To the casual traveler driving along the winding road that runs between the towns of Russell and Blandford, Massachusetts, the sign announcing "Springfield Ski Club," which appears at the junction of an unimportant-looking side road, may appear mildly amusing.
"Oho," he may chuckle. "Some of these backwoods folks have delusions of grandeur!"
However, if this casual traveler were to drive down that road leading to the Springfield Ski area, he would be surprised at the sophisticated and up-to- date installation that he would find. There is a huge parking lot to accommodate a large number of cars. There are two attractive lodges, each with its own cafeteria as well as a ski shop which offers rentals of skis, boots, poles, and assorted skiing paraphernalia. There is an equipment shed which houses the vehicles and tools necessary to keep the grounds plowed and the slopes in good condition. There are three double chairlifts, one T bar, and five tows to carry the skiers up the twenty-four slopes and trails which are planned for all stages of proficiency in skiing, from that of the novice to that of the most highly skilled.
Then if our casual traveler wished to look beyond the physical facilities, he would find an active club, offering professional training by experts and affiliated with larger organizations, such as the National Ski Areas Association. The club maintains a ski school with regular lessons for the beginner, as well as for the expert skier. Three championship races are held yearly and the club even sponsors a United States Skiing Association Eastern Division Alpine racing team, known as the Springfield Racers. The members also have available to them discount privileges in other New England ski areas.
It might be expected that a ski club would be active only during the snowy months of the Berkshire winters, but the Springfield Ski Club maintains a busy calendar all year round. A telephone call in August to the club phone number elicited a response from the club secretary, Caroline Lathrop, who was hard at work even during one of the summer's worst hot spells. Two family picnics are held, one in the spring and one in the fall. October brings Open House and in November a sale of used equipment is featured. There is a Holiday Dinner Dance, a catered affair, during the Christmas holidays, and in January the officers and board of directors prepare a Family Night Supper. February is the time for Jubilee, celebrated by a torch light parade, as skiers, holding lighted torches, glide down the slopes. At the end of the skiing season, in late April or May, an Awards Banquet is held for the adults, and the junior members of the club have an Awards Party. To keep everyone informed of these varied activities, the club publishes a bi-monthly newsletter.
The club members work as well as play together, and there are frequent work parties when groups get together to perform chores that would otherwise have to be done by hired laborers. The purpose of this economy is to keep membership fees at a minimum so that whole families can afford to belong. The Springfield Ski Club is owned and run by its members, and this makes it unique. It has been said that it is the largest individually owned active ski club in the United States and perhaps in the world. To understand the way it has achieved this unusual position, a look at the history of the club may be enlightening.
Back in 1931 a group of hiking and skiing enthusiasts joined together to form a club. These people were members of the Appalachian Club and besides hiking, used to travel together to skiing areas, sometimes taking the ski trains. In 1936 this group decided to incorporate as the Springfield Ski Club, Inc. since all of the members were from the Springfield area. A record of the minutes of their first meeting, held at the office of Mallory and Gilbert of Springfield on November 16, 1936, lists the following as directors of the club: Arthur Irving Macdonald; Benjamin Prescott Hazeltine, 3rd; Ruth Belcher; Heinz John Sherbow; John Russell North, Jr.; Paul Frederick Craig; Harold Elwood Alderman; Evert Oscar Lindgren; and Marjorie Walters Payne.
When first president, Mr. Macdonald, suggested that the group look for a permanent ski area, and the first place selected was Mt. Toby in the Montague- Sunderland area of Massachusetts. Some land there was leased but it was found to be generally unsatisfactory as a spot for skiing. The members examined many topographical maps and finally decided on a location in Blandford. The particular piece of property which they chose was owned by a man named Per Persson, a farmer, and consisted of corn stubble and cow pasture. The group first leased the land for only three or four months during the winter, with Mr. Persson shrewdly stipulating that if they needed to rent horses for land clearing, they would rent his! There was, indeed, a tremendous amount of hard labor in those first years. The club members, by this time numbering about fifty, cut down chestnut trees and moved thousands of rocks in order to clear trails for skiing. In 1937 they built the first tow, a rope tow using a Ford engine for power. One of the big celebrations of those early days was held on the completion of the first out-house. Everyone brought lunches and had a grand family picnic.
