Oxford County Historic Skiing Sites:

Transcription

1 Celebrating and Preserving the History and Heritage of Maine Skiing Spring 2015 Ski Museum of Maine Oxford County Historic Skiing Sites: Interpretive map being developed by Ski Museum By Scott Andrews Editor, Snow Trail Liz Chenard and Leslie Miller were two of 37 junior athletes from Rumford s Chisholm Ski Club who competed at the national level during the 1970s. The Chisholm Ski Club, founded in 1924, is Maine s oldest, and it boasts a long and proud history that continues to the present. (Courtesy Wendall Chummy Broomhall) Oxford County has been a hotbed of Maine skiing for more than a century, a geographic theme that s visually underscored by a new interpretive map that s being developed by the Ski Museum of Maine. Oxford County s claim to historical fame dates from the 1890s, when Finnish immigrants first settled in West Paris and surrounding towns. Skiing was one of the Finns many contributions to Maine s culture. In 1895 a lone skee-man vistied Fryeburg. He was with a group of snowshoe enthusiasts from the Boston-based Appalachian Mountain Club. About the turn of the 20th century, the Paris Manufacturing Company began making skis. Most of the workers in the ski department were local Finns. Rumford s long and distinguished ski history began about the time of World War I, when a Norwegian immigrant named Mat Nilsen arrived in town and began to amaze local folks with his prowess on skis. A few years later, he co-founded the Chisholm Ski Club, which remains active to the present. Please turn to page 1 7

2 Upcoming Ski Museum Events President: Secretary: Treasurer: Ski Museum of Maine Snow Trail Scott Andrews, Editor Spring P.O. Box 359 Kingfield, ME (207) Founded in 1995, the Ski Museum of Maine is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established with the mission to celebrate and preserve the history and heritage of Maine skiing. The Ski Museum exhibits artifacts, photographs, artwork and documents at its location in Kingfield, conducts educational programs to ski clubs, schools, libraries, historical and civic organizations, and hosts social events and activities throughout the year. Officers Wende Gray, Bethel Russ Murley, Po wnal Vito Courtney, Freeport Board Members Scott Andrews, historian, Portland Leigh Breidenbach, Turner Cooper Friend, Ellsworth Dave Irons, Wes tb ro ok Glenn Parkinson, Freeport Megan Roberts, Farmington Phil Savignano, Auburn Greg Sweetser, Cumberland Gerry Thompson, Falmouth Michele Varuolo Cole, Bethel Karla Wolters, Madawaska Lake Staff Executive director: Bruce Miles, Carrabassett Valley Monday, June 8 Third Annual Ski Maine Golf Classic (to benefit Ski Museum of Maine) Nonesuch River Golf Course Scarborough Friday, June 26 Kingfield Pops Weekend (Ski Museum open until 8 p.m.) Kingfield Saturday, July 18 MollyOckett Day Bethel Common Bethel Friday, August 7 Kingfield First Friday Art Walk (Ski Museum open until 8 p.m.) Kingfield Saturday, October 24 Maine Ski Hall of Fame Banquet Grand Summit Hotel Sunday River Mountain Resort Newry Saturday, February 13, 2016 Maine Ski Heritage Classic Sugarloaf Mountain Resort Carrabassett Valley 2

