Naomi

A super group of people like you helped make it possible for outdoor adventurers like me to ride the Accessibility Trail here in Mt. Tom State Reservation, Holyoke, MA. Thanks to people like you a smooth and fun-to-ride trail now extends along Lake Bray to the new 55 foot bridge behind me that they built. I’d love to be able to chair-ride with friends all the way around Lake Bray. With help from you and your friends, me and mine, we can make it happen. Want to know more? E-mail me at treble13@comcast.net.

Former Mt. Tom Ski Area

mttomprofile

In 1959-1960, Daniel O’Connell of O’Connell and Sons Construction Co. became interested in building a facility to keep local kids busy in the winter.  Advisors to the  included Roland Palmedo, Walter F. Stugger, and Stan Brown.

On December 17, 1960, the ski area opened with snow-making. A 1,400 foot T-Bar served the Big Tom slope, while a 400 foot rope tow operated on the Little Tom slope. Beyond those slopes, the Big Tom trail was advertised as being open via snow-cat service, giving skiers some additional 300 vertical feet above the 285 feet provided by the T-Bar. Ed Wakelin was listed as manager of the ski area while Robert Savard ran the ski school for the inaugural season.  Picture courtesy of a friend of the Mt. Tom Range.