Ski Museum finds home in Kingfield

New home for Heidi Ski Museum of Maine board members and other volunteers unload “Heidi” one of the museums beautiful treasures. Heidi is a mannequin that was obtained by board member Dan Cassidy. Pictured, in a van loaned by Birchwood Interiors, are (back row, left to right) Vince Kremin, “Heidi” and Dan Cassidy, (front) Peter Dumont, executive director Megan Roberts, Scott Andrews and Tom Hanson. (David Hart photo) KINGFIELD -– The Ski Museum of Maine has moved and is now located in the Keenan- Sugarloaf Sports Outlet building on the second floor in downtown Kingfield. This is happening thanks in part to the generous donation of space within the building by Sugarloaf.

Sugarloaf has entered into a new six-year lease with the building owners in which it will now sublease space to the museum. The plan calls for the museum and the Sugarloaf Sports Outlet to share the space in the future. The museum’s yearly operational costs will benefit as the institution has entered into a contract for a $1-per year with Sugarloaf.

Kingfield may become a Mecca of historical museums with the ski museum joining the Stanley Museum already in town, said ski museum board president John Christie.

Last week some board members worked to move much of the collection into the new Kingfield home from Church Street in Farmington. Since its physical inception, the museum has been located in Farmington where it existed for three years before it moved closer to Sugarloaf.

“The mission of the Maine Ski Hall of Fame is to recognize those skiers, who through their efforts and achievements have brought distinction to Maine skiing,” the group’s mission statement says. This may relate to personal achievement in competition or may relate to impacts made on the ski industry by founders, manufacturers or people who have made skiing in Maine a way of life through the history of the sport.

Director Scott Andrews explained that Maine skiing dates back to 1870 a longer history then any other New England state.

Historically, it was a Maine company that built the tallest ski jump, a Maine resident who wrote the first book on skiing and Maine that was the home of the first chairlift in the east.

Andrews runs an outreach program through the museum named Fireside Chat that further explains Maine skiing history through a narrated digital slideshow presentation. Fireside Chat travels Maine educating groups such as ski clubs, historical societies and other interested in Maine skiing history.

“Maine manufacturers were leading producers of skis in the mid-20th century. Two dozen Maine skiers have competed or coached at the Olympics, Maine hosted five World Championships/World Cup level competitions between 1950 and 2009,” Andrews explained in a handout.

Members were excited about the new move to Kingfield. Representatives from Sugarloaf Sports Outlet were pleased to welcome the museum which creates a truly win-win relationship between the two entities. The outlet can gain customers for those who make the museum a destination and vice-versa.

Christy explained the history of how the museum evolved. It started conceptually at Sugarloaf by Sugarloafers nearly seven years ago. It’s now back near Sugarloaf. “It’s the perfect symmetry,” Christie explained.

Christy explained the Jean Luce was the first president of the board and was truly the “mover and shaker” that got the museum going.

Christy provided examples why he and his board thought it was the right move to come to Kingfield. Originally Farmington made sense, but the Kingfield location, its cost of renting along with the partnership with the outlet staff presented great opportunities.

“We’ve never done retail or ran a credit card machine, utilizing some of the sports outlets’ services will present us with retail operations,” Christy said as one example.

Christy also said that Carrabassett was an early choice before the move to Farmington. But that concept was dismissed by the board. “Although it was originally conceived in Carrabassett Valley, we are the Ski Museum of Maine and we don’t want to have it too closely connected to any single ski area,” Christy explained. Summer traffic was also very important to the board, Christy said.

In addition to the museum, the board has also created the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. In 2003 a separate board was established and that board creates recognition for some of the finest individuals in the ski industry. “Where most saw snow, they envisioned mountains of opportunities,” the yearly guide that announces the inductees reads.

The annual Maine Ski Heritage Day is another ski museum fundraising event, which takes place in mid- February each year. For the past two years the event has been held at Sugarloaf and might again return there, but that’s yet to be determined.

Past events include midday parade of skiers in ancient gear, such as wooden skis and bear trap bindings and vintage apparel, such as raccoon coats and other festive fun. There’s also a reception, live auction and silent auction in its attempt to raise funds.

Christy said the first idea of the museum coming to Sugarloaf is credited to Sugarloaf president John Diller. Nearly three months ago, Diller and building owner Dick Keenan were discussing a new lease outside the building in downtown Kingfield, when museum board member Don Fowler was walking by. Diller raised the concept with Fowler in passing. “I thought it was a hell of a good idea,” Fowler said and passed the concept on to Christie immediately. That concept is now a reality in Kingfield.

The museum is planning on opening it doors Columbus Day weekend and a grand opening schedule is being coordinated with Sugarloaf staff to work in conjunction with the homecoming weekend plans.