About our Town...  Carrabassett Valley HISTORICAL VIEW 1775: Some of Benedict Arnold’s men, on their ill-fated autumn march to Quebec City, were very likely in the northeast corner of what is now the Town of Carrabassett Valley. Arnold and his men camped in that area for several days. This is the first recorded history concerning the town. 1793: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts sold 1.10 million acres of land to William Bingham known as Bingham’s Kennebec Purchase West (of the) Kennebec River. When the million acres were surveyed into townships, two were later to become the Town of Carrabassett Valley. T3R2 on the east was named Jerusalem and T4R2 on the west named Crockertown. 1828: Bingham’s estate - he died in 1804 - sold 1457 acres which were divided into 15 settlers lots in the unorganized township of Jerusalem. These lots were in a strip of land along both sides of the Carrabassett River from above the Huse Mill Road to the Kingfield town line. 1837: A special Maine Census listed a population of 54 with eight family names in Jerusalem; Buck, Dresser, Lovel, Moody, Read, Tailor and Tuft. Crockertown was still uninhabited. But logging had begun in the area and there was a saw mill in Jerusalem. 1855: T3R2 (Jerusalem) was organized and named Treadwell Plantation. 1880: The first residents of Crockertown arrived. Charles G. Campbell and Asa U. Barker Gordon operated a farm until 1903 in the area that is still known as Campbell Field. Some of their apple trees grow there today. According to the 1880 U. S. Census, the population of Crockertown was 2 and Jerusalem 21. 1894: The Kingfield & Dead River Railroad, a two foot narrow gauge line, was extended and placed in service from Kingfield to Carrabassett with the new station located near the former Red Stallion. The railroad was built primarily to haul timber and lumber but also carried passengers and freight. 1900: The rail line was extended to Bigelow and the station is still there. Bigelow was the site of the Russell Remick Birch Mill and the huge Prouty and Miller steam sawmill. Prouty & Miller had purchased the mill from the Crockertown Lumber Co. which was owned by Isaac Crocker, the namesake of Crockertown. Bigelow was a busy community with nearly 100 people employed at the saw mill. The community also had a boarding house, private homes, general store and schoolhouse. 1900: William C. Record operated Record’s Sporting Camps in Jerusalem. There were 75 acres for the camps and the farm. The guest rates were $2 per day. The Mineral Springs Farm was located in the present day Spring Farm area and was similar to a present day vacation resort. 1905: A major part of Crockertown was purchased by the Great Northern Paper Co. from Prouty & Miller. The timber was to be used as a source of pulpwood for its mill in Madison. 1908: A great forest fire in July burned from Burnt Mtn. across the north side of Sugarloaf and west of the Caribou Pond Road toward Crocker Mountain with a total loss of about 5500 acres. It nearly burned the village of Bigelow and the railroad had a rescue train standing by to remove the residents and their possessions if necessary but the fire came only within one-half mile of Bigelow. This fire provided some of the above treeline skiing on Sugarloaf Mountain which we enjoy today. 1908: The Carrabassett Timberland Company, predecessor of the Dead River Company, in June, purchased most of Jerusalem township. During the period 1908 - 1912 about 55,00 cords of spruce pulpwood was driven down the Carrabassett River to the GNPCo. mill at Madison/Anson. Dead River’s ownership continued until March 1981 when their remaining land was sold to the Penobscot Nation under the terms of the Maine Indian Lands Claim Act. 1910: There were U.S. Post Offices at Bigelow and Carrabassett. 1923: The Dead River Company and partners built the Lawrence Plywood Co. mill near the present location of the town office/central fire station. It operated until May 1936 when Lawrence Plywood was liquidated. 1927: The narrow gauge rails were removed from the 5.4 mile section between Bigelow Station and Huston Brook during July/August. 1927-28: The first state highway, now SR 27, was built linking Kingfield and Eustis with a good road and replacing a previous county road. 1935: June 30th was the last revenue day for the narrow gauge railroad; the physical assets had been sold for scrap value. 1937: The final section of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, between Bigelow Station and Oberton Stream, was opened on August 16th. That section passed through Crockertown, Mt. Abram and Redington townships. 