FARMINGTON – What started as an outing with ski instruction in a field behind the barn at the Voter farm 70 years ago evolved into today’s Farmington Ski Club.

Past and present members will gather Saturday at the Titcomb Mountain Lodge to celebrate the club’s 70th anniversary, said Megan Roberts, director of the Ski Museum of Maine.

The evening will begin with an old-fashioned beans and franks supper at 5 p.m. followed by historical skits and history recognition, and will conclude with the band Second Wind playing from 8 to 11 p.m.

One of the original ski club members, Glen Heath, 86, of Farmington, joined approximately 25 others in 1939 to form the Franklin Ski and Outing Club. While looking for a site to ski, the club continued skiing at the Voter farm on Voter Hill where Annie Voter would serve members chicken dinners with homemade ice cream for 50 cents, he said.

Averaging 25-50 members, the club looked at potential ski sites such as Wheeler Hill in Phillips, and would take outings to places like Baker Mountain to ski, Roberts said. Club dues were $1.25 annually, or 75 cents for members under 19.

The club changed its name to the Farmington Ski Club at some point, she said.

Members realized they needed ski instruction and enlisted Bud and Jack Titcomb for that, former Dartmouth students who skied well.

Despite the fun at Voter farm, the club wanted to install a lift, Roberts said. A less active field was found one hill over, part of the Merton Knapp farm, the present site of Titcomb Mountain. The club received permission to install a rope tow there, she said.

The first ride on that tow occurred in February 1942, she said.

Jack Titcomb was killed by sniper fire in World War II. About 1947, the club purchased the land and named the area in memory him, she said. Harold and Ethel Titcomb donated materials for a lodge to be built, Roberts said.

The club continued buying land, installed more lifts and other buildings.

Since then, thousands of school children and adults have learned to ski and snowboard, she said.

The club chose to celebrate the 70th anniversary while some of the earliest members are still alive, Roberts said.

“We appreciate everyone who has helped out with Titcomb, which is owned and operated by the club with a lot of support from the community,” Roberts said.

Titcomb Mountain will close at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, to allow for the celebration.

There is no charge for the event for past and present members. For more information, call Megan at 491-5481.