Pine Top looks a little different today than it did as a vibrant ski area in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. But it retains the natural beauty and welcoming charm that made it special to the Stoddards and many other families who vacationed here. Have your own memories of skiing at Pine Top or vacationing at Stonehurst? Stop by and visit or give us a call!Pine Top fans: Throwback Thursday TBT brings another treat to revive your memories of the good ol' days in South Vernon, Vermont. Last Thursday we posted Part 1 of Sandy Stoddard's memories and today we bring Part 2. Enjoy!
- At Pine Top, Pelley Hill was a beginner/novice slope and the first to be opened with a rop tow
- The second rope tow provided access later to Tobey Slope (intermediate) and then also to Stoddards' Run, when it was added a few years later
- Romey also designed and built a very unique portable "tiny tot" rope tow, possibly first of its kind. It was operated on the gentle grade below the "old" warming hut in the direction of the base of Pelley Hill. Romey also very generously took it into Brattleboro periodically, setting it up at Memorial Park on the west side of town for use by the children of Brattleboro
- One summer, when I was working for the Racines at Stonehurst, I was responsible for tearing down the historic old barn on the property, slate by slate, board by board
- Romey built the "new" warming hut above Pelley Hill to better accommodate the ski crowds. The "old" hut was still used occasionally to serve house guests bowls of fresh snow with heated Vermont maple syrup
- Elsie had a large collection of bells, which were traditionally rung by house guests on the front and side porches to bid other guests farewell, as they drove down the hill
- There was an old swimming hole, behind a small dam, which was reached by walking along a narrow dirt road that started next to the foot of Stoddard Run and the tow house for Tobey Slope
- That same rough road lead to a small dump site. I learned to drive a 1947 pickup truck as a 14 year old and periodically made dump runs
- Summer guests used to gather on the front lawn to play croquet and there was a cement shuffle board court close to the driveway entrance
- Mr. Marsden, who was a farmer living up the road, used Stonehurst property in summertime for grazing his cows. I was responsible for their care and feeding
- Romey supplemented their revenue from Pine Top/Stonehurst by being the Town Road Commissioner for Vernon
- Elsie often helped out at the town library
