First Ski Lift in the Northeast: Gilberts Hill

Gilberts Hill, located about two miles northwest of the village center of Woodstock, is a historic farm property with a unique claim to fame. The hill is set on 112 acres (45 ha) of land, much of which is open meadow, with the balance wooded. A cluster of farm buildings is set at a distance from Barnard Road, which in an earlier alignment passed directly through the property. The oldest building is the farmhouse, a wood-frame structure with Greek Revival and Gothic Revival features which was built in the mid 19th century. There are two barns and a milk house, all dating to the 19th century, and there is a ski hut at the base of the hillside behind the farm yard. The hut was built in 1936, and is a modest frame structure finished with novelty siding and a metal roof.

The property, which was developed as a farm in the mid 19th century, was developed as a downhill ski area in the early 20th century, and is the location of the first rope tow in the northeastern United States. After undergoing several ownership changes, it was purchased by Clinton and Persis Gilbert in 1929, who operated it largely as a dairy farm. By this time, Woodstock had already begun to develop a reputation as a destination for winter outdoor activities.

The owners of the Woodstock Inn were instrumental in the development of a rope tow, powered by the motor of a Ford Model T truck, and paid the Gilberts for permission to install it on their hillside in 1934. The innovation made it possible for skiers to quickly ascend the hill, and to enjoy many more downhill runs than were previously possible. The hill was used as a ski area until 1965, and there is now a historical marker near the site.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons