Snow Train Anniversary Events Head into Full Swing
Honored as Gore Mountain Pioneers, from left to right, are plaque holders Kelly and Bob Nessie, Tom “Buckshot” Butler, Mike Pratt, and George Heim. See descriptions of their contributions below.
Two months of activities in connection with the 90th anniversary of the first Snow Train on March 4, 1934 began unfolding late Wednesday afternoon as the North Creek community gathered to pay tribute to five individuals who have played “pivotal roles in shaping the North Creek Ski Bowl into the thriving destination it is today.”
Those honored were Tom “Buckshot” Butler, George Heim, Mike Pratt, and Kelly and Bob Nessle. See full descriptions of their contributions below.
Wednesday’s festivities marked the first night of the Citizen Series, featuring snowshoe and cross country skiing races each Wednesday through Feb. 28 under the lights on the groomed trails at the North Creek Ski Bowl. Distance options are 1.25 kilometers (one loop), 2.5k (two loops), 3.75k (three loops), and 5k (four loops) on the Ski Bowl’s professionally maintained and brightly lit stadium course. Participants can choose to race (or walk) on snowshoes, or can classic or skate ski. For more information, go to www.goremountain.com.
Gore will continue its 90th observation the weekend of March 2-4 with a plan to show on a continuing loop film of remarkable film shot on the first Snow Train and a gallery of old photos. On March 2, the North Creek Depot Museum will offer a snowshoe through the Ski Bowl.
Young people from North Creek and Schenectady were so inspired by the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Olympics they teamed up in turning Gore Mountain logging trails into ski trails and petitioned the Delaware & Hudson Railroad to run a special train from Schenectady. So many turned out the railroad had to add a second locomotive.
The Tannery Pond Center has scheduled a series of events in connection with the anniversary. Below are January highlights.
This is Dorothea Loewel’s map as displayed a year ago by the North Creek Depot Museum prior to restoration.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 7 P.M.
Unveiling of Dorothea C. Loewel’s Restored Pictorial Map
Tannery Pond Center
In 1939, an art teacher from New Rochelle, New York named Dorothea Christine Loewel was staying at the New American Hotel, where the Phoenix Inn Resort stands today, when she decided to memorialize in a whimsical pictorial map the hubbub and excitement she was observing in North Creek at the height of ski season. This colorful and detailed drawing captures the excitement of skiers arriving in town, the slopes at Gore and many of the shops along Main Street, some of which are still extant.
When Depot Museum volunteers discovered the map in its archive last year, the Board immediately agreed they had to have it restored.
Carolyn Frisa, Head Curator at Works on Paper, LLC in Bellows Falls, Vermont, has completed her work and now will join Depot Museum President Greg Schaefer in unveiling it, describing the painstaking conservation process. Schaefer will then show a vintage ski film while providing commentary. Singer/songwriter Doug Irving will then perform his original ballad of the Snow Train. Raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win one of two framed reproductions of the drawing. Refreshments will be served.
SATURDAY, JANUAR7 27, 7 P.M.
How Skiing Came to North Creek: Schenectady's Role
Tannery Pond Center
As the son of Vincent Center, who organized the first Snow Train as founder of the Schenectady Wintersports Club, Jim Schaefer is able to tell the entire story of the Snow Train as they unfolded on the Schenectady side of the collaboration that made North Creek a pioneering ski community in the 1930s. Among the little-known vignettes in the story is the flight that Vince Schaefer made with GE Nobel Prize-winning chemist Irving Langmuir in an open-cockpit airplane in search of a mountain to visit via train. Also intriguing: the love story that unfolded between Vince and Lois Perrett, the nurse who took responsibility for establishing the first Ski Patrol. As a member of Governor Averill Harriman’s Advisory Committee on Skiing, he played a key role in focusing the committee’s attention on the potential for establishing a major ski resort at Gore. Jim joined his father in erecting anemomenters to study weather patterns on Gore.
