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This is a c. 1950 map of Bousquet Ski Area (known then as
Bousquet Ski Grounds), Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It appears on the reverse
side of the business's letterhead. The front side of the letterhead shows
the Bousquet Ski Tow Gripper, invented by ski area founder Clarence J.
Bousquet.
My dad (Russell, eldest son of Clarence J. and Margaretha L.) had at
least a ream of this letterhead, which I used for doodles, paper airplanes
and the like when I was growing up. Glad a few sheets survived my
pre-adolescence.
For those of you who know Bousquet's well, have fun
comparing the 1950 layout to today's. This was the way the ski area looked
at the height of its rope-tow era: 8 tows, once the East's greatest uphill
capacity. Our family sold the area in the late 1950s. New co-owner/manager
Donald Soviero (pronounced so-vee-ARROW)
immediately replaced Tow #5 with a Hall T-bar which ran to the top of
Russell Trail (renamed Dino's Chute by Soviero after his eldest son). This
obliterated the steep, twisting Gooseneck Trail.
Can you place today's chairlifts on this map from a half-century ago?
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| New Information received on 3/13/05
Ownership and Management of the Bousquet Ski Area:
1932-1956
Founded by Clarence J. (Clare) in 1932.
Managed by Clare and his wife Margaretha, and then by sons Russell D.
Bousquet and Paul R. Bousquet, for whom Russell Slope, Russell Trail and
Paul's Clearing were named. (Russell is the skier pictured in the ads for
the Bousquet Ski Tow
Gripper.)
1956-1967
Purchased by New York entrepreneur Donald L. Soviero, with support from Dr.
Stephen Jewett in
1956.
Managed by Donald Soviero, who modernized the area with a Hall T-bar, two
Poma lifts, the current Carlevaro Savio summit chair lift, and snowmaking.
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Top of the
Carlevaro Savio chair as it appeared in February 2004 |
1967-1968
Bousquet's is sold to a trio of local businessmen (Messrs. Scarinzi,
Bacquin and Borgnis), who operated the area for one season. |
1968-1981
Purchased by Otter Development Corporation, whose principals included Clare
and Margaretha Bousquet's younger son Paul Bousquet.
Managed by Paul Bousquet.
Base lodge upgraded, night skiing expanded to the summit, and 1/2-mile
chairlift added to replace the old Poma lift at Paul's Clearing (now called
Lower Beeline).
1981-present
Managed by George Jervas, with some of the region's best grooming and
snowmaking.
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Roberto's Chute and Yokum trail in
February 2004 |
At Bousquet's, trail name changes have occurred over the
years for at least three reasons:
1. New owners honoring family members; e.g., Russell Trail (named after
founder CJ Bousquet's eldest son) was changed to Dino's Chute (named after
manager/co-owner Donald Soviero's eldest son shortly after Soviero bought
the area in 1956).
2. To honor persons associated with the ski area; e.g., the middle portion
of Jewett Trail was changed to Court's Run to honor longtime ski school
director Court McDermott.
3. In response to ski trail renovations; e.g., Paul's Clearing became Lower
Beeline when the 1/2-mile chairlift replaced the old Poma lift near the base
lodge c. 1975.
According to the email, Woody posted the information above
on snowjournal.com as well. Woody also has other information he will
be sending my way. As I receive it I will add it to the site. I
have added some of my photos to show some of the areas Woody mentioned in
the emails. |
