Fourth of a series of excerpts from Gerry Miller’s book “Crotched Mountain Ski Area in Francestown, New Hampshire,” a history/biography about the original Crotched Mountain Ski Area in Francestown, developed by William C. (Bill) MacAdam and syndicate. Miller grew up in Francestown. Much of the material for the book was from the Monadnock Ledger or Peterborough Transcript.

Crotched Mountain was a playground for people of all different backgrounds, brought together by their love of skiing.

Taking a break from his music, Leonard Bernstein, the brilliant conductor, composer, and pianist, enjoyed schussing at Crotched Mountain.

Peterborough Transcript, Nov. 21, 1968. Page 1

Conductor among first skiers

An international celebrity looked in on the Monadnock Region last weekend, lingered long enough to have some fun, and left a bright trail behind him.

The newest book about him says that he likes scuba diving. And does push-ups every morning. And has his hair cut by his wife. He reads music scores and composes symphonies and conducts orchestras in New York and Haifa and other centers.

He also skis. Last week he was skiing in this area. But though his name is a household word, he went into a number of places in Peterborough before anyone recognized him.

Recognition was easy at the Pack Monadnock Motel, where he registered for the weekend.

His identity was also noted at the Motor Inn by Mrs. Richard Pierce, where he enjoyed dinner Saturday night.

Jeanne Caskie spotted him the minute he came into the ski shop at Crotched Mountain.

And word spread fast on the ski slopes as to the identity of the visitor in a bright blue sweater and blue stretch pants who skied avidly all Saturday and Sunday with his 11-year old son, Alexander. (There were among 1,600 skiers at Crotched.)

“One of the most genial and modest fellows you ever saw.” said William MacAdam, head of the Crotched ski operation. “He went about quietly, but he had a nice word for everybody. And he was on first-name basis with the lift operators and half the people in the ski shop before he left Sunday.”

He dropped in at the MacDowell Colony to see a few old friends, including his favorite anagrams partner (or opponent), Louise Crockett.

“I’m not sure you’ll remember me.” he said.

But his friends at the Colony did.

It would be hard, everyone agreed, not to remember Leonard Bernstein.

Crotched Mountain did a wonderful job growing new skiers by providing lessons, forming a ski club, and hosting fun events. Once hooked, guests returned again and again.

An advertisement in the Peterborough Transcript, Feb. 4, 1965

Mid-Week Ski Bargain

Sneak Away & Ski at Crotched Mountain

A full day of skiing on groomed trails, plus your ski lesson in the Coolidge Ski School, plus your lunch (soup, sandwich, dessert and beverage) all for only $5.00.

All five days, M-F, for only $20.

Bill Coolidge was the mountain’s first PSIA Ski School Director.

After-school ski programs introduced thousands of local children to skiing. Additionally, youth groups from Boston and other areas came to Crotched Mountain to learn to ski.

When Tim Gannett took over ownership in 1970, he made a deal with Clif Taylor, and put Clif’s special Learn to Ski Program to work. The program included rentals and lesson, a revolutionary change in operations. Clif was a World War II Veteran, a member of the 10th Mountain Army Division in the Alps.

The formation of the Crotched Mountain Ski Club was critical to the mountain’s success. It drew in families from all around, including Massachusetts. Its main purpose was to promote camaraderie among the skiers and promote fun activities. It was successful at promoting ski racing from juniors up to seniors.

Bill MacAdam, along with all the mountain employees, could be thought of as the “heart” of the mountain, but through volunteers and membership as well as donations, the Crotched Mountain Ski Club was the “soul.”

The Crotched Mountain Ski Club promoted racing and soon it became an intermountain competition, with regular practice and coaching that produced a number of individuals who helped win team awards as well as individual ones.

Racing continued into the late 1970s when Tim Gannett, who became the second owner, took it to the next level by bringing in Ted Sutton. Ted had a history of promoting ski racing, having taken part in the establishment of the Eastern Mass Buddy Werner League while at Boston Hill.

In the mid-1970s he was the vice chair of the Eastern Alpine Competition Committee. He came to Crotched Mountain, where he was the program director and head coach for the newly established Crotched Mountain Alpine Training Center. In 1981, he created the first U.S. Ski Association High School Championships.

The race programs run by the Crotched Mountain Alpine Training Center working in conjunction with the Crotched Mountain Ski Club included the Chipmunks, the Buddy Werner and the Federation Team ski teams, as well as the Peterborough High School team races.

The Ski Club promoted its events, frequently submitting press releases to the Peterborough Transcript to draw more people to the mountain.

Peterborough Transcript, Feb. 22, 1968

Francestown: Real Thing!

For the many people who enjoyed watching the Olympic slalom races on TV, the same event (live and in color) is presented every Sunday afternoon at 1:00 at Crotched Mt.

The racers are younger (5 through 18), the mountain is not quite as steep, there are fewer gates (poles) to negotiate, and the falls (although many) are less spectacular, with the most serious injury being the disappointment of lost time or not completing the race.

Except for the Peewees (who have only one run), each racer has two chances to run the course. Results are based on the average speed of the combined runs.

Don’t forget, there will be a Square Dance at Crotched Mountain Ski Area on March 2. Bob Bennet will be the caller. Everyone is invited. Admission is $1.00 to non-ski club members.

There will also be a Ski Club supper before the dance.