In 1941 the Springfield Ski Club bought the property, 138 acres, from Mr. Per Persson, and he moved to a farm in Wilbraham. Construction of the first lodge was soon started. It consisted of a series of five sections, added one at a time, as the club membership increased. Subsequent years have brought many changes in the physical facilities of the club: another lodge, modern tows, a bridge across the brook, and a storage building for equipment. However, the spirit of the Springfield Ski Club, one of family unity, has remained as the basic cohesive quality of this organization. The purposes of the club, as stated in the 1936 corporation papers are as follows: "Generally to foster interest in recreational and competitive skiing and particularly to promote the development and improvement of skiing technique among its members." The club is a non-commercial venture, which strives towards its original goals by limiting club membership to 5,000, by keeping membership fees at a minimal level, and specifically by working and playing together.
The spirit of the founding members is very much in Haldiman Putnam, one of the original corporators. At 76 he is, in his own words, "the oldest active skiing member of the club." As the fiftieth anniversary of the Springfield Ski Club approaches, he has been appropriately selected as the official historian in charge of compiling a book which will document the club's activities over the half century. His life has been deeply involved with
this club, and the members have appreciated his efforts. Recently one of the racing trophies has been named the "Hal Putnam Trophy," and, one of the greatest tributes that can be paid to a skier, a treacherous trail is called "Put's Peril."
When asked what he thought the future might hold for the Springfield Ski Club, "Hal" Putnam replied, "I think the ideal is to limit the membership even more and keep it private." He is concerned about the effect on the basic philosophy of the club if it should be forced to compete with the commercial clubs in this area. The installation of snow-making equipment, for example, could increase expenses to the point where dues would have to be raised and thus many families would be unable to remain as members. This could help defeat the original purpose of this family-type organization. For Hal, the many years of work, from chairing committees to moving Blandford rocks with his bare hands, have been a labor of love. As he says, "The rewards are spiritual." He has specified that upon his death, he is to be cremated and some of his ashes are to be scattered over "Put's Peril." This will insure that Hal Putnam will be with the Springfield Ski Club, both in body and spirit, for all time. Such devotion is rarely seen and is convincing evidence of the unique and enduring qualities of the Springfield Ski Club of Blandford.
"Oho," he may chuckle. "Some of these backwoods folks have delusions of grandeur!"
However, if this casual traveler were to drive down that road leading to the Springfield Ski area, he would be surprised at the sophisticated and up-to- date installation that he would find. There is a huge parking lot to accommodate a large number of cars. There are two attractive lodges, each with its own cafeteria as well as a ski shop which offers rentals of skis, boots, poles, and assorted skiing paraphernalia. There is an equipment shed which houses the vehicles and tools necessary to keep the grounds plowed and the slopes in good condition. There are three double chairlifts, one T bar, and five tows to carry the skiers up the twenty-four slopes and trails which are planned for all stages of proficiency in skiing, from that of the novice to that of the most highly skilled.
Then if our casual traveler wished to look beyond the physical facilities, he would find an active club, offering professional training by experts and affiliated with larger organizations, such as the National Ski Areas Association. The club maintains a ski school with regular lessons for the beginner, as well as for the expert skier. Three championship races are held yearly and the club even sponsors a United States Skiing Association Eastern Division Alpine racing team, known as the Springfield Racers. The members also have available to them discount privileges in other New England ski areas.
It might be expected that a ski club would be active only during the snowy months of the Berkshire winters, but the Springfield Ski Club maintains a busy calendar all year round. A telephone call in August to the club phone number elicited a response from the club secretary, Caroline Lathrop, who was hard at work even during one of the summer's worst hot spells. Two family picnics are held, one in the spring and one in the fall. October brings Open House and in November a sale of used equipment is featured. There is a Holiday Dinner Dance, a catered affair, during the Christmas holidays, and in January the officers and board of directors prepare a Family Night Supper. February is the time for Jubilee, celebrated by a torch light parade, as skiers, holding lighted torches, glide down the slopes. At the end of the skiing season, in late April or May, an Awards Banquet is held for the adults, and the junior members of the club have an Awards Party. To keep everyone informed of these varied activities, the club publishes a bi-monthly newsletter.
