DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am writing this in response to Judy Baird’s Sun Spots inquiry concerning the downfall of Evergreen Valley. My grandfather Rupert Aldrich was the last owner of the ski resort to see the lifts turn in the early spring of 1982. I worked for him during those final years along with my aunt, Ann Aldrich, who managed the resort.

Everything was going fine until the winter of 1980-81. Because of a lack of snow, we were unable to open for skiing. Then in the winter of 1981-82, my grandfather unknowingly hired some con artists to run the resort and sell time-share units. These three men ended up fleeing in the middle of the night but were later arrested in New Jersey on fraud charges. My grandfather could not overcome this second financial setback and finally declared bankruptcy.

My grandfather passed away in 1987 and did not have to witness the lifts being removed in 1991 by order of the Forest Service. I heard that they were purchased by a ski area in Mars Hill.

I first visited Evergreen as a kid when it opened for skiing in 1972. I was extremely impressed with the elaborate base lodge, the heated Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool and the three indoor tennis courts covered by a huge white bubble. The golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, was also impressive, since it was carved into the thick woods.

Today only the inn and condos remain open, mostly occupied by time-share owners. Bob Bahre owns most of the property along with the Evergreen Valley Timeshare Ownership Association. Due to its location and level of depreciation I do not believe the golf course, tennis courts, pool or lodge will ever be restored. — Mike Aldrich, Lewiston

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I was the ski patrol leader at the resort from the time Rupert Aldrich bought it in 1977 until it closed at the end of the 1981-82 season. We actually thought we were opening for the next season until after fall refreshers were completed.

There are a number of reasons why the resort closed. Probably the most likely one is lack of money. Although the resort had premier snowmaking facilities, there was not enough money for nozzles on the guns, so in bad snow years snowmaking was not adequate.

Another reason was the perception that it was a long way away. The distance to the mountain from the old Swan Supply in Norway was within a mile of the distance to Mt. Abram in Locke Mills, but the public would never buy it.

There was one incident that hurt probably more than most. One morning when we had a good crowd of about 1,500 people, all three of our lifts broke down within a short span of time. Eventually we discovered that a ground wire had been tampered with. It was the same wire in the same place on all three lifts. We never could determine who did it or why it might have been done.

Word spread around and we never completely recovered from that. There were a lot of good folks involved in the project and many were badly hurt. Unfortunately, there were a lot of crooks and charlatans as well. Ultimately, they did it in.

It was a fine family resort, and my family, friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our times there. It is a shame that it closed. I walked around the grounds and building just this past summer and the inside looks about as it did in March 1982. Very sad.

The last day we skied Evergreen Valley was probably the best skiing day I ever had. It snowed all day long and there was about six inches of new powder. There were very few people on the hill. I took my son, then 11, up for the final sweep and we had a remarkable run. — David Q. Whittier, Hebron dqw@aol.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding the inquiry about Evergreen Valley in Stoneham and where more information might be located, I found two very good sources.

If you are using a computer, www.nelsap.org is dedicated to the 75 New England Lost Ski Areas. Some were small mom-and-pop operations, but others are large investments like Evergreen. Researcher Scott Andrews’ in-depth article on Evergreen Valley’s history is there, along with a number of pictures.

If you aren’t a computer person, the Ski Museum of Maine in Kingfield has historical information on all aspects of skiing and current and defunct ski areas, including Evergreen Valley. You can ask for a copy of Andrews’ article to be sent to you. The museum can be found online at www.skimuseumofmaine.org or call 265-2023. — Megan Roberts, Farmington

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