3 From the president... As I reflect on the contributions of the Ski Museum s past presidents, I will be honored to officially become president of the Museum s board of directors this June. I hope that I can bring to the presidency even a small amount of the vision of Don Hayes, the work ethic of Jean Luce, the enthusiasm of John Christie, the historical knowledge of Glenn Parkinson and the writing and organizational skills of Jill Ducharme. I look forward to leading our board and staff in fulfilling the Museum s mission of celebrating and preserving the history and heritage of skiing in Maine. Since coming to Maine in the early 1970s, my career has centered around the skiing industry. Arriving in Maine fresh out of college, I secured a position in public relations with the Maine Department of Economic Development and was lucky to be assigned the promotion and publicity of tourism and skiing. Soon I was off to the mountains every weekend. In 1972 Sugarloaf s general manager Harry Baxter offered me a job as marketing coordinator. Harry was a wonderful mentor! After Harry left Sugarloaf, I moved to the coast as general manager of the Camden Snow Bowl. I can now say that along with marketing I can shake hay, grease sheaves, load T-bars and make a wicked good fish chowder. In 1980, my good friend and Ski Maine colleague, Les Otten, purchased Sunday River. He offered me a position as Sunday River s marketing manager, and I moved to Bethel, where I live today. In 1989, I left Sunday River and formed my own marketing and public relations business. The Maine Nordic Ski Council was one of my first clients and I served as its executive director from For the past decade I ve been skiing just for fun and had the pleasure of serving as the coordinator for the Road Scholar alpine and nordic ski weeks at the Bethel Inn Resort. In 2013 I was a elected to the board of the Ski Museum, became vice president in 2014 and am now performing the duties of the president after Jill s resignation. My goal for the Ski Museum is to expand the museum s presence throughout the state of Maine with the development of exhibits and displays at local ski areas and historical societies, expanded schedule of skiing history presentations to civic and cultural organizations, schools and colleges and the establishment of a satellite museum in the Bethel. During the past year, The Ski Museum s Bethel Project has made great strides in raising awareness and funds in Wende Gray, president the western Maine region. We have staffed our booth at Bethel s MollyOckett Day in July, Harvest Fest in September, Ski Depot Open House in October and Heritage Day at Mount Abram in December. The Ski Museum has joined the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bethel Area Non-Profit Collaborative. We hosted several first time fund-raising events: The Sunri Ski Fashion Show at the Bethel Inn Resort in November, a Celebration of Nordic Skiing at Carter s Cross Country Ski Center on New Year s Day and the First Annual Skee Spree and Auction at White Cap Lodge at Sunday River over Martin Luther King weekend in January. More than 40 individuals and businesses in the Oxford County region have become members of the Ski Museum and are invested in establishing a satellite museum in the community. As the Ski Museum of Maine celebrates its 20th anniversary, we can proudly look back to see how far we have come from our humble beginnings. At first we were simply storing the Sugarloaf Ski Club s archives in a Carrabassett barn. Nowadays we maintain an exhibit at a prominent Kingfield location that displays artifacts, photos, documents and other memorabilia. I hope you will join me in fulfilling the Ski Museum s mission in the years to come. Wende Gray President, Ski Museum of Maine 3

4 From the executive director... Nothing portrays history like first-hand documents. This past winter Cate Gilbane, a museum supporter and a member of the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club, contacted me to ask if the Ski Museum was interested in some documents from her dad s possessions. I immediately replied with an emphatic yes. Her dad is Phineas Sprague of Cape Elizabeth, a charter member of the Sugarloaf Ski Club and one of the people instrumental in the development of the mountain. Fortunately for us he saved much of his correspondence with his fellow club members. In this collection -- numbering more than 200 scanned documents, photos and news clippings -- a good picture emerges of the challenges that faced this group of visionaries. Many of the documents are handwritten letters sent by Phineas to Bob Scully, Robert Bass, Horace Chapman and other club members involved in the endeavor. The letters tell of the steps taken by members of this group as they tackle the many issues of building a ski area. The role of the Maine Ski Council, which had been formed in 1949, is shown to have played a major role in getting support from the state government. The letters describe the strategy of selling 400 memberships to the newly formed Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club. The Club was incorporated in July of 1950, and its very ambitious agenda required the participation of many people. The letters describe how landowners would be approached. Since money was an issue, leasing was the preferred option. The letters convey a sense of excitement. These were young businessmen who were all involved in their own careers, but they possessed a passion for the sport of skiing and were eager to volunteer their time to make this project happen. An undertaking this big by a volunteer club -- as opposed to a business entity -- was rare in Maine. These letters, pictures and documents span several years and chronicle the development of Sugarloaf between 1950 an It started with one trail run by a club to the formation (by the club members) of a corporation to raise capital to build lifts and other infrastructure. The Ski Museum is grateful to Cate Gilbane for sharing these artifacts with us. We pledge to preserve them and make available for all to see. While hard artifacts like skis, boots and other items are valuable to the collections on display, these types of documents are also invaluable to our mission to celebrate and preserve the history Amos Winter, one of the driving forces behind the development of skiing at Sugarloaf, greets an unidentified customer at the ticket window about This photo is one of many from the collection of Phineas Sprague, another key figure. A digital copy was shared with the Ski Museum of Maine. (Courtesy Cate Gilbane) and heritage of Maine skiing. We are fortunate that the founders of Sugarloaf kept good records of the early days. Our hope is that many of you who have been (or know) people who were involved in the formative years have more of this type of memorabilia. If you do, please consider sharing it with us -- so that we can share it with all and help ensure that the history of the development of the sport we all love will not get lost to future generations. Bruce Miles, Executive director Ski Museum of Maine 4

