Historical Photos

Many thanks to brothers Bill and John Clough, who took the time to meet with me in late January, 2013 and scan some of their family photos of the area. Click on each image for the larger version:

Memories

Dwight Conant has provided us with a much more detailed history of this lost area:

I lived up the road from the New London Slopes from 1953 until 1959, and I skied there as a youngster from age 9 to age 14.  The area was operated by the New London Outing Club and one of the most ardent supporters was Dr. William Clough, one of whose sons (John) went on to the FIS circuit (now the World Cup).  In addition to the two slopes fed by the big tow, there was a beginner hill fed by a small rope tow.  A trail ran from behind Colby Junior College (now Colby Sawyer) down to the ski area allowing the students to get there on their own, later to be picked up by bus at the bottom.  There was also a 20 meter jump that a friend of mine and I built that was used for several years by the high school team.  Further off in the woods, there was a slalom training hill called "Clough's Bluff".  We had to work our way through the woods to get there, used maple saplings for gates, and climbed for each run.  

As is still done in some ski communities, schools let out on Thursday afternoons for kids to go skiing at the area and take lessons.  We took lessons again on Saturday mornings and then there was a junior race every Saturday after the lessons.  The manager and head instructor there for many years was Laurids Lauridson.  The rope tow and what I believe was an old truck engine was operated by Mr. Messer.  The area was about two miles from town, along Bunker Road uphill from Pleasant Lake.  It was a social center during winter for many people.  Another Doctor, John Ohler, used to go for a few runs at noon in his slacks and tweed coat.  We had a shed where we all left our skis at the area, so it was easy to drop by and take a few runs.  The hut had a small snack bar where you could get drinks, burgers, etc.  In addition to John Clough, there were some other good racers that came off that hill and skied in junior national competitions and did college racing. 

Tom Little: King Ridge is a direct outgrowth of New London Slopes.  Because of its location, on the shore of Pleasant Lake, there was little or no way to expand the "ski tow", as we all called it.  Consequently, in the late 50's, the New London Outing Club, which ran the New London Slopes, started looking for another site, and settled on the King Ridge location.  A corporation was formed to construct and run the new facility, and King Ridge was born.  All the equipment (except the outhouse) from the New London Slopes was moved to King Ridge.  The old warming hut (less the kitchen) became an equipment garage at the new site, and the two rope tows became the lifts for the Big and Little Teacup slopes.  Even the shed where we all stored our skis during the week was moved and retained its original purpose.  (I can't believe we were all so trusting in those days. I don't remember any major losses, though.)  Likewise, fellows like Bill Taylor and Adelbert Messer, who ran the old rope tows, also moved to the new facility.

By the Year:

Last updated: Feb 11, 2013

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