History

Skiing first becomes popular in the US in the 1930’s

The Ski Club of N.J., the oldest ski club in New Jersey, was formed in 1938 by a group of outdoor enthusiasts who were members at the YMCA in Hackensack, N.J.

To understand the history of the Ski Club of New Jersey, it is important to understand that in the 1930’s skiing was just becoming popular.

Word was passed around to friends that a group would meet at the “Y” on December 7, 1938, to discuss skiing and make some plans about how to get some professional ski instruction. Approximately 26 attended that first meeting. After a general discussion it was decided to form a ski club separate from the “Y” with officers and regular meetings.

Thus was the Ski Club of New Jersey born. The next meeting was the first formal ski club meeting on December 13, 1938. At that meeting they elected a president (Fred Leeman), vice-president (Jim Carew), secretary (Marie Eimert), treasurer (Jerry Stone) and weatherman (John Bourne). This first regular meeting adjourned at 10:30 that night.

Club objectives were discussed and adopted, to wit: “To promote safe, controlled skiing, and ski excursions: to cultivate good fellowship between ski clubs, ski club members and skiers everywhere; and to buy sound, adequate ski equipment.”

These are basically the same ideals the Club has today.

The name “Ski Club of New Jersey” was chosen at the next meeting. According to Rudi Logel, (early history, 1960) ten cents was collected from each member to defray the cost of then current expenses. Dues of $2.00 were established for membership and a treasury set up.

The first Club trip took place January 2, 1939. About 20 members left from New Jersey, probably Hackensack, at 6:30 am for Simpson’s Memorial Slope in Phoenicia, NY, which was a hill with a rope tow. The snow was good; the weather was sunny and cold. A good time was had by all.

A temporary constitution and by-laws were voted on and accepted in January 1939 at other meetings. Dues for the 1939-1940 ski season were raised to $2.50.

Club colors of maroon and gray were adopted at the sixth meeting sometime in January 1939.

The emblem was a gray field, shield-shaped with the letters NJ in maroon, A skier skiing down the slanted bar of the “N” was designed.

These first emblems were made of felt with the NJ and skier sewed on, the shield bordered in maroon. Much was accomplished in a short time.

The Club stressed controlled skiing, instruction for beginners, and a lively social roster.

After a year or so in Hackensack, the five founders moved to River Edge, NJ, where they shared space with the Bergen County Players, an amateur theatrical group that has also survived to this day.

In those days skiing usually occurred on Sundays.

Trips were made to the Catskills, where members climbed the mountains, something hard to fathom in a time of high speed trams.

Many learned to ski on the golf course at the Mohonk Mountain House outside New Paltz.

Vacations were to: Rutland, Vt.; Pico (opened 1938); Stowe, Vt.;North Conway,N.H., etc.

When World War II was declared 12-7-41, a high percentage of the Club joined the Services, both male and female.

A number of the Club joined the 10th Mt Division ski troops and served well during the war years.

The Club also helped form the New Jersey Ski Council (now the NJSSC.ORG) in 1939 and reactivated activities in 1946.

A number of the Club served as officers of the NJSC, and went on to serve in the U.S. Eastern Amateur Association, as well as the National Ski Association.

The building that Ski Club members call the “LAARJ” was purchased from the William J. Barstow estate in 1960.

Barstow, born in Brooklyn, NY, held many patents: The Barstow Booster system, feeder regulation of railway systems without resistance; A two-rate meter system of charging for electrical energy; and he designed other systems: for instance, one of the first electric refrigerators.

Much of his early career was with the Edison Company.

He became president of 30 electric light, power and gas companies, which had units in Vermont and elsewhere. Soon he acquired a summer home in Manchester, Vermont.

On March 1, 1929, six months before Black Friday, the 1929 stock market crash, he astutely sold two firms he had founded for $50 million.

William Barstow became involved with the Rutland Railway Power and Light Company, consulting on power-generating facilities in the Rutland area.

This brought the family to Chittenden, with its reservoir and dam; they loved the town’s serenity and woodland surroundings.

The spectacular scenery had a lasting effect on the family, which now included a son, Frederic Duclos Barstow, born in 1895.

Frederic served 22 months in France during World War I. Unfortunately he suffered long term lung damage from being gassed while there. So his doctors recommended “clean mountain air” and a peaceful surrounding. Unfortunately, Frederic eventually succumbed to his lung damage and his home and 10 acres were purchased from his mother’s estate in 1960 by the Ski Club of New Jersey.

This info is based on research provided by long time SCNJ member Daniel Zavisza