5 Thoughts while spring cleaning... Spring Cleaning is the annual ritual when skiers and snowboarders hang up their gear, clean out the vacation home fridge and post another season pass to the memory wall. This is the 45th year of my spring cleaning routine. As president of the Ski Museum of Maine, this ritual has taken on a new dimension. For the first time in decades, I ve been cleaning out the attic, basement and barn in search of ski memorabilia -- rather than adding to the clutter. I ve found a lot of items that should be in the Ski Museum s collection and not mine. These include an Icelandic sweater from the 1960s, a down parka from the 1970s and a 1980s-vintage neon pink jumpsuit. Whew! On the gear side, there s a pair of three-foot kiddie skis circa 1960s, lime-green Rossis from the 1980s and a pair of Nordica rear-entry boots dating from Falling under the artifacts rubric, I found a Maine tourism promotional button which was used in the 1970s, a Save the Yellow Nosed Vole bumper sticker from 1974 and a daily diary of Camden Snow Bowl operations dated Twenty years ago, the Sugarloaf Ski Club was spring cleaning and ready to jettison their archives. I salute our founders for their foresight Ski Heritage Classic raised $10K-plus Once again -- and despite the looming threat of a major blizzard -- the Maine Ski Heritage Classic proved to be the Ski Museum s top fund-raising event of the season. Attendance was slightly above average, and when the cash registers fell silent, the final tally was $10,626. That s right in line with the event s recent history, according to Heritage Classic chairman Greg Sweetser. A pair of 1985 Nordica rear-entry boots were among the treasures found in the annual spring cleaning. (Wende Gray photo) in preserving these records and establishing the Ski Museum of Maine. I encourage you to help celebrate and preserve Maine s skiing history and heritage by donating (or loaning) your Maine ski memorabilia to the Museum. What s in your closet? Wende Gray President, Ski Museum of Maine More than 125 supporters gathered at the Sugarloaf Inn on February 14 for the apres ski reception and fund-raiser. Once again, Maine businesses, individuals and organizations contributed generously to the Museum, donating approximately 100 items to the silent and live auction portion of the evening. Please turn to page 15 5

6 Ski museums meet at Steamboat Springs In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, during the International Skiing History Association s annual April get-together, I attended a meeting where several museum officials discussed ideas to create a semi-formal network for information exchange. The meeting was hosted by Tread of Pioneers Museum. Located in downtown Steamboat Springs, this superb little institution devotes nearly half of its exhibit space to the history of skiing in the local community and Colorado. It maintains several displays -- both permanent and temporary -- that are anchored by Katie Adams, curator of the Tread of Pioneers Museum, gives a tour for visiting ski museum officials on April 10. Located in downtown Steamboat Springs, Tread of Pioneers devotes approximately half its exhibit space to skiing in the local community and Colorado. (Scott Andrews photo) 6 Board members and directors of four museums met on April 10 at the Tread of Pioneers Museum in downtown Steamboat Springs to discuss informational exchanges between ski museums. From left: Dave Holli, U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum; Tom West, U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum; Scott Andrews, Ski Museum of Maine; Connie Nelson, Alf Engen Ski Museum; Katie Adams, Tread of Pioneers; Candice Bannister, Tread of Pioneers. (Courtesy Tom West) one very compelling theme: Nearly 90 athletes from the Steamboat Springs skiing community have competed in the Olympic Winter Games. Tread of Pioneers was represented by executive director Candice Bannister and curator Katie Adams. The U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum (Ishpeming, Mich.) was represented by executive director Tom West and board member Dave Holli, while the Alf Engen Ski Museum (Park City, Utah) sent executive director Connie Nelson. Of the four museums represented at the meeting, all of us share one key thematic thread: Scandinavian immigrants were pivotal figures in our historical narratives. Ideas that we discussed included electronic communications (websites, videos, PowerPoint displays), education/outreach programs and possible traveling exhibits. Scott Andrews Historian, Ski Museum of Maine