A Salute to Gore Mountain Pioneers
GEORGE HEIM
George and his family had remarkable journeys as owners and operators of Garnet Hill Lodge for nearly 35 years. In 1977, after retiring from a distinguished career in Naval Intelligence Services as a Lieutenant Commander, he purchased the Garnet Hill property. George worked tirelessly to transform Garnet Hill into a renowned Four-Season Resort for guests to stay at. Always striving to make Garnet Hill the best cross-country ski area in the northeast, George's innovative ideas set him apart and brought visitors to the North Creek area.
George's impact extended beyond the borders of Garnet Hill. He became a cherished figure in the North Creek community, actively engaging with the North Creek Chamber and supporting local initiatives. George's dedication to promoting North Creek as a vibrant destination was evident in his efforts to attract more visitors. He facilitated ski touring trips from Garnet Hill to Gore Mountain, recognizing the allure of backcountry skiing. His meticulous grooming of the trails became a defining feature of Garnet Hill, enabling skiers of all levels to enjoy cross-country skiing. George's unwavering dedication has left an indelible mark on the surrounding community and the landscape he cherished.
MIKE PRATT
Mike Pratt had an incredibly successful and impactful 37-year career at Gore and the Olympic Regional Development Authority. Throughout his tenure, he made significant contributions to the venues and the surrounding areas— driven by his tenacity, work ethic, and vision.
Mike implemented creative and practical approaches to ski area management. He led Gore's effort to tap the Hudson River for snowmaking in 1996, a project that transformed the region's appeal as a major skiing destination. He forged new operations at the North Creek Ski Bowl, including the critical 2011 interconnect with Gore Mountain's massive lift and trail network and innovatively repurposing the landscape into a successful Nordic facility. Before his retirement in 2023, Mike established plans for even more exciting Ski Bowl projects to come.
Mike understood the importance of preserving history and prioritizing sustainability. His award-winning environmental efforts have minimized visual impact, reduced greenhouse emissions, protected habitats, and established multi-use recreational models, among other successes.
BOB AND KELLY NESSIE
Bob and Kelly Nessle are a dynamic and committed husband and wife team who share an undying love for the North Creek Ski Bowl. As founding members of the "Friends of the Ski Bowl Park", Bob and Kelly worked tirelessly to organize and promote events aligned with the Johnsburg residents' collective vision.
Bob and Kelly have been instrumental in helping develop the North Creek Ski Bowl Town Park, which has become a hub of recreation for people of all ages and abilities and a place that preserves a unique history. They continue to work towards their dream of founding a museum dedicated to the
development of local skiing right here in North Creek. Bob and Kelly's selflessness and hard work made them upstanding members of the community. They have given countless hours to help with the park's construction and operation and continue volunteering their time to make it a better place. Their tireless efforts have benefited Johnsburg and the surrounding area, creating a destination to enjoy all kinds of activities throughout the year. They inspire locals and are a true testament to the power of community engagement.
TOM ‘BUCKSHOT’ BUTLER
Tom Butler, known as "Buckshot," was a skilled skier with a smooth, fast style, known for his antics on the snow. He taught himself how to ski at age seven in North Creek, using wooden skis with leather toe strap bindings and rubber boots. Tom and his friends would ski on the hill behind the North Creek Bank until a t-bar was installed in 1946. Tom was among the first to ride it. Tom's favorite trail at the Ski Bowl was Ridge, which had a famous "jump rock."
From 1949 to 1954, Tom was a member of Perry Ehler's Jr. Ski Patrol and enjoyed guiding groups of skiers to Rabbit Pond by skiing down from Barton Mines on the back of Gore Mountain.
Tom worked at Gore Mountain from 1976 to 1996. He held many positions under different managers while at Gore: Parking Lot Supervisor, Sewer Plant Operator, Head of Maintenance, Lift Operation Supervisor, Groomer, Trail Maintenance, Lift Operator, and Lift Maintenance. During his 21 years at Gore Mountain, Tom enjoyed years of cruising down his favorite trails, Sleeping Bear and Sunway.
