Remembering Brodieâ€™s glory days

By John Hitchcock12:00AM / Thursday, August 12, 2004Print Story | Email Story

Brodie Mountain as it looked in its last ski season in January 2002. (Photo by John Hitchcock)

The purchase last month of the former Brodie Mountain Ski Resort in New Ashford by Silverleaf Resorts of Dallas means that condominiums will replace skiers and snowboarders. The nearly 600 acres of forests and ski facilities was sold by FO Ski Resorts, which also owns and operates Jiminy Peak in Hancock. FO principals Brian Fairbank and Joseph Oâ€™Donnell of Boston Concessions bought Brodie in November 1999, from founder Jim (JW) Kelly and operated Brodie as a separate ski area for two winters, then limited operations to a snow-tubing area with one short chairlift. Kelly, meanwhile began construction of an 18-hole golf course on his Donnybrook Farm, immediately south of the ski area on Route 7 but entirely in Lanesboro. Although about six holes are playable, no date has been set for a commercial opening. Kellyâ€™s background was primarily in logging and the operation of sawmills when he decided to build a ski area in March 1964. Although surrounded by long-established ski centers in the Berkshires and Southern Vermont, Kelly brought a new and lively, if not exuberant, approach to the ski business. At the time when Brodie opened a three-level base lodge topped by the 5,000-square-foot Blarney Room with its hardwood floors or carpeting, the standard at most other resorts included gravel floors. Other ski areas closed at dusk, but Kelly did a record-setting bar business and brought in live bands and entertainers. As a ski instructor and news reporter for first The Berkshire Eagle and then the Springfield Republican, I followed Brodie happenings closely. I first skied Brodie Mountain in late December 1946, when the â€œMad Russianâ€ Gregory Makeroff had two rope tows and a few trails just south of the present Brodie parking lot. When I arrived with my skis, a lanky ex-Marine was busy splicing the main tow rope. His name was Walter Schoenknecht and he was leasing the operation from Makeroff. After the winter he returned to his home in Connecticut and built Mohawk Mountain before moving on to Mount Snow. The next winter a former Williams ski coach, Jim Parker, made the Brodie connection with Makeroff, who then moved out West and died shortly afterwards. Then Harley Phelps, operator of an adjacent farm, acquired the Makeroff property and skiing became past history. But Jim Kellyâ€™s father bought the adjacent land for its logging potential and in 1963 a federal recreational study named Brodie Mountain one of three prime sites for a commercial ski operation in the Berkshires. (The other two were Spruce Peak atop the Mohawk Trail and the Saddleball section of the Greylock Range). That was enough for Jim Kelly, and he decided to enter the ski business. He sought information for all sources, including me, and he and I walked the property on deep snow cover in early April 1964. By December he had a ski center with the imposing base lodge, a chairlift and a short T-bar and a half-dozen trails. Other ski operators, including those at Jiminy Peak only 3 miles away, were doubtful about Kellyâ€™s ability to run a ski center. In those days there was little in the way of snow-making except at Bousquet in Pittsfield and little natural snow fell in Kellyâ€™s first winter. With Washingtonâ€™s Birthday approaching, Kelly Hardwood Trucks were busy hauling snow from deep drifts near the Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, and soon there was plenty of white stuff at Brodie. The next year Kelly installed the first top-to-bottom snowmaking system. For good measure, he lighted most of the trails. And when the snow became too hard, Kelly invented his Hard Pack Pulverizer and sold it to competitors as well. Baby boomers were blasting down Brodieâ€™s ever-increasing number of trails. I got into the act and opened a cross-country ski touring center at Brodie with most of skiing at Donnybrook Farm. Brodie was hot, and Kelly was acknowledged as a shrewd and creative operator. He introduced professional ski racing and the Irish Olympics in conjunction with the St. Patrickâ€™s week festival, with even Mount Snowâ€™s Schoenknecht participating and observing. But Kellyâ€™s success inspired the competition, and the old-timers at Jiminy, including then President Fred Crane Jr., contracted with Kissing Bridge Inc. of western New York to manage the area. Kissing Bridge, which was also managing Mount Ascutney in Vermont, brought in young Brian Fairbank as resident manager and the rest is history. Before too long, Fairbank had joined forces with Oâ€™Donnell (one of the bidders for the Red Sox) and after a few years they acquired control of Jiminy and made the former almost moribund ski area the pride of southern New England. Meanwhile, Jim Kelly turned over active management of Brodie to two of his sons, Matt and Doug, and saw the former baby boomers turn into slow skiing old-timers. Brodie maintained a faithful but declining following, who praised the now slower tempo and sunnier, easier slopes. When Fairbank and Oâ€™Donnell bought Brodie, they found it difficult to bring back the old crowds and after two years decided not to spend the approximately $5 million thought necessary to bring Brodie up to Jiminyâ€™s level and instead built the new Jiminy Village Center. Jim Kelly, once a tennis fanatic, had transformed his zeal from skiing to golf, and all indications are that his Donnybrook Golf Club will be as outstanding as Brodie skiing was in the old days. And Kelly, ever a shrewd dealer, maintained ownership of two apartments at Brodie, located over the lower terminal of Andyâ€™s Chairlift. Fairbank told me Monday that the original agreement means that Kelly will still own two units at the new Snowy Owl Resort for â€œat least 70 years.â€ The FO deal with Silverleaf, for some $2.6 million, stipulates that there will never be any public skiing or boarding at Brodie, although FO would operate such activities for condo owners if desired. And FO will operate its tubing center for at least another winter. What goes around comes around, as they say, and Schoenknecht lost control of Mount Snow before succumbing to MS several years ago. American Skiing Co., present owner of Mount Snow, Killington, Attitash, Sugarloaf USA and Sunday River in the East, now includes golf at most of its properties. I played the Mount Snow course recently with PR man Mike Murphy and agree that the Geoffrey Cornish-designed layout will be a true test for the third annual Vermont Senior Open Aug. 24 and 25. There will be separate divisions for pros and for amateurs in the 50 to 59 age group as well as 60 plus, with $16,000 in cash prizes for the pros. This month will see club championships at most courses, as the competitive schedule will enter the more relaxed fall foliage season. Get out there. John Hitchcock of Williamstown writes frequently about the area sports scene.

