By Dr. Dan O'Keeffe and Mary C. Moro
As Told to Toni Anderson-Somme

The idea of bringing people by train to the North Country to enjoy skiing and other winter sports was conceived and organized by Vincent J. Schaefer and Bill Gluesing through the cooperative efforts of North Creek skiing enthusiasts and the Schenectady Wintersports Club (SWC) in 1932.

The SWC was an outgrowth of the Mohawk Valley Hiking Club that Vince had started in 1929. During the depths of the Great Depression, he and other club members were determined to attend the 1932 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid. He led a group of sixteen men and women to camp in the Adirondacks, in a lean-to, at Heart Lake for a week. The experience of camping and climbing mountains in winter weather extremes inspired him to organize a winter sports club upon his return home.

His efforts were backed by The Adirondack Forest Preserve's stalwart John S. Apperson, and General Electric's Dr. Irving Langmuir. Assisting in getting the club up and running were Bart Baker, Hans Beauer, Al Getz, Bill Gluesing, Ray Hall, Gertrude Schaefer, Bob Serrell, Larry Shaw, Klauds Sixtus, Guy Suits, Harry Summerhayes and many others from the Schenectady area.

A 150-signature petition was sent to the Boston & Maine Railroad Company, demonstrating interest in a "Snow Train" to the mountains. Interest shifted, however, to the Delaware & Hudson Railway following an aerial survey, which revealed excellent slopes and rail access to North Creek...and the rest was history.

Before the arrival of the first snow train on March 4, 1934, seven snow trains had been cancelled due to poor snow conditions, so by the time the first train pulled into the station, carrying its load of 387 winter sports enthusiasts, the Ski Club began to organize for the arrival, the accommodations and the transportation of the skiers, both to their lodging and to and from the ski trails. This was an enormous job and the whole town took part. 

The cost for a round-trip was $7.50 and everyone took the skiers into their own homes when other accommodations became full. Every "Cricker" would have a paddle with a number on it. These numbers corresponded to the numbers the passengers of the train would have been assigned. Each of us would stand with our paddles raised and the passengers that "belonged" to us would step forward to join us. We would take them home to be "boarded" for the duration of their visit. 

My mother took in two lovely schoolteachers that I remember distinctly. It was said that more people came in on the train than there actually were residing in North Creek. 

The principal of the school, Clarence Topping, acted as Grover Whalen - (for you young 'uns, Whalen was the New York City politician who had been responsible for coordinating so much social activity in the Big Apple). Principal Topping oversaw the assignment and organization of boarders into the locals' homes, and was readily on hand when the train pulled into the station, making sure that everyone ended up in their assigned homes, but a more thorough account of our "housing" system will be dealt with in the following chapter.

Awaiting many of the skiers was John Ordway's "open taxi" to take the skiers who were anxious to get started to the top of the mountain. Ordway packed them in - as many as fifteen to twenty people - all standing in the back of an open truck. Anxious to get a "jump" on the skiing, these die-hard skiers didn't seem to mind that the ride was "air-conditioned" all the way.

Shortly after the arrival of the snow trains, a chapter of the Gore Mountain Ski Club was formed in New York City. In December of 1937 they announced the "approximately 700 members of the New York Chapter of The Gore Mountain Ski Club, a group of skiers who prefer North Creek as their winter playground, will hold an open house in Austrian Hall, New York." As well as discussion of ski trains, rates, accommodations, clothing and equipment, three ski films were to be shown.

Besides the Snow Trains, buses brought skiers to ski. The Adirondack Transit Line left the Dixie Hotel Terminal at 341 W. 42nd Street in New York City and left them in Chestertown or Pottersville, where transportation was readily available to various hotels and ski houses.

Vince Shaefer, seen in the subsequent picture, standing next to the train in a checkered shirt, was responsible for organizing and directing the first 387 winter sports enthusiasts who arrived on that maiden snow train trip to Gore, directing them to the multiple local cars, trucks and school buses that would initially be responsible for getting them up to the ski slopes.

Each ride to the end of the Barton Mines Road, ten miles to the Northwest, cost 25 cents. Ski trails of varying degrees of difficulty were accessible there for skiers to slide down some five miles to the trail's end. At the bottom, rides were available to take them back up to the top! It's easy to understand, then, how Gleusing's slogan, "Ride Up - Slide Down" seemed so appropriate. 

The train remained at the North Creek Station to be used as a base "lodge," and later on, as a place for the beauties from Saks Fifth Avenue to model their "wares." Folks would venture out on the village slopes or nearby mountains to ski, skate, sled, snowshoe or watch others enjoying those activities. When the conditions became too frigid, they would return to the makeshift "lodge" to warm chilled toes and fingers, eat, drink hot chocolate or change into dry clothes. The train/lodge was a great place to socialize or just relax. It wasn't until 1940 that an actual ski hut would be built, but in those earliest days, the train at North Creek station served multiple purposes and as every "Cricker" knew, socializing with the city folk was one of the best!

The arrival of the snow trains, which the Schaefers and Bill Gluesing worked diligently to organize, the development of the ski patrol, the addition of the ski tows, a toboggan run and ski jump, and the increasing importance of ski schools, meant that the ski club had to accept many more responsibilities. It is clear from various reports and histories of the time, that they did this with apparent ease and notable competence. They took turns and switched roles continually - sometimes, as officers of the club, sometimes in charge of trails, membership, ski patrol work, and training, finance, and fundraising. 