1948: Things had been quiet when the “Bigelow Boys” cut a ski trail on the north side of Bigelow Mountain. 1950: The Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club (SMSC) was formed to develop a ski facility on Sugarloaf Mountain. 1950: Flagstaff Lake was initially flooded in the spring and serious trail development began on Sugarloaf Mountain across the valley to the south. 1953-54: A 10 HP, 700 ft rope tow was placed in service on the east side of what is now Boardwalk. The fee was $1 per day. There were on-mountain shelter accommodations available for 18 people with these services provided by SMSC. 1955: Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation (SMC) was formed on March 15th and then purchased the assets of the SMSC. 1955-56: The first Tee Bar (No. 2) was installed in part of the area now used by Double Runner “B” (West). 1956-57: The second Tee Bar was installed. This was No. 3 Tee Bar and is still in service. 1957-58: Leo Tague operated the former Record’s Camps and the Judsons built their motel, both of which were beside SR 27 near the airport. 1959: Harvey Boynton built a ski shop on the mountain near the location where the Sawduster chair lift unloads skiers and riders. As the ski shop expanded, Boynton’s Beach emerged on the roof, where happy hours were enjoyed by many. 1961: Rangeley Power Company introduced electricity in the valley. The private ski chalet building boom began in the Spring Farm, Poplar Stream and Valley Crossing areas and along SR 27. The Somerset Telephone Company, successor of the Maine Telephone Company, created the Bigelow exchange (237) which had eight subscribers. 1961-62: Whiffletree and King Pine (#4 & #5) Tee Bars were installed. 1962: The Capricorn Lodge was built, later home of Carrabassett Valley Academy (CVA), as well as the Sugarloaf Sauna, now Hug’s. 1966: The Gondola began operation in January. The upper section of the Gondola remained in service until the spring of 1996. 1966: Sugarloaf Regional Airport was developed by Franklin County. 1968: Dead River Company opened the Redington North development. 1968-69: Snowfall was the greatest ever at 347 inches with one storm dumping 67 inches in three days. The ski season lasted from November 10th to May 11th! 1969: The Valley Crossing commercial center was established by the Dead River Company. 1969-70: The first chairlift, Bucksaw, was installed. 1971: In February, Sugarloaf hosted the Tall Timber Classic and World Cup and Alberg Kandahar Race, which was the highest level race ever at Sugarloaf. 1971: The voters of Jerusalem Township voted 21 - 13 on October 26th to incorporate as the Town of Carrabassett Valley. The objective was a lower town tax rate compared with the state tax rate of 15 mils. The voters of Crockertown and Wyman voted not to join the incorporation. 1971: Mountainside Corporation, subsidiary of SMC, offered twenty on-mountain condominiums for sale. 1972: Village Center was built providing on-mountain shopping and a condo complex. It marked the end of Boynton’s Beach on the ski shop roof when that building was removed. 1972: WTOS began transmitting from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. 1974: At the March annual town meeting the voters decided to establish the town manager form of government. 1975: Carrabassett Valley annexed Crockertown which was then Sugarloaf Township. This created a town that remains the largest in area of any organized town in Maine. 1976: Maine voters decided to create the 40,000 acre Bigelow Preserve to protect the Bigelow Mountain range from future development attempts. 1976: The Appalachian Trail moved away from Bigelow Station and the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain to its present location across North and South Crocker peaks. 1976: The Touring Center was built at a cost of $150,000 on the public lot of the former Sugarloaf Township to enhance cross country skiing. 1977: The Valley Crossing commercial center moved from the valley location to become Village West on the mountain. 1977: The annual town meeting was held for the first time at the Touring Center. 1979: Village South was constructed on the mountain. The Maine DOT built a picnic and rest area beside SR 27 near Hammond Field Brook. 1980: The skating rink at the Touring Center opened on January 20th. 1981: On March 6th the Penobscot Nation acquired ownership of the Dead River Co.’s remaining land, amounting to over 20,000 acres, in the former Jerusalem township, now part of Carrabassett Valley. 