Farmington Ski Club’s 70th Anniversary Celebration is Saturday

FARMINGTON – Farmington Ski Club will hold it’s 70th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 31. The event will take place at the Titcomb Mt. Lodge and begin with an old-fashioned beans and franks supper at 5 p.m., followed by historical skits and history recognition, and finish with the band “Second Wind” playing from 8 until 11 p.m. All past and present members are invited to attend this celebration.

It was in 1939 that a group of approximately 25 gathered and voted in its officers and its name “Franklin Ski and Outing Club.” At that time they were deciding where to ski, and determined that they would continue skiing on the Voter Hill farm and be looking at other hills to develop, such as Wheeler Hill in Phillips. Club membership dues were $1.25 a year, with Juniors up to 18 years paying 75 cents.

Even though the Voter Hill farm worked out great, and the chicken dinners that Mrs. Voter served for 50¢ were delicious, the club decided it was time to install a lift. On the next hill over was the Knapp Farm, and the club got permission to install a rope tow there. It was February of 1942 when the first ride up the tow occurred at the current site of Titcomb Mountain, and since then many acres have been purchased, lifts have been installed, a lodge and other buildings built, and thousands of school children and adults have learned to ski and snowboard and enjoy the outdoors of Maine in the winter.

Through the years the Farmington Ski Club has had its ups and downs, but the members and community have always rallied to make sure that this treasure called Titcomb Mountain remained alive. Most snow sport areas today are owned by individuals, families, or corporations, but Titcomb Mountain is one of the few in the country that is purely club owned and operated, run by the people who enjoy it. The Farmington Ski Club can be proud of its history and of the 70 years of hard work of many individuals and the community in keeping this community asset alive.

Titcomb Mountain will not be open for night skiing on Saturday, Jan. 31, closing the skiing and snowboarding at 4 p.m.

There is no charge for this event for all past and present members. For more information on the 70th Anniversary Celebration, please call Megan at 491-5481.