The club members work as well as play together, and there are frequent work parties when groups get together to perform chores that would otherwise have to be done by hired laborers. The purpose of this economy is to keep membership fees at a minimum so that whole families can afford to belong. The Springfield Ski Club is owned and run by its members, and this makes it unique. It has been said that it is the largest individually owned active ski club in the United States and perhaps in the world. To understand the way it has achieved this unusual position, a look at the history of the club may be enlightening.
Back in 1931 a group of hiking and skiing enthusiasts joined together to form a club. These people were members of the Appalachian Club and besides hiking, used to travel together to skiing areas, sometimes taking the ski trains. In 1936 this group decided to incorporate as the Springfield Ski Club, Inc. since all of the members were from the Springfield area. A record of the minutes of their first meeting, held at the office of Mallory and Gilbert of Springfield on November 16, 1936, lists the following as directors of the club: Arthur Irving Macdonald; Benjamin Prescott Hazeltine, 3rd; Ruth Belcher; Heinz John Sherbow; John Russell North, Jr.; Paul Frederick Craig; Harold Elwood Alderman; Evert Oscar Lindgren; and Marjorie Walters Payne.
When first president, Mr. Macdonald, suggested that the group look for a permanent ski area, and the first place selected was Mt. Toby in the Montague- Sunderland area of Massachusetts. Some land there was leased but it was found to be generally unsatisfactory as a spot for skiing. The members examined many topographical maps and finally decided on a location in Blandford. The particular piece of property which they chose was owned by a man named Per Persson, a farmer, and consisted of corn stubble and cow pasture. The group first leased the land for only three or four months during the winter, with Mr. Persson shrewdly stipulating that if they needed to rent horses for land clearing, they would rent his! There was, indeed, a tremendous amount of hard labor in those first years. The club members, by this time numbering about fifty, cut down chestnut trees and moved thousands of rocks in order to clear trails for skiing. In 1937 they built the first tow, a rope tow using a Ford engine for power. One of the big celebrations of those early days was held on the completion of the first out-house. Everyone brought lunches and had a grand family picnic.
In 1941 the Springfield Ski Club bought the property, 138 acres, from Mr. Per Persson, and he moved to a farm in Wilbraham. Construction of the first lodge was soon started. It consisted of a series of five sections, added one at a time, as the club membership increased. Subsequent years have brought many changes in the physical facilities of the club: another lodge, modern tows, a bridge across the brook, and a storage building for equipment. However, the spirit of the Springfield Ski Club, one of family unity, has remained as the basic cohesive quality of this organization. The purposes of the club, as stated in the 1936 corporation papers are as follows: "Generally to foster interest in recreational and competitive skiing and particularly to promote the development and improvement of skiing technique among its members." The club is a non-commercial venture, which strives towards its original goals by limiting club membership to 5,000, by keeping membership fees at a minimal level, and specifically by working and playing together.
The spirit of the founding members is very much in Haldiman Putnam, one of the original corporators. At 76 he is, in his own words, "the oldest active skiing member of the club." As the fiftieth anniversary of the Springfield Ski Club approaches, he has been appropriately selected as the official historian in charge of compiling a book which will document the club's activities over the half century. His life has been deeply involved with
this club, and the members have appreciated his efforts. Recently one of the racing trophies has been named the "Hal Putnam Trophy," and, one of the greatest tributes that can be paid to a skier, a treacherous trail is called "Put's Peril."
When asked what he thought the future might hold for the Springfield Ski Club, "Hal" Putnam replied, "I think the ideal is to limit the membership even more and keep it private." He is concerned about the effect on the basic philosophy of the club if it should be forced to compete with the commercial clubs in this area. The installation of snow-making equipment, for example, could increase expenses to the point where dues would have to be raised and thus many families would be unable to remain as members. This could help defeat the original purpose of this family-type organization. For Hal, the many years of work, from chairing committees to moving Blandford rocks with his bare hands, have been a labor of love. As he says, "The rewards are spiritual." He has specified that upon his death, he is to be cremated and some of his ashes are to be scattered over "Put's Peril." This will insure that Hal Putnam will be with the Springfield Ski Club, both in body and spirit, for all time. Such devotion is rarely seen and is convincing evidence of the unique and enduring qualities of the Springfield Ski Club of Blandford.
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