'Twas was a dark and stormy night and not a snowflake was in sight, but more than a hundred people turned out for the Ski Museum of Maine's open house yesterday evening.

The crowd started filtering into the Ski Museum of Maine yesterday before the doors officially opened
ALL PHOTOS SCOTT ANDREWS

I came up from Portland with my friend Anne Tarbell, who has experienced a goodly chunk of Maine ski history herself. Anne brought two pair of 70-year-old wooden skis from her garage which she donated to the museum.

Megan Roberts and Greg Sweetser check out a pair of skis donated by Anne Tarbell

They were gratefully accepted by Megan Roberts, consulting curator, and board member Greg Sweetser. They also enjoyed hearing Anne tell tales of skiing the long defunct Big A -- Mount Agamenticus -- in the 1950s. Anne's father, Edward Marshall, developed Big A.

Other "historic" Pine Tree State skiers included brothers Chummy and Ray Broomhall, Maine Ski Hall of Fame members who have been active with the Chisholm Ski Club of Rumford for more than half a century.

Maine Ski Hall of Fame members Chummy and Ray Broomhall, brothers from Rumford, attended last night

The theme of the exhibit is "Skiing in America -- Made in Maine." On exhibit are numerous items of equipment that were made in this state, including Bass boots and skis by the Paris Manufacturing Company.

Bass boots were manufactured in Wilton, only a few miles from the Ski Museum of Maine

Made in Maine by the Paris Manufacturing Company

The Ski Museum of Maine is located at 109 Church St. in downtown Farmington, just 150 feet off Route 4, the main highway through town. The museum's phone number is 491-5481. The Museum will be open 1-5 p.m. every weekday all winter, so skiers passing through Farmington are urged to drop by. It's also open today, as part of Farmington's Chester Greenwood celebration.

The museum has its own website. Just click here.

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