HARRIS HILL: A HISTORY IN REVIEW

COMPILED BY DANA SPRAGUE

 
1921:

Construction begins on Cedar Street

1922:

Jump Built ($2,200) - construction completed one week before first jump

New England Distance Record Set

1923:

            Vermont State Championship

            Eastern Amateur Championship

1924:

            National Championship

            Paul Whiteman’s Famous Leviathan Orchestra plays at Ski Jump Ball at Community Hall

            Winged Ski Trophy Purchased for $750

            $500 worth of improvements on hill

1925:

            Eastern Amateur Championship

            Charles Mazettis Famous White Fleet Orchestra of 10 pieces at Community Hall – Ski Jump Ball

1926:

            Vermont State Championship

            Anson Smith’s Famous Havanna Orchestra of 10 pieces at Community Hall – Ski Jump Ball

1927:

            New England Ski Jump Championship

            Ski Jump Ball – Minor-Doyle Orchestra

            Reginald & Carol Kendall of Norwich take a toboggan off Harris Hill and through a flaming hoop

            Everett Davidson becomes the first Class B jumper to win meet

1928:

            New England Championship

            Dick Newcomb’s 12 piece orchestra at Community Hall – Ski Jump Ball

1929:

            National Championship

New tower built

            Dick Newcomb’s Band plays at Ski Jump Ball

1930:

            No Jump

            Bing Anderson (past hill record holder) convicted of murder and hanged 5/23/1930

1931:

            New England Championship

            Bill Murphy’s 11 Royal Arcadians Band plays at Community Hall – Ski Jump Ball

1932:

            No Jump

1933:

            New England Championship

            Miss Grace Hamblet (Keene, NH) chosen Queen of Ski Jump Ball

            McEvens Orchestra play at Armory

1934:

            Vermont State Championship

            Special Train from from New London, CT to see jump

            Toboggan jump added attraction at Harris Hill

1935:

            New England Championship

            Loud Speaker live “Mike” added to event for first time

            Helen Newton (Storrs, CT) crowned Queen

            Bill Murphy Royal Arcadians at Community Hall – Ski Jump Ball

1936:

            Eastern Ski Championship

            Merrill Barber sets amateur record with jump of 198 feet

1937:

            No Jump

1938:

            National Ski Championship

            Landing hill improved

            Triple jump held (3 jumpers off jump at once)

            Gene Brodman and his college collegians plays at Ski Jump Ball

            Mezzy Barber disqualified from Olympic Team (Deemed Professional)

1939:

            Invitation meet

            The Barbary Coast Orchestra of Dartmouth plays at Ski Jump Ball

1940:

            Invitation Jump

            Triple Jump Held

            Ray Hill & His Orchestra plays at Community Hall – Ski Jump Ball

1941:

            Invitation Jump

            Major Improvement to hill

            New profile

1942:

            National Championship

            Torger Tokle retires winged trophy for first time

            Mezzy Barber named to Olympic Team, but Olympics canceled because of war

1943 – 1945:

            No Jump

1946:

            Invitation jump

            Bus runs every 10 minutes from Main Street to ski jump

            Lowell Thomas delivers his news from Ski Jump Ball

            New winged trophy on display

            First woman jumper

1947:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Sonny Williams 13 piece Orchestra, 700 attend Ski Ball

            Parking banned on streets

            Warren Huston (major league baseball player) attends jump

            Six Norwegians attend jump

1948:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Repairs done to Hill

            Decision made to replace wooden in-run with dirt mound

            Governor Ernest Gibson attends jump

1949:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Dirt mount replaces wooden trestle at a cost of $2,500

1950:

            Open Invitation Meet

            30 police officers needed to handle big crowd

            102 jumpers attend

1951:

            National Championship

            Brattleboro Ski Jump re-named after Fred Harris

            38 police needed to help with crowds

            164 jumper compete (largest crowd ever)

1952:

            Open Invitation Meet

            121 jumpers on hand

            Mezzy Barber National Champ

1953:

            Open Invitation Meet

1954:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Merrill “Mezzy” Barber jumps for the last time, after 29 years of jumping

            Snow collected from streets to put on hill

            90 minute color ski film (with sound) plays at Community Hall

1955:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Art Devlin jumps with cast on arm

            Martin Iger photographs jump by suspending a cable across landing hill while sitting in a boatswain chair

            Vermont Life runs story about Harris Hill

1956:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Buddy Morrissean carries an American Flag down landing to start jump

            Fred Harris inducted into National Ski Hall of Fame

1957:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Winter Carnival Starts (24,250 attend week long events)

            Art Devlin becomes second jumper to retire trophy

            Dr. Phil Dunham wins Veterans Division

            Eleanor Jones first Carnival Queen

            New tower built - $2,700

            New judges’ stand built - $498

            Replace fence at cost of $210

1958:

            Open Invitational Meet

            New Winged Trophy

1959:

            Open Invitational Meet

            Bernard Dion (17) becomes only the second Class B jumper to win the Harris Hill meet

1960:

            Open Invitational Ski Jump

            Dr. Phil Dunham was longest jump in Veteran Class (184 feet)

1961:

            National Championship

            Dr. Phil Dunham wins Veterans National Championship

            Vermont Academy Skiers help get jump in shape

            Founder, Fred Harris dies

1962:

            Open Invitational Meet

            Governor Ray Keysar attends jump

            Art Tokle becomes oldest jumper to win at Harris Hill at age 40

1963:

            Open Invitational Meet

            Ski Jump banquet held at Latchis Hotel

            Two Swedish Jumpers – finish one/two

1964:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Jet plane flys over event

            Eric Merrill named to Eastern Team

1965:

            Fred Harris Memorial Ski Jumping Tournament

            Woofgang Happle of Germany set new record, but finishes second to Sepp Lichtenegger of Austria

1966:

            Eastern Amateur Ski Association Championship

            Eric Merrill becomes first local jumper to win since Mezzy Barber in 1947

            Dr. Phil Dunham wins 6th straight Veterans title

            Junior jumping program featured in Vermont Life Magazine

1967:

            Open Invitation Meet

            Dave Merrill of Brattleboro wins Class B

            Dr. Phil Dunham wins again in Veterans Class

1968:

            Hugh Barber & Dana Zelenakas named to Eastern Team

            Dana Zelanakas named to National Team

1969:

            National Championship

            Dana Zelenakas represents National Team

1970:

            Fred Harris Memorial Meet

            19 jumps in excess of 200 feet

            Don West beat Dr. Phil Dunham in Veterans Class

            Bernie Wells wins Junior Class at Harris Hill

            Phil Rancourt, Dave Lantz, Bernie Wells and Dave Austin make Junior National Team

            Bernie Wells wins Junior Nationals

            Peter Graves competes at Junior Nationals

1971:

            Fred Harris Memorial Jump

            Bernie Wells wins Junior Honors

            Phil Rancourt wins Vermont High School Championship

            Hugh Barber wins New York State Championship

1972:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Brattleboro Jumper, Hugh Barber, wins Harris Hill event

            Jim Galanes wins Junior Class

            Dana Zelanakas named to Olympic Team

            Jerry Galanes, Jim Baker, Steve Wood and Kevin Whitworth named to Jr. National Team

1973:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Hugh Barber wins again at Harris Hill

            Hugh Barber only American to finish in top 10 at the National Collegiate Championship

            Terry Tyler wins World Heavy Weight Ski Jumping Championship

1974:

            Hugh Barber retires trophy, wins for third year in a row

            Jump enlarged with two starts added

1975:

            National Championship

            Harris Hill first fatality. Jeff Wright, 22, of Minneapolis and a member of the US Ski Team, has a fatal fall at Harris Hill

            Kevin Whitworth named to Junior National Team

            Terry Tyler wins World Heavy Weight Ski Jumping Championship for second time

1976:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            BOC trucks in 150 truck loads of snow

            Bill Koch wins Silver Medal at Olympics

1977:

            Fred Harris Invitational Ski Jumping Tournament

            Because of snow conditions, the longest jump was less than 200 feet for the first time since 1935

            Jim Galanes wins National Nordic/Combined

            Todd Brooks wins Vermont High School Championship

            Alan Sargent retires as Harris Hill Director after 28 years

1978:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Banquet held at Country Kitchen

            Todd Brooks, Tim Barrett and Jeff Baker named to Junior National Team

            Terry Tyler wins World Heavy Weight Ski Jumping Championship for third time

            Todd Brooks won Vermont High School Championship

            Tim Barrett named to Junior National Team

1979:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Walter Malmquist earns second leg of winged trophy, classifying Harris Hill as: “Second only to Winning a Gold Medal”

            Todd Brooks wins Vermont High School State Championship for third straight year

1980:

            No Snow

            Todd Brooks wins Junior Nationals

            Tim Barrett named to Junior World Champion Team

1981:

            No Snow

            Rex Bell named coach of National Team

1982:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            18-year old Jeff Volmrich upsets Walter Malmquist

            Dana Zelanakis comes out of retirement to compete in the Veterans Class

            Millington Dix retires

            Banquet held at American Legion

            Grooming machines from Maple Valley used for first time

1983:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Bernie Wells, jumping for the first time in six years, comes out of retirement, and was a forerunner this year’s jump

1984:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Parking lot closed because of mud

            Bernie Wells wins Veterans Class

Earl Murphy oldest ski jumper in the world at 56, on hand for Harris Hill Jump

            Jeff Hasting has the highest finish ever for an American in the Olympics, finishing 4th at Sarajevo

1985:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Norwegians finish one/two

            Snow from parking lot dumped on landing

            Target jump held for first time

            Ticket prices raised to $5

            Mike Holland sets World Distance Record – 186 Meters (610 feet)

1986:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Snow making added to jump, making Harris Hill one of only three jumps in the country with this capability

            Jeff Volmrich wins second leg on Winged Trophy

            Kevin Whitworth wins Veterans Class

1987:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Three Austrians, Two Finns and two Norwegians compete at Harris Hill

            Volmrich and Malmquist both fall short in attempt to retire trophy

1988:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            BOC honors past winners during 65th year with Banquet at Putney Inn – nine past winners attend

            Howard Dean presents medals to winners

            Todd Einig makes Junior Olympic Team

1989:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Todd Brooks second in Veterans Class

            Ticket price raised to $8

            Steiner Bratten of Norway edges Chris Hastings and Jim Holland to win at Harris Hill

            Harris Hill renovated

1990:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            US Jumpers finish one, two, three for first time with Mike Holland winning trophy

            Dr. Phil Dunham and Alan Sargent inducted into Masters Hall of Fame

1991:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Yugoslavians finish one/two

1992:

            National Championship

            US finishs one/two/three

1993:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            16 year-old Drew Richards jumps Harris Hill for the first time, finishes third

1994:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Drew Richards finishes second

            Temperature hits 55 degrees

1995:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Jim Holland retires with a win at Harris Hill

            Harold Deissi (Austria) has first 300 foot jump at Harris Hill (304)

            Troy Hanson and Jesse Amidon qualify for Junior Olympics

1996:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Toby Sprague retires from judging after 20 years

            Vladimir Glyvka wins first leg upsetting two Austrians and Casey Colby

            Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards competes (sort of)

1997:

            75th Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            12 year-old Linsey Van of Park City, Utah falls on Saturday and is unable to compete

            59 year-old Don West becomes the oldest jumper to jump Harris Hill

1998:

            No Snow

            Ski jump featured in Vermont Life

1999:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tourament

            Vladimir Glyvka wins second leg of Winged Trophy

            14 of 21 jumpers were 18 years-old or younger

            12 year-old Willy Graves jumps Harris Hill for the first time

            Mezzy Barber elected to Ski Hall of Fame

            Brad Baker (son of jumper Jim Baker) drafted First Round by Boston Red Sox

2000:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Vladimir Glyvka retires winged trophy

            Willy Graves qualifies for Junior Olympic Team

2001:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Jannie Rand competes at Harris Hill to become a third generate Rand to do so

            53 jumps exceeded the 80 meter mark

2002:

            80th year of ski jumping in Brattleboro

            US Jumper Casey Colby wins event

            Jump held in January as to not compete with Olympics

2003:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            New Judges Stand built with a donation of $25,000 from the Rotary Club

            Harris Hill Ski Jump, Inc. incorporates on October 15, 2003

2004:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Willie Graves wins Junior Division

2005:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            Jump postponed by one month because of weather

            Willy Graves wins North American Championship in 90k and 120k

            Fred Harris inducted into Vermont Ski Hall of Fame

            Harris Hill obtains non-profit status 2/28/2005

2006, 2007, 2008:

            Construction of new jump

                        New steel tower, start, in-run

                        Widening of landing

                        Safety/Reflective boards on landing

                        New steel stairs from bottom to take off

                        Changed out-run

2009:

            Fred Harris Memorial Tournament

            16 year-old Spencer Knickerbocker becomes the first ski jumper to jump off the newly renovated Harris Hill Ski Jump

            Torch Light Parade kicks off 2009 jump events

            Biggest crowd since 1987 – 5,400 paying customers

            Representatives from 18 media outlets cover jump

2010:

            Judges stand painted green

            Tower / In-Run painted green