Fryeburg in 1935 was like any American town, struggling to regain prosperity after the Great Depression. The Kiwanis Club sparked an idea to boost the town's economy: offer winter sports and mount a large promotional effort. Thus was born the Fryeburg Winter Sports Committee. The Winter Sports Committee put out a flyer explaining to townspeople that there would be a Ski Train and asking them to "Advertise to as many people as possible the natural beauties and resources of the town." The flyer ended with, "Get out on the ski trails, snowshoe trails and toboggan chutes on Sunday afternoon. The bigger the crowd, the more fun - and the more fun the more people will get on the next snow train. The cooperation of every person in town is needed to make this,
THE FIRST SNOW TRAIN IN MAINE, a success." The train ran from Portland to Fryeburg on February 3, 1935 and was a huge success. The Portland Press Herald the next day ran a headline saying, "229 Persons Make the Trip From Portland to Fryeburg on Maine's First Snow Train". Several hundred others came from nearby towns to enjoy the day. Asa Pike III who was 24 when he helped spearhead Fryeburg's winter sports efforts was over 80 when he laughed and said, "That probably doubled our population".
The success of their snow trains in 1935 convinced the Winter Sports Committee to do even more in 1936. On Jockey Cap Hill they built wooden toboggan chutes and cut a wide trail for skiers. Then, putting up $25 each, ten enterprising young men built Maine's first rope tow. The tow brought expert skiers, novice skiers and the curious. Skiing was so new and exciting that the day the tow opened 3,000 people came to watch the handful skiers.
In 1936 the Snow Train from Portland to Fryeburg cost $1.50 round trip. Newspaper ads for the snow train proclaimed, "A hearty welcome is waiting for you in Fryeburg". A booklet available on the train, Winter Sports in Fryeburg, told winter enthusiasts where to go and what to do. Ski Equipment, snowshoes and toboggans could be rented on the train. In Fryeburg eight horse drawn wagons took skiers from the station to Pine Hill, where the novice skiers took lessons and to Jockey Cap to ride the tow or the toboggan chute. Since there was no base lodge like we have at a ski area today window cards were given to townspeople. Visitors who wanted to sit by a warm fire simply looked for a window card with a hand drawn picture of a skier and knew they were welcome to come in and warm up.
Writing about Maine's snow trains the Bangor Daily News said, "Many brought their own lunches and ate in the woods but the majority flocked back into the village to eat in the little restaurants. All eating-places were packed most of the afternoon. Some of the skiers didn't return until the first blush of the descending sun swept the western horizon."
The allure was not just skiing. Along the Snow Trail captured the flavor of the time, "The homeward trip of the eight car train was the usual funfest with hearty if not harmonious singing and a variety of antics conspiring to keep awake those sleepy eyed individuals who had run their store of energy down to the last drop. Nearly everyone was uncomfortably damp, thanks to spills that had filled pockets and sleeves with more snow than a snow loader could move in a day, but nobody cared. There were even mild sunburns, which is a point to call to the attention of relatives now basking under the same sun on Florida beaches. Come to Maine for a January sun tan!"
After the Depression Fryeburg was the first town in Maine to use winter sports for economic benefits. Winter sports to brought hundreds of visitors to Fryeburg at a time when few people would otherwise have come.
"Some of the skiers didn't return until the first blush of the descending sun swept the western horizon."
- Bangor Daily News, 1936
Photo - page 35, the lady sitting in the snow.
A hearty welcome is waiting for you in Fryeburg
By author/Maine ski historian: Glenn Parkinson
For more Maine Skiing history please select a title from the list below.
• Playing in the Great Snow Empire
• A hearty welcome is waiting for you in Fryeburg
• Hardy Veterans of the Waxed Runners Hurtle Into Space
• Rumford hosts the 1950 World Championships
