**Montpelier Outing Club’s Legacy: Uncovering the Lost Ski Hills of Vermont**
On December 27, 1938, the Montpelier Evening Argus made a groundbreaking announcement: the first ski tow in Montpelier was set to open at the Montpelier Outing Club (MOC). However, the catch was that this tow wasn’t in Montpelier itself, but rather in the neighboring town of Berlin at Montpelier Junction.
**The Birth of Montpelier Outing Club**
Formed two years prior, the MOC aimed to promote winter sports, with Perry Merrill, the Vermont state forester dubbed the “father of Vermont skiing,” leading the charge as the organization’s first president. This visionary group kicked off its activities in 1937, with the skating committee hosting a carnival on the Winooski River for children, while the skiing committee slowly but surely gained momentum.
**Skiing Takes Flight in Hubbard Park**
By the winter of 1937-38, the MOC had transformed Hubbard Park into a bustling skiing hub, complete with illuminated hills thanks to Green Mountain Power, and lessons from renowned ski instructor Sepp Ruschp. The excitement was palpable, and the community was eager to hit the slopes.
**The Rise of Junction Ski Bowl**
Fast forward to fall 1938, and the spotlight shifted to the Bronson Farm in Berlin, where the MOC installed an 800-foot ski tow, creating the Junction Ski Bowl. Visitors flocked from near and far to experience the thrill of the slopes, with the club’s president praising the variety of ski terrains available.
**Skiing’s Golden Era and Unanswered Questions**
As the Junction Ski Bowl gained popularity, plans for expansion, including a ski jump and toboggan run, were in the works. The ski season extended through March 1940, with skiers enjoying the slopes on Easter, but newspaper coverage dwindled in the following years as World War II engulfed the nation.
**Legacy and Unanswered Mysteries**
Following the war, skiing in Montpelier shifted focus to Sabin’s Pasture, leaving the Junction Ski Bowl a relic of the past. While the fate of the MOC remains a mystery, artifacts like an old ski tow ticket hint at the club’s continued operations, sparking curiosity about the club’s true legacy.
**Uncover the Untold Stories**
As we delve into the lost ski hills of Vermont, from Montpelier Junction to Sabin’s Pasture, the Montpelier Outing Club’s legacy lives on in the hearts of skiing enthusiasts. Join us on a journey to unearth the hidden gems of Vermont’s skiing history at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe until October 2025.
Through the lens of history, we can rediscover the magic of these forgotten ski hills, preserving their legacy for generations to come. Join us in preserving the past and embracing the future of Vermont’s skiing heritage.
