Ice Tree

This morning I dropped off the light fixtures in the garage and then took a tour of the house.  It looks great, but seeing it isn't easy.  The painters primed everything, painted the ceilings, and then stained the trim stock and some of the doors.  All that material is leaning against walls and lying on the floors, so I had to step gingerly to avoid messing up their work.  I'll take some photos tomorrow.

During the winter, if you approach Alpena from the south on US-23, you will drive past a very large, odd-looking ice cube in the city's Mich-E-Ke-Wis Park.  It's quite eye-catching!

Alpena's Ice Tree

For over 20 years the Ice Tree has been the special passion of local businessman Wayne Kowalski, who initially proposed the ice sculpture for a winter festival in the late 1980s.  The festival faded away after a few years, but Kowalski's dedication to his Ice Tree has remained constant.  (Well, truth be told, he did drop it one winter, but local folks pestered him so much he brought it back the following winter.)

The 30-foot-tall tree looms over US-23.

The Ice Tree is similar to one built annually at Gaylord.  Alro Steel donated the steel frame on which the sculpture is built, and other business people helped with the colored lights which illuminate the Tree at night.  Kowalski starts spraying water in November, and the tree takes shape after three days.  He keeps it up weekly until February.  After that the Tree melts away at its own pace.  Creating the Tree requires 130-460,000 gallons of water each year, depending on winter temperatures.

This is a favorite "photo stop" for visitors to Alpena.

You know, you could probably build your own Tree at home.  All you need is a steel frame and a garden hose!  Your friends and neighbors will be impressed! •••