7 (continued from page 1) Oxford County also exemplifies the breadth of Maine snowsports, including alpine, cross-country, jumping, freestyle and snowboarding. All forms and levels of competition have been held in the region, including the 1950 World Championships in Rumford (cross-country skiing), and two World Cups at Sunday River: 2001 (freestyle skiing) and 2009 (snowboard cross). Oxford County schools and academies have been very successful in competition, and innumerable scholastic championships have been held in the region for more than 80 years. Jibes with Bethel focus Snowboard cross is one of the most exciting competitions in snowsports, and Sunday River Mountain Resort attracted the best of the best in 2009 when it hosted a World Cup competition. (Courtesy Sunday River) The Oxford County Historic Skiing Sites map (please turn to pages 8-9) jibes perfectly with the Ski Museum s ongoing efforts to establish a longterm presence in the Bethel community. Bethel is roughly at the center of the map, and every A worker finishes a ski on a drum sander at the Paris Manufacturing Company sometime in the 1950s. Several firms in Oxford County once made skis, but all are now defunct. (Courtesy Paul Cote) year the town tallies bigger skier/snowboarder numbers than any other community in Maine. Nearly all of these are recreational enthusiasts. Bethel s ski history begins before World War I, and includes numerous winter carnivals and other snow-season events. Today Bethel and its surrounding towns include two downhill ski and snowboard resorts -- Sunday River and Mount Abram -- plus three cross-country ski areas -- Sunday River Outdoor Center, Carter s Cross- Country Ski Center and Bethel Inn. Telstar High School and Gould Academy have strong ski teams, and numerous races are hosted in the area. Each dot on the map represents a town with one or more significant skiing/snowboarding sites. Some towns, such as Wilson s Mills and Brownfield, are principally of historical interest, while others, such as Newry, exemplify modern Maine skiing and snowboarding. A separate key -- not shown here -- explains the significance of each dot. In places like Rumford, the key is long and involved -- reflecting the many historical and contemporary facets of snowsports in this town. The map is readily adaptable to different formats and diverse purposes. In its simplest printed form it s a conversation-starter that s used at Ski Museum events. The concept can easily be adapted to more modern presentations, such as touch-screens and even smart-phones. One intriguing possibility is to station a giant touch-screen version of the map at the entranceway of the future Bethel satellite museum. 7

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10 With the recent sale (again) of the Portland Press Herald and subsequent staff turnover, it s reassuring that the Portland Public Library is currently enhancing access to a number of historical newspaper assets. Two items are especially important to the Ski Museum. First is the library s digital conversion of photos acquired from the archives of the Portland Press Herald and the long-defunct Portland Evening Express. PPL archivist Abraham Schechter, who once worked for the Ski Museum during its formative years, is keeping an eye out for old skiing photos and making them available to us. 10 Old news is good news for Ski Museum During the 1930s, the Maine Central Railroad operated both snow trains and special ski buses, as seen in this advertisement from the Portland Evening Express. (Courtesy Portland Public Library) The busy rope tow at the Gorham Kiwanis Ski Slope, pictured here in a 1970 photo from the Portland Press Herald, was typical of dozens of local ski hills that once operated all over Maine. (Courtesy Portland Public Library) The 1970 picture of the Gorham Kiwanis Ski Slope that is reproduced on this page is an example. Second is the PPL s recent purchase of a digital microfilm reader/copier, another Schechter initiative. For many years the library s file cabinets have held a complete microfilm run of the Press Herald and Evening Express, but obtaining digital copies has always been problematic. No more. I was recently perusing some Evening Express microfilm from the 1930s. The issue of January 14, 1936 is particularly interesting. A whole page is devoted to ski news, under the banner rubric Along the Snow Trail. It includes the vintage advertisement reproduced on this page. The top ski story was the Borderline trailbuilding project that was proposed for the mountains of Evans Notch. This incredibly ambitious scheme involved five peaks in New Hampshire plus two in Maine, with principal access via Fryeburg. Had it come to fruition, Borderline would have been bigger than Vail, Squaw Valley or other major western resorts. The complete text of the Borderline story is reproduced on the opposite page, including multiple subheads. Scott Andrews Historian, Ski Museum of Maine

