| Past Minutes | Past presidents Downeasters |
| Dec 1952-March 1953(PDF) Meeting minutes Meeting minutes
Meeting minutes |
1948Young people in the YMCA’s “Gay Twenties Club” approached the YMCA Program Director “Hap” Frank about starting a ski club. He agreed and members were advised to name the new group, define its purpose, and submit the Club by-laws and Constitution. In November of 1948, the members announced in the Portland Press Herald that the newly organized Down East Ski Club would meet at the YMCA on Thursday evenings at 8:00 p.m. for the purpose of promoting skiing in Greater Portland.
1950 Down East Ski Club logo and insignia had become a down hill skier on the outline of the State of Maine. Members were easily recognized by the black and white circular patch on their parka, as well as in some cases, by their antics. 1951 Russ Haggett and Ray Riley liked what they saw in this young group of skiers called “Down Easters” and they sold us their most southeasterly acre of land out in the woods for $50.00. In the summer of 1951 Club members began to clear the lot and the job of building the Lodge at Pleasant Mountain began. Much of the planning for each weekend’s projects was done at Club meetings. A huge Gl tent was set up which enabled members to stay over if they wanted. There were no bulldozers or backhoes on this job, so all the rock had to be moved by hand; all 27 post holes for the cedar post foundation were dug by hand. The original construction costs were financed mainly through members contributions of a $10.00 Lodge Pledge. Many raffles, auctions, dances, and suppers were were also held to help raise the needed dollars. The 28′ x 52′ Lodge was enclosed by December of 1951. 1952 The original stone fireplace was constructed from tons of stone trucked from Portland to Bridgton for $20.00 by a stone mason who was a friend of Nick Aceto, our Club Treasurer at the time. Our heat came from a 250 gallon oil tank which had been converted to a wood furnace and installed where the fireplace hearth is today. On a cold weekend it was not unusual to use a 100# tank of propane. We had no running water, but we did have lights, an “outside privy”, and a piano! Our dues still remained at $2.00 per year through the late 50’s . 1960 Down East Ski Club agreed to turn the deed to the Lodge over to the YMCA in exchange for capital needed to install running water, a cement foundation, insulation, kitchen facilities, and indoor toilets. The estimate for these improvements was $10,000 and actual cost was nearly $12,300. This agreement provided the “Y” with use of the Lodge for their Day Camp and Outreach Programs during the summer and allowed the DESC the full use of the Lodge from October until April for a lease of $1.00 per year. 1961 Down East Ski Club introduced “Learn to Ski” programs at the “Y” for the people of Greater Portland. This was done through joint efforts with Hans Jenni, the newly acquired ski school director at Pleasant Mountain who had come from Switzerland. Hundreds of participants received two lessons at the “Y” and two lessons on the slopes. 1962 The Club introduced their first Annual Ski Sale on Forest Avenue in Portland on the Saturday following Thanksgiving which enabled skiers to sell and exchange their used skis boots, poles, as well as ski apparel. Gross sales the first year were over $1,000. 1992 Following the death of Russ Haggett (11-13-18 to 4-21-91) who had been one of our greatest supporters, the Club established a Memorial Fund to recognize Haggett for a lifetime of efforts in promoting the growth of skiing in Maine, as well as for his contributions in developing economic growth in the Lake Region community. A Scholarship Fund was created for Lake Region High School graduates going on to higher education and who were members of either the Alpine or Nordic Ski Teams. Contributions and proceeds from an annual race at Shawnee Peak continue to support the fund. 1996 The YMCA indicated that the Down East Ski Lodge no longer served a purpose in their activities and they could better position themselves by transferring the assets from the sale of the Lodge to other programs. We were advised that the Lodge was for sale and that the new owner of the Shawnee Peak ski area had right of first refusal as stated in our deed. Two bids were received by the “Y”, and the Club’s more competitive bid of $50,000 was accepted. For the first time in its nearly 50 year history, the Club had a mortgage. 2005 In April of 2005 the Down East SKi Club paid off the mortgage on the Lodge! Longtime member Franklin Emery, a promoter of USSA, Eastern, Maine Ski Council, N.E. Ski Museum, NARA, and the U.S. Olympic Committees was first club member inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. |