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Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

i have just found out that Brodie Closed by the owners of Jiminy Peak...would have been a mich better idea to close Jimminy. Brodie was the most unique mountain in America. Sad Stuff.
from: Milon O. Henry	on: 03-15-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I worked at the mountain in the 2000/2001 season. I had come from Australia and couldn't believe what a great place Brodie was. Jiminy had great skiing - Brodie had the great atmosphere !
from: Jon	on: 03-16-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Brodie was SO MUCH better than Jiminy Peak...The almighty $$$ is the only thing that matters! Wake up and reopen the place!
from: Dan	on: 03-31-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Who can forget the Irish Olympics - ski from gate to gate drinking green beer !!!
from: Steve	on: 11-14-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

My earliest and fondest memories of skiing and riding were at Brodie, and my worst experiences with conditions and lift attendants were at Jiminy. Brodie should never have closed it's trails...the Blarney room will be forever missed...
from: Brodie Bum	on: 11-25-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Wow, This Is The First I Have Learned About Brodie Being Closed... I Grew Up Skiing Here, I Took My First Runs Here, I Collected Cans/Refuse Here, I Even Took My First Helicoptor Ride From The Parking Lot... I Cannot Believe It's Closed... I Am Dumbfounded... The Staff Were ALWAYS Happy-Go-Lucky, Helpful, Customer Oriented, And Above All Else - Determined To Make Your (my) Day/Night As Easy As Possible!!! I Am Sad To See It Gone...=(
from: Michael/Kim 2008	on: 12-05-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Gee, so sad to hear that a few moutains I grew up skiing have closed. I remember the Blarney room as a tot; those forbidden stairs up to the den of adulthood. So many great memories of skiing w/ my Dad. I live in California now but have land around Wilmington, where I skied Haystack, now closed. As was opnce said, you can never really go back..,
from: Paul Danese	on: 01-27-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I grew up skiing at Brodie in the 70's & 80's, I always had so much fun there, and it was just as good skiing there as an adult! The Irish Olympics were great! I remember my friends making the brave attempt at jumping the green pool, only to land right smack in it! I was never foolish enough to try, spectating was my game and what game it was to watch! St. Patty's Day was always best celebrated at Brodie...green snow, green beer, green food...I am so sad to see it closed and sold for condominiums - corporate America sucks!
from: Brodie Fan	on: 01-27-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