11 Borderline Development To Open Up Many New Ski Trails Maine Will Benefit In Big Project Slopes on Two Peaks In This State To Be Made Accessible Towns To Profit By Influx of Enthusiasts Five New Hampshire Mountains Included In Development By Ran Sanford What promises to be one of the most intensive ski trail developments in New England, one that will open up an entirely new territory for winter sports enthusiasts, is planned for the White Mountain National Forest on the Maine-New Hampshire borderline between Gilead and Fryeburg. The U. S. Forest Service, Appalachian Mountain Club, and the various towns in the region are cooperating in the project which will open ski trails on seven border mountains in Maine and New Hampshire. Two Peaks In Maine Of the seven peaks, two are in Maine. One, Speckled Mountain, is a 2,677-foot peak in the town of Stoneham. Speckled Mountain is one of three peaks in Maine by that name. Its summit consists of open ledges and is surmounted by a National Forest fire lookout. East Royce, 3,133 feet in height, is directly on the border, in Batchelder s Grant, Maine, and Bean Purchase, N. H. It is the eastern peak of Royce Mt. Wholly in New Hampshire are West Royce (3,300), Meader (2,820), South Baldface (3,585), Eastman (2,959), and Kearsarge (3,260). However, all of these with the exception of Kearsarge, which is reached from the Conway region, are accessible only through Maine, either North from Fryeburg via Stow, or South from Bethel and Gilead over the scenic Evans Notch Road, a major CCC project. The Appalachian Mountain Club has a private camp located just across the border in Chatham, N. H. Persons familiar with the region predict that this camp, known as the Cold River Camp, may rival the famous Pinkham Notch Camp of the A. M. C. when the borderline development reaches completion. There is no limit to the number of sporty trails that can be constructed in the region, with government funds and labor available since the land is all in the White Mountain National Forest. Baldface Mountain offers a chance for a ski trail that will rival the internationally famous Tuckerman s Ravine Trail on Mount Washington. The project is a start on a development which many some day become far more extensive on the Maine side of the state line, since there are numerous other sizable peaks North of Speckled Mountain and East Royce, close at hand to the towns of Bethel and Gilead and formerly inaccessible except by trails, now easily reached over the new Evans Notch road. Among these peaks are Caribou Mt. (2,828), Peabody Mt. (2,500), Pickett Henry Mt. (2,100), Elizabeth Mt. (2,030), Haystack Mt. (2,130) and numerous smaller peaks offering splendid slopes, both wooded and open, for ski trail development. May Use CCC Labor All of the mountains named are in the National Forest, hence would be in line for CCC labor, which usually cannot be obtained for ski trail development on privately controlled land. Maine towns are watching developments in this borderline region carefully, realizing that because the only access to the vast wilderness area is through Maine, they will profit as the influx of snow sports enthusiasts begins. At the northern terminus of the Evans Notch Road are Gilead and Bethel. At the southern end of the region is Fryeburg, already a bustling winter sports town. Fryeburg promises to profit from its advantageous position as the last town of any size en route to the borderline region from either Boston or Portland and has named a committee to work with the U. S. Forest Service and Appalachian Mountain Club in their efforts to open up the territory to winter sports. Editor s note: The CCC above refers to the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression-era federal government program that built many facilities in national parks and forests. All text above from the Portland Evening Express, January 14,

