An illustrated talk on the history of skiing in the Catskills will be presented Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown’s annual meeting and luncheon.
This closing event of the 2014 season begins at noon at the HSM hall, 778 Cemetery Road, Margaretville.
New York’s first chairlift, Belleayre Mountain
Admission is $15 and reservations are required for the luncheon of ham and scalloped potatoes. Call 607-326-4817 by Oct. 20 to reserve your seat.
George Quinn is the author of two books, The Catskills: A Winter Sports Guide (Purple Mountain Press), and Skiing In The Catskill Region (2013 Arcadia Publishing). The latter is a pictorial history of the first 100 years of skiing in the Catskills. A special section of the book covers many ski areas that no longer exist.
The books will be available for purchase at the HSM luncheon.
Quinn moved with his family to Woodstock in the mid- 1950s and took to skiing immediately since his father ran a retail concession at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center. At home he enjoyed skiing the small, woody hills around the family house. This gradually took to a life-long obsession with cross country and back country skiing and winter hiking.
Quinn is still involved in the retail ski business at Plattekill Mountain and he continues to explore old trails and woods on skis, photographing and writing about his experiences.