When a Holyoker thinks of skiing in the mid-to-late 20th century, the Mt. Tom Ski Ski Area comes to mind. Before this ski area opened in 1962, skiers enjoyed another nearby hill for this wintertime activity in Holyoke.
In early 1935, a group interested in developing a portion of Mt. Tom for skiing met with Holyoke officials. In September 1937, four local ski enthusiasts announced plans to form the Holyoke Ski Club. The hope was to promote a ski jump and run on Mt. Tom State Reservation. L. D. Pellissier of the Holyoke Street Railway was also involved, as he wanted to create a winter resort at Mt. Park. This plan did not materialize.
In October 1937, the city announced plans for a ski trail on the east side of Anniversary Hill. The Parks & Recreation Commiteee unanimously approved the WPA project, which included clearing the land and building the approximately 120-foot wide, 1,200-foot run. No ski jump or tobogganing was included in the plan. By month's end, the Holyoke Ski Club had grown to 60 members, and at its peak in the mid-1940s, the membership climbed to 150.
On October 30, 1937, The Holyoke Ski Club held a party and a business meeting and voted to accept an organization emblem and to name the slope the Crafts' Ski Trail. No further mention of that slope's name was discovered moving forward.
The ski run would be the first municipally owned and controlled slope in Western Massachusetts. It would run roughly parallel to the south side of Easthampton Road and end at a bowling green, once located behind the present-day Northampton Street fire station. The practice and beginner slope was located on the north side of Easthampton Road behind the latter-day John J. Lynch School.
The main slope was opened in January 1938, relying on Mother Nature's snowfall. In December 1938, plans to include a rope tow, a lengthened and widened course, flood lighting for night skiing, and a toboggan run were introduced to the Parks and Recreation committee.
Neither a rope tow nor lighting for nighttime skiing was installed. Material shortages and prohibitions as to material usage during World War II hampered the effort. Also, blackout restrictions were in place to minimize nighttime lighting.
No further information about the Anniversary Hill slope was discovered after the winter of 1950/1951. The Holyoke Ski Club had moved to a hill operated by the South Hadley Ski Club, where a rope tow was in place.
Source of News Articles: Newspapers.com (paid Subscription): Citations Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript-Telegram; Publication dates are shown.
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