Furnace Brook
Heavenly Hill
Quincy, MA
Before 1952-At least 1971

 


The cover of the Heavenly Hill brochure in the early 1960's. Courtesy of the New England Ski Museum.		 Thanks to a New England Ski Museum brochure, we now know a great deal more on this ski area that operated in Quincy. A rope tow, length 840', was in operation before 1952 on the Furnace Brook Golf Course. 

On February 20, 1952, they had good conditions on packed powder surfaces with a 4-8 inch base. Check out the ski report below, provided to NELSAP by David Vaillancourt.

In 1960, Dixie and Bill Ellis purchased the ski area and renamed it Heavenly Hill, as, according to them, it had a spectacular view. It offered rentals, night skiing, and a convenient location. Rates were only $1.50 per day or night session!

According to Massachusetts, A Guide to the Pilgrim State, (provided by Betsy McDonough), the area was still open in 1971. It likely closed shortly thereafter.

Here are the directions to Heavenly Hill:

Chris Lundquist found this area during April of 2002, near a school close to the golf course. He found these two rope towers near the bottom of the slope.
A view looking up the liftline. Grown in, but still visible.

 

Allan has many memories of Heavenly Hill:

Although I first skied in my back yard in West Quincy, it wasn't until I was 13 that I got a "real" pair skis (wood skis/cable bindings) and started taking lessons at Heavenly Hill. This would have been in 1966. Classes were first given at a local grammar school on Beale Street in Quincy. There was a carpeted ramp that went from the stage in the school auditorium to the floor.....a vertical of about 3 or 4 feet! Kids learned how to snowplow on this ramp.

 Yes, there was a rope tow and I remember the place being "packed" when the area operated. I took one lesson at the ski area. It was after a snowstorm and after taking the rope tow up we were asked to side step down (and back up) to pack the snow down so we could ski. There was no snowmaking and certainly no snow packing machines.

 I remember Bill Ellis - a middle aged man. I think he had some sons. And maybe it was one of his sons who gave me my first (and only) lesson on Heavenly Hill.

 I skied there day and night - whenever possible.. I now snowboard on the golf course (was there on 11/27/2002 at night with my nephew)...but we now have to walk up the hill which at my age (49)- gets a little tiring!

 I really wish Heavenly Hill were still there....it was a perfect place to learn to ski - very gentle and very short commute!

 

Has anybody skied here? If so, let us know.

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