12 Memberships are the lifeblood of non-profit organizations such as the Ski Museum of Maine. Members financial and in-kind contributions are vital to help us fulfill our mission of celebrating and preserving the history and heritage of Maine skiing. The individual and corporate members listed on these two pages have helped advance the Ski Museum to where it is today -- and they ensure our continued efforts. We salute them! 12 Membership Honor Roll Individual members Herb Adams Bo & Cindy Adams Roger & Nancy Adams Charlie Akers Bruce Albiston Bill & Joan Alfond Karl & Sherrie Anderson Dr. Robert Anderson Eric Anderson & Gerry Schneider Pat Andrews Scott Andrews Jean Anton Sam Appleton Esther Atwood John Atwood Nancy Babcock P. Kelley & Sophie Baker Leslie Bancroft Krichko Connie Barnes Gretchen Zopf & Bob Bass Family Harry & Martha Baxter Paul Bean Thomas & Letitia Beauregard Carl & Sally Beck Clem & Rolande Begin Scott Beliveau Norma Bennett & Family Andre Benoit Irene & Bill Berry Sarah Billmeier Richard & Judith Bjorn Ms. Gail Blackburn Marcia Blake Brenda Bourassa Virginia Bousum & Gary Brown John & Bonnie Bower Leigh Breidenbach & Bede Wellford Bill Briggs Ray & Judy Broomhall Wendall Broomhall Charles Broomhall Erlon Broomhall Bill & Cindy Brown Charles & Kathy Brown Charlotte Brown Jeffrey & Celeste Brown Dana Bullen Meredith Strang Burgess & Doug Stewart Bryan Burgess Carl Burnett Mary & Kevin Burns Barbara Burr Paul Cannon Anne Carter Daniel Cassidy Bruce Chalmers John & Marty Christie Kirsten Clark Rickenbach Bruce & Phyllis Coggeshall Bruce & Susan Cole Mary Collins Marvin & Laurie Collins John Condon Cal Conniff Warren & Brammie Cook John Corey Vito Courtney Bob & Betty Crane Norman L. Cummings Bill & Lorraine Cummings Lloyd Cuttler Susan Davis Haskell Dearnley Dave Dickey Joan & Scott Dolan Jack Donovan P. Richard Doucette Pat Dow Bob & Cindy Dunlap Nancy Durgin Kyle Evans Will & Elanna Farnham Bob & Bonnie Farrar John Farrar David & Kim Farrar Don & Mary Fletcher Bob & Benita Flynn Brud Folger Paul & Daria Forman Richard & Leona Forster Don & Nancy Fowler John & Theresa Fowler Lucy Fowler Klug Peter W. Francisco & Beth Carlson Colon Durrell & Mary Frank Nicole Freeman Aldro French Cooper & Meredith Friend Bob & Robin Garrett Peter Garsoe Charles & Nancy Gaunce Chuck Gerry Cate S. Gilbane Mr. & Mrs. Goodwin O. Gilman Stephen & Carole Godomsky Emery Goff & Bill Carhart Alice Goodwin Ralph Gould Jr. Don Gower Craig Gray Wende F. Gray Norman Greenberg Don & Pat Gregoire Ruth Grover Harold C. Gunter Tom & June Gyger Bill Haefele Elliot Hale Peter Hale David Hall Jerry & Suzanne Hall Marty & Katherine Hall Gerald Ham Tom Hanson Bob & Sally Harkins John Harris Bee Harvey & Dennis Pruneau Patricia Hawksley Elizabeth S. Hoefler Scott Hoisington John R. Hooper Mary Hopson David & Jacqueline Horn Daniel & Patricia Hourihan John G. Howe Frank & Nicky Howell Gene & Joanne Howland Philip & Mary Hunter Peter & Kathryn Hussey Dave & Pat Irons Jeanne Irwin David M. Jagger Raymond L. Jenkins Jr. Hans & Barbara Jenni Brad Jerome Tony & Hilary Jessen David & Ann Jones Rich & Pat Judd Peter & Lisa Judkins Ed Keller Zip Kellogg Mary Kendall Aileen Kennedy Randy Kerr Susan King Laurie Knowles Herron John Koons, D.M.D. John & Irene Kuchta William & Lucy LaCasse John & Susan LaCasse Tim LaVallee Terry & Susan Landry Frank Langlois Celia Leber Regis & Carolyn Lepage Sam Lipman & Catherine Cornell Jim & Betty Anne Listowich Jean Luce Robert Luce Jack & Karen Deigh Lufkin Morten Lund Ward & Genevieve MacKenzie