1981: Entertainer Jud Strunk and Richard Ayotte, a local businessman, died in a plane crash on October 25th while on take off from the local airport. 1982: The voters approved in January, by a 49 - 13 vote, the building of a town owned golf course on Sugarloaf Mountain. It was funded by $250,000 from town funds, $500,000 from the Maine Bond Bank, $250,000 from grants and $500,000 from land sales. The DEP gave conditional approval on 28 July 1982. 1982: Carrabassett Valley Academy (CVA) was founded in August. In the fall of 1983 CVA purchased the former Capricorn Lodge from the University of Maine. 1983: Sugartech, a wholly owned subsidiary of SMC, was created to own and operate a waste water treatment plant. A $2.5 million municipal revenue bond was required for expansion to the Bigelow Hill location. An agreement was signed in December 1984 wherein the Town of Carrabassett Valley would take title to the plant in 1999 and then sell to SMC for one dollar. 1983: The town office building was constructed for $35,000. The town leased the golf course, then under construction, to SMC for 20 years. 1983: The town began preparation of its first Comprehensive Plan. Voters finally approved the Plan on December 12th of 1984. 1985: The Sugartree Health Club opened in February. 1985: The town purchased eight acres on Bigelow Hill from Mountain Greenery for a Transfer Station. The Transfer Station cost about $360,000 and opened in December 1985. 1985: Early planning began for West Mountain’s Riverside development. 1985: Construction of the Sugarloaf Hotel began in the spring with the topping out ceremony on August 13th . 1985: The town owned Sugarloaf golf course opened on September 11th. 1985: Kingfield Savings Bank opened the first ATM in the Base Lodge in December. 1986: The Sandy River Condominium development was created in April along the West Mountain chairlift. 1986: Sugarloaf Mountain Corp., asset rich but cash poor, filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code on March 23rd . After a significant reorganization and new capital the corporation emerged from bankruptcy in 1987. 1987: A serious flood, designated by the Corps of Engineers as a fifty year event, occurred on the Carrabassett River the first day of April washing away parts of SR 27 as well as two private bridges - the April Fool’s Day flood. 1987: The J. V. Wing Snowmobile Club was organized. 1988 - 89: Tee Bar #4 was replaced with the Whiffletree Quad. The King Pine Quad was placed in service. 1989: The only murder ever in Carrabassett Valley occurred on May 30th in the Bigelow Station area. 1993: SKI LTD, which included a combination of, Killington, Sugarbush and Mt. Snow/Haystack purchased Sugarloaf Mountain Corp. 1994: The SuperQuad high speed detachable chairlift was installed. 1996: In June, Sunday River, which included Attitash Bear Peak, purchased SKI LTD which included Sugarloaf, Killington, Sugarbush, Mt. Snow/Haystack, Cranmore and Waterville Valley. Cranmore, Waterville Valley and a Florida golf course were sold immediately. The new company, called American Skiing Company, then acquired The Canyons, Steamboat and Heavenly ski areas in the west. American Skiing Company was, after these acquisitions, the largest skiing company in the USA. 1996 - 97: The Whiffletree high speed detachable quad was installed. Part of the former Whiffletree quad was moved to create the Timberline chairlift permitting access to the summit again since the Gondola had been taken out of service in the spring of 1996. 1997: American Skiing Company had an initial public stock offering in November at $18 per share and was listed on the NYSE. This was coincident with the acquisition of Steamboat and Heavenly. 1997: CVA expanded by purchasing the Lumberjack Lodge to provide additional lodging space . 1999: In the fall, the Penobscot Nation posted their land in Carrabassett Valley closing it to public access. 2000: The town purchased the former Crockertown public lots containing 1243 acres for $424,000 paid to the State of Maine. This land contained the Touring Center and had been leased from the Bureau of Public Lands. 2000: A CVA/Town of Carrabassett Valley partnership financed and constructed the Anti-Gravity Center physical training facility which opened in January 2001. 2001: Negotiations began between the town and the Penobscot Nation concerning their proposal for changing their land holdings in Carrabassett Valley from fee to trust status. 2001: The voters decided to spend in excess of $700,000 to upgrade the Narrow Gauge trail, along the Carrabassett River, from Campbell Field to Huston Brook,. Corrections and comments to our historian: