by Chet Risio
Skiing was popular long before our club was formed but not to the extent it is now. It blossomed in the late 1940’s. But then, in the early 1950’s, it really took off. But skiing then required considerable effort. Most good ski areas were at least 4 to 7 hours away (from the White Plains, NY area, where some original members lived) and the interstate did not exist. The Taconic Parkway only went up as far as Rt. 82 and then you had to go around Troy. Accommodations were limited to either large old hotels or small inns. So finding a place to stay, and getting there, was difficult. People who were determined to ski had to fend for themselves. With that in mind, a few skiers got together in 1953 and talked about forming a club to ease the burden of making reservations and driving long distances alone.
This group of skiers, so far unnamed, met several times in 1953. The name, White Plains Ski Club, came about because they thought they could get some assistance from the City of White Plains. But by the time it became evident that was not going to happen, the name had stuck.
The first official meeting with members was held at the Little Theatre in The County Center on Nov. 23, l953. There were 25 members and the dues were $5.00 single and $6.00 family. The first WPSC ski trip was on Dec. 31, 1953 to Jan. 3, 1954. It was scheduled for High Pond Mountain in Hubbardton, VT but due to a lack of snow, they drove further north to …where? Mad River Glen.
In 1954, WPSC joined the US Eastern Amateur Ski Association. Their aim was to not only promote skiing but also organized, for one thing, to pressure states to improve roads. We also belonged to WESCO which was an organization of Westchester Ski Clubs. In 1956, the club was incorporated in NY state to protect officers and members from damaging lawsuits.
Interest in the club grew so quickly that by 1957 membership had to be limited to 125 persons. The problem there was the difficulty of arranging accommodations, usually at various lodges or farms and homes near various ski areas, and car pools for as many as 50 people. The trip leader had to collect money, keep abreast of snow conditions, handle cancellations and new inclusions and keep the lodge owner informed. Club meetings were held on Thursday nights and it was not uncommon for several people to sign on at the meeting and then go home and pack.
By 1960 it was becoming increasingly difficult to reserve a block of rooms at a good ski lodge. An innkeeper preferred to rent to individuals who were less apt to cancel out en masse when snow conditions went bad. So it was decided to rent a place for the season near a good ski area. Although it was a longer drive, the more avid ski members opted for the more northern areas like Mad River and Stowe, rather than southern places like Mt. Snow and Bromley.
A house hunting committee was formed. Our first rented lodge, for the 1960-1961 season, was on Route 17, just down from Clarks Inn, which is now called the Hydeaway. It slept 10 people. The rates were $3.50 for a weekend night and $2.50 for a weekday…. No meals. However, it was too small so the following season, the committee went in search of another house. They found an empty 150 year old house in Starksboro just before you go up the Gap. The owner adapted the house by creating dorms and separate facilities. “El Plows”, as it was called, slept 21 people. Rates were $10.00 for a member weekend and $13.00 for a guest, meals included.
We used that lodge for 5 years but it was proving to be inadequate, not only for its size but also for getting over the Gap. More than one weekend, cars would be stranded all over the place, unable to make it to the top. Also the rent was increasing yearly and it was thought that another house on the other side of the Gap was the answer.
At this point Hanns Beier, the founder of the White Plains Ski Club, stepped in and proposed building our own lodge. Many members were skeptical; this was a very contentious situation. It involved many meetings not only with lawyers but also the means of financing. Members were apprehensive about investing but eventually most agreed that we would build our own lodge. While the consensus was that it had to be on the other side of the Gap exactly where was the question. While many plots of land in Waitsfield were considered but, after much discussion, it was decided it would be in Mad River within walking distance of the lifts.
On Oct. 1, 1966, during the Green and Gold weekend, Allan Copeland, then president of the club, handed Ken Quackenbush, the Manager of Mad River Corporation, a check for $2000.00 for the property on which the lodge now stands. From that point on we were concerned with raising enough money so we would have a down payment and thus secure a mortgage. We issued bonds at 6%. The going rate at the time was 5 ½%. While membership was not contingent on purchasing a bond only one member out of 82 did not buy a bond. Many of us bought more than one. We raised $20,000.00. That enabled us to get a mortgage with a bank in Montpelier for $40,000.00.
The design of the lodge was the next critical move. Originally all the rooms were on the second floor but monetary constraints forced us to reduce the length by about 12 feet and put two rooms on the first floor which reduced our dining area considerably. Our next problem was finding a builder and we looked for one locally. Either they were already booked or they wanted too much money. A builder in White Plains was found; he was between jobs and wanted to keep his crew so he brought them up to Mad River and they stayed in a former member’s house. They were a dedicated crew and the house went up so quickly that locals called it “Instant House”.
Construction on the lodge started in Oct. 1967, one year after we bought the property. Christmas week, 1967, the lodge was ready. The floors were bare concrete, there were no cushions on the fireplace area, bedroom floors were not carpeted and members had to bring their own blankets.
The lodge has been a tremendous success but it would not have happened without the cooperation of all the people who were members at the time. We owe them a debt of gratitude!
Now, 67 years after that first meeting and 53 years after our lodge was completed, the White Plains Ski Club is still going strong! Come and join us!
(Written in 2020)