13 Malcolm & Luli Macnaught Christina Maguire Fred Randell Richard Rasor Elizabeth Timm Jeffery Timm Farmington Ski Club Farmington Carla Marcus Joan & Dick Marshall Earl Raymond Alan Redden John Towne, M.D. Kevin & Cindy Trinward Fort Kent Historical Society Fort Kent Garrett R. Martin Dan & Janice Maxham Terry & Moira McCabe John McCatherin & Barbara Kovach Chad & Irene McGrew Nadene McLeod Richard & Imogene McWilliams Robert & Anita Remington Tom & Colleen Reynolds Barbara Richards Megan Roberts Jan Roberts John Roberts & Jean Wilson Win & Vici Robinson Joe & Doris Tutlis Tom & Judy Upham Michele Varuolo Cole Kerry-Sue Walters Dr. Edward Z. & Candace C. Walworth Deborah & William Ward Good Food Store Bethel Gray Marketing Bethel Java Joe s Farmington Jeffery & Sara Meade Walter B. & Sarah Melvin Elizabeth Rockwell Gil & Diane Roderick John & Bobbie Watson Peter Webber Java Joe s Carrabassett Valley Ms. Terri Messer Jon Morrill Robert & Christina Morse Earle & Pam Morse Russ Murley Pat & Muriel Murphy Amanda & Charley Murray Paul & Marty Rogers S. Clyde Ross Bill Rounds Peter & Jane Roy Brett Russell Ms. Sandie Sabaka Ken & Charlene Sassi Sally & Al Webster Bernard E. Weichsel Owen & Anna Wells Peter & Judy Weston Fryeburg Academy Ski Team John Weston Don Whiston Kittery Trading Post Kittery Kyes Insurance Farmington Lonesome Pine Trails Fort Kent Marcus Nash Roger & Marjorie Nastou Phil Savignano Tom & Barbara Sawyer Glenn White Ralph White & Joni Averill White Maine Winter Sports Center Caribou Neil & Margaret Newton David Nivus Ralph & Catherine Nodine Dennis O Donovan Alfred Oberlerchner Gail Ogilvie Kathryn J. Olmstead Richard S. & Sandra Osgood Les Otten George Ouellette Roger & Patsy Page Ben & Nancy Paradis Howard Paradis Ben Paradis Julie Parisien & Tim Nuce Dr. Rob Parisien Anna Parisien-Levin Michael E. & Jeannette Y. Parker Glenn & Donna Parkinson Maurice Payson Tom & Heidi Pelletier Cherie Perkins Jeff & Barbara Perry Bob & Jeanie Pidacks Steve & Debbie Pierce Dawn Cronin Pigott Nikki Pilavakis-Davoren Galen & Virginia Sayward Steve & Laura Schaefer Linda Sharpe Lennie Shaw Ted & Mary Sherwood Maryjane & David Shiverick Gregg Silloway Lee Silverman Myles Silverman Dan Simoneau Peter Skapinsky Jack & Anita Smart Peter C. Smith Bill & Valerie Sowles Phin & Marylou Sprague Lev & Laurie Steeves Bill & Sara Stockwell Dick & Nancy Stowell Sarah Strunk Greg Stump Dianne Sturzenberger Rand & Kathy Surgi Neale Sweet Greg Sweetser & Debby Freeman Cathy Sweetser & Jock Moore Robert Taylor Robert & Gale Teeri John Wild Guy G. Williams Jamie Pateneaude Karla & Tom Wolters Rick & Vicki Wyman Charlotte Zahn Edward Zanca Robin & Doug Zinchuk Corporate members Bethel Inn Resort Bethel Bethel Village Motel/Ruthie s Bethel BEWI Productions Waltham, Mass. Camden Riverhouse Hotel Camden Carrabassett Coffee Kingfield Chalmers Insurance Bridgton Chisholm Ski Club Rumford Matterhorn Ski Bar Newry Pat s Pizza Bethel River View Resort Bethel Shipyard Brewhaus Carrabassett Valley Smokin Good BBQ Bethel Snowfields Productions Portland Stanley Museum Kingfield Sugarloaf Mountain Resort Carrabassett Valley Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club Carrabassett Valley Sunday River Mountain Resort Newry Sweetser s Orchards Cumberland Town of Carrabassett Valley Carrabassett Valley Greg Poirier Bonnie Potter Natalie Terry James Thibodeau Dirigo Management Portland W.A. Mitchell Fine Furniture Farmington Joan Putnam Jim Quimby Gerry Thompson Constance Thurston Down East Ski Club Bridgton Waterfront Restaurant Camden 13