If anyone has any Brodie memoriablila for sale, please reply to this message. Thank you!
from: Brodie Fan	on: 01-27-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I was in western MA and took a drive to New Ashford and drove into the Brodie/Snowy Owl property. I knew it had closed so I wanted to see what it looked like in 2009. What I saw was devastating - graffiti on buildings, peeling paint, shutters falling, etc. The only thing missing was blowing tumble weeds. I hope it is developed soon and everything torn down so nobody else that loved that place sees it in the condition it is today.
from: Carol M	on: 02-09-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I skied at Brodie for 18 yrs, and it was the first Mountain I skied on in my life. I made a lot of friends from the campground and the ski instructors. Those were the best times of my life. I am now 33 yrs old, and always think of Brodie every winter. I am disgusted on how it looks now, and how it is closed. Memories are forever, it's just a shame that I can't teach my children how to ski there. My first son's middle name is Brodie, we wanted to keep that mountains name alive in our family. Since thats what Brodie was all about "FAMILY". Thanks to all the greedy people out in the world for breaking up the Brodie family.
from: Old Brodie Fan	on: 03-01-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I worked at Brodie I live in Australia it is the best time I ever had the Kelly s were really good to me I will never forget the green snow and the parties and all the lovely girls that I met glad I played a part of what is now history. Mal
from: Mal Bruce	on: 03-06-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Born in schenectady and skiing most of my life, i found myself at brodie often. I even rang the bell in the blarney room, I made sure there were not that many people in the bar. The warmest memories were with my best friend the late Ron Flory. I know Jim would have remembered us. We skiied all day and danced all night. I just happened on the site. I sure hope I get a chance to come down this fun hill again. I now live in the Dallas area and don't ski the east Carry on all!! John
from: john maiuro	on: 03-27-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

My husband and I had gone to Allendale Elem. in Pittsfield together in the 50's. Didn't see each other again until we both ended up at Brodie with others in 1972. Been married 36 years this month, due to Brodie. Living now in Maryland. Many fine memories esp. St. Patrick's Day festivities. By the way, neither of us ski. We just loved the atmosphere. We recently got a puppy and named him Brodie, after one of our favorite places.
from: Linda and Larry	on: 08-07-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Old memories fade hard... My dad, Bill Murthey, ran the ski shop at Brodie during the first year of operation, may two. I remember standing in the mud in my goulashes, watching bulldozers knock down trees just above where the base lodge would be. The only building then was the small A-frame that became the ski patrol building for the first few years. It was 1964. I was six. When not in school, I was the first person on the slopes, standing there waiting for the t-bar to open. I used to build a jump right by the t-bar lift line and fling myself off it to the delight of folks waiting in line - always trying to get more applause - at least until the ski patrol guys would wipe it out. Always trying During the break between day and night skiing (yes, they actually used to shut down for a bit), me and the Kelly kids would take the cafeteria trays out on the hill to kill time. Most of my lunch money allotment went into the jukebox. I remember Jim Kelly asking me not to keep playing 'California Dreamin' and 'Day Tripper' over and over again because he was getting complaints. After we closed the ski shop at the end of night, I'd head up to the third floor with my parents - yes at that young age - to listen to the bands and marvel at everybody having such a great time. It's too bad Brodie couldn't survive, but the great memories still do.
from: Steve Murthey	on: 01-22-2010 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Senior Golf Series Returns in September

Community submission10:26AM / Friday, April 12, 2024

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire County Fall Senior Golf series returns in September with events on five consecutive Wednesdays starting Sept. 18.

It is the 22nd year of the series, which is a fund-raiser for junior golf in the county, and it is open to players aged 50 and up.

The series will feature two divisions for each event based on the combined ages of the playing partners.

Golfers play from the white tees (or equivalent) with participants 70 and over or who have a handicap of more than 9 able to play from the forward tees.

Gross and net prices will be available in each division.

The cost is $55 per event and includes a round of golf, food and prizes. Carts are available for an additional fee.

Golfers should call the pro shop at the course for that week's event no sooner than two weeks before the event to register.

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