The Adirondacks offered - and still offer - almost unlimited recreational opportunities for the sportsman, during all seasons. On March 4, 1934, the D & H began operating snow trains from the Capital District to North Creek at the request of the Schenectady Wintersports Club. Baggage car, diner and coaches provided a ski lodge on wheels for the day. Winter sports excursions became regular offerings during the winter ski season. 

However, lest you think it was all "sweetness and light" and that all the early ski pioneers were saints, you should know that they were not above playing practical jokes on both the locals and the city slickers. I regret to admit that I wasn't an innocent bystander in the shenanigans that ensued. One particularly amusing anecdote still makes me smile.

One time a group of us took a stuffed black bear up the side of Gore Mountain just for kicks. Unfortunately, the New York skiers were taking their first run down the Half Way Brook Trail. As a neophyte skier would start to slow down after a nice run down the mountainside, the bear "handler" would push the stuffed beast from behind a large rock so that the "city-slicker" skier would spot it. Needless to say, pandemonium and panic ensued. The skier, strapped into his or her bindings would fall and then try to run with skis still attached, and, in at least one instance, even try to climb a tree despite the hindrance of his equipment.

Meanwhile, Bill Gluesing would be operating a movie camera in an attempt to catch all of the hysteria on film. Fortunately, no one got hurt and when the victim recovered from the initial fright, he or she would often linger along the trail, hoping to catch a glimpse of the next innocent victim to fall prey to the locals' antics.

The ski club often sponsored weekend programs including races on the various slopes of the McMahon Bowl and at Ski Land. More often than not, those movies that Bill Glues enjoyed filming were featured during the program. The had fun in those days. Sometimes it was at the expense city folk, but it was always just for a laugh and most o time, they ended up laughing right along with us! 

One skier, staying at The American Tavern, was checking out one afternoon in a somewhat frantic, disturbed state. Mrs. Gregory, at the desk, asked him why he was leaving in such a hurry. "I hope there isn't some family emergency," she inquired.

He shook his head, leaning in to whisper. "There's a damn bear on the trails!" he exclaimed. "I have enough trouble skiing when I'm all by myself!"

There has always been some discrepancy about the origin of that bear. There are some who said it was Carl Schaeffer's stuffed bear. I believe that version. And just in case you're wondering what happened to our grizzly mascot, according to Marcia Minder the bear was borrowed by Tommy Murphy in Minerva. In later years it could be seen at The Black Bear Restaurant in Pottersville.

It seems that a lot of "The Crickers" got their fun from using stuffed animals.

George Gregory was another one who fooled both locals and out-of-towners with his taxidermy. In his case, it was a stuffed owl that was utilized. Of course, he always claimed it was with the best of intentions.

Incidentally, George Gregory, my father-in-law and the owner of The American Tavern had the only Garnet Bar in the world! It was quite a stupendous sight to see. The garnet stones came from

Barton's Mines. Above that garnet bar was a shelf which held the stuffed owl. Its eyes would light up by pushing a button beneath the bar. Occasionally, just for fun, when George thought someone had had a little too much to drink, he'd diplomatically suggest that they call it a night. If they protested, George would punch the button, and the owl's eyes would begin to blink off and on. The customer would indicate the bird above the bar and say, "George, that owl is blinking at me." George's response would be, "I told you you'd had enough to drink!" There would be no more protests from the customer on the stool. George always managed to keep things under control one way or another!

One of the things this influx of New York City skiers did for our small town was to increase our social interaction. With all the imported skiers, the little town was actually "jumping" on a Saturday night. There would always be a band and dancing over my father's drug store, where we had created a sort of dance hall, creatively dubbed "O'Keeffe's Hall" by the locals.

The likes of Guy LaPell, Harold Yandon, "Tump" Yandon, and Mrs. Alexander, all local musicians, would jazz up the hall, and the visitors would swarm in to enjoy an evening of music, dance, and socializing with the North Creek Another notch on the "exciting social life belt" came from the fact that Saks Fifth Avenue was an early sponsor of the Gore Mountain Ski Club. The President of Saks, and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Gimbel, were avid skiers and skied regularly at Gore. Saks had their own car on the snow trains, and all of the latest in equipment and fashion. They even brought models to model their latest line of ski clothes. Those girls sure were pretty but they couldn't ski. Their main goal was tao be seen in the sports fashion and "see" them we did! 

Milda Burns and Marcia Minder remember well that the models were of great interest to all the young local girls, who aspired to look like those fashion icons from The Big Apple. To my recollection, all of the local males - both young and old - seemed pretty interested in the latest ski fashions too! On Sunday, January 26th, 1936, Saks donated two cups for the ski races at the McMahon Slopes. I am proud to say that the slalom was won by yours truly, and that cup can still be seen in the museum's ski exhibit. Sterling Goodspeed won second place.

Communicating with and luring New York City skiers into North Creek wasn't an easy task though. In 1938 a large number of people canceled their trip on the New York Snow Train when information was posted on a Friday evening at Grand Central Station that "conditions are only fair." In fact, 10-14 inches of snow had fallen late that very afternoon! This prompted the ski club to get better ski and snow conditions out to the public in a timely fashion. By 1940, the Gore Mountain Ski Club was so confident in their communication and marketing strategies that they could guarantee the local taxi drivers payment for a full load to the trails for two daily trips that would leave the ski club's office at 10:15 A.M. and 1:45 P.M.