14 I S K M A I N E GOLF CLASSIC 3rd Annual Ski Maine Golf Classic Monday, June 8th, 2015 ~ 8:30 Shotgun Start Nonesuch River Golf Course, Scarborough, Maine $125 per person / $450 per team includes round, cart, lunch and awards $15,000 hole in one contest $1500 putting contest Seth Wescott is schedulded to play Silent Auction Door Prizes Proceeds to Benefit Ski Museum of Maine Mission: Celebrate and preserve the history and heritage of Maine skiing For more information visit or call Bo Bigelow at (207) Ski Maine Association - PO Box 7566, Portland ME (207) FAX / bbigelow@skimaine.com 14

15 (continued from page 5) The 50/50 raffle raised more than $600. Cooper Friend, a Museum board member, was in charge of selling tickets, while Don Fowler, a former board member, bought the winning ticket -- and donated his 50 percent share back to the Museum. The popular snowcat ski tour for 18 skiers and the evening dinner at Bullwinkles, donated by Sugarloaf, raised more than $2,000. Dinner certificates, gift baskets, artwork, concert tickets, ski equipment, overnight trips and more rounded out the roster of items. Auctioneer Steve Keenan kept up a lively conversation with the bidders and made sure that all went smoothly. JoAnne Keenan and Pat Tufts provided technical support, recording the transactions and speeding everyone through the checkout. Two couples -- Gerry and Bear Thompson plus Rand and Kathy Surgi -- made up the team that gathered up all of the winning items and distributed them quickly to the winners. Other helping hands included Fowler, who manned the check-in table and two women who staffed the check-out: Cheryl Fullerton and board member Megan Roberts. Earlier that day, Museum executive director Bruce Miles and board members set up a memorabilia display in the Sugarloaf Base Lodge featuring historic photos, ski patches, equipment and posters. The selection of historic skis is always a conversation starter. Enthusiasts realize just how primitive those early models were -- the ones they learned to ski on -- and many have stories to share about their own first pair. The Ski Museum has come a long way since it was first organized two decades ago at Sugarloaf, said Sweetser. Since 1995 we ve expanded our programs and broadened our scope of action to include the whole State of Maine, but the Sugarloaf community remains our nucleus of financial support. The annual Maine Ski Heritage Classic takes place on the first Saturday of the February school vacation week, which falls on February 13, 2016 next season. Memberships are an important part of our ability to sustain the Ski Museum. Please support generously. Please either go to our website at or use the application below and send to: Ski Museum of Maine, P.O. Box 359, Kingfield, ME Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Would you like to become a Ski Museum Volunteer? Let us know how you would like to help: c at events c be a Saturday host at the museum c with museum projects/exhibits c with data entry and/or cataloging c clean museum pieces c other Please check membership level: $25 newsletter & SMOM logo sticker $50 +lapel pin $ % off gift shop purchases $250 +SMOM logo coffee mug Lifetime $1,000 +black fleece vest with SMOM logo Additional Donation: $ Mission Statement To celebrate and preserve the history and heritage of Maine skiing. 15

16 SKI MUSEUM OF MAINE P.O. Box Main Street Kingfield, ME PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #68 Skowhegan, ME Save This Date! June 8, rd Annual Ski Maine Golf Classic To benefit the Ski Museum of Maine Details on Page 14 Sam Ouellet was photographed crossing Prestile Brook in Caribou, less than three miles from the finish line of the 1937 Bangor- Caribou ski marathon. Ouellet was Aroostook County s dominant ski racer of the 1930s. He won the 1937 marathon, completing the 176-mile course (with three overnight stops) in an elapsed time of 33 hours and 40 minutes. As seen above, most of the race was run along the shoulders of main roads. In 2004 Ouellet was posthumously inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. (Courtesy Caribou Historical Society)