Mary Bryant 1938 Phyllis Packard 1939 Lucy Dickens 1940 Doris Moody 1941 The four runners-up became the "Ladies-in-Waiting." Girls who wished to enter the contest came from both Knox and Waldo counties. The tickets were $1 for the whole week of activities, which included dancing on the ice, skating, hockey games, horse racing, dog sled racing, wood sawing contests, potato racing and figure skating exhibitions.