Ladder
Hill
East Templeton
around 1940-early 1970s
Several NELSAP readers tipped us off about this small rope tow area located in Templeton. Thanks to research done by Laurie P. we now know a little more about this area.
"The lost area in Templeton was Ladder Hill, my cousin just got back to me. He doesn't have any info other than it closed when Route 2 was expanded and went through what was the ski area. Heading away from Gardner, it was about 200 yards or so from the Wilson Bus Company."
Laurie also spoke with Dick Kendall who had this information to share about Ladder Hill.
"Ladder Hill was a rope tow area built on a farm field in East Templeton, MA. It operated from around 1940 to the early 70's when the new route 2 was constructed. It was about 300-400 feet long. It was located on the northern side of route 2A (the former route 2). If you look at the hill now there it a radio tower and a water tank on the top. The ski area started about 50 feet from the top of the hill and ran across what would now be the east bound lanes of Route 2."
Donald Scerra also remembers this area: I used to ski Ladder Hill, I remember looking out of the window on my parents porch to see if it was open for night skiing. This is where I learned to ski as many locals did. It cost a dollar to ski there and I believe before it closed it cost 2 dollars. A season ticket was I believe $10 ( all us kids had one ). One of the lasting memories is the rope tow and how it eat gloves and your poles if you weren't paying attention. My sister who now lives in Florida were talking and chuckling about it in November. What was even funnier was the expression on the faces of friends who skied and never saw or experienced a rope tow. Either the brother or uncle of friend of mine used to run and operate Ladder Hill. His name was Smith ( Go figure ).
Martha (Starkey) Flagg: I have wonderful memories of skiing at Ladder Hill in the 60s. We lived across what was then Route 2 (and is now 2A) on Ladder Hill Terrace. Yes, a season's pass was $10.00 and it included weeknights and weekends. We used to just sling our skiis over our shoulders and walk over on starry cold evenings. The rope tow was famous for knocking you flat on your butt time after time until you learned the technique of letting it gradually slide through your gloves (as it destroyed them.) I think this was because it was hooked directly up to an old tractor motor with no way of slowing down the speed. There was also a very crude little hut to warm up in, with a barrel fire and occasionally hot chocolate. We thought we were in ski heaven.
Does anybody else remember Ladder Hill?