The barn/lodge seen Aug. 1 at Spruce Mountain Ski Area in Jay will be undergoing renovations this fall. The reality television show Maine Cabin Masters is taking on the project with a fundraising campaign underway to support as many upgrades as possible. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser
JAY — The barn/lodge at Spruce Mountain Ski Area will be getting some much needed work this year thanks to fundraising efforts by the board and help from Maine Cabin Masters.
MCM, which operates out of Kennebec Cabin Company in Manchester, is a reality television show that chronicles the restoration and renovation of cabins in Maine.
The Livermore Falls Advertiser spoke with Ron Jacques, president of Spruce Mountain Ski Area, on Aug. 1 about the project. Jacques is also the owner of Ski Depot in Jay.
“Chase Morrill, the leader of the band, the go-to guy for Maine Cabin Masters, the man in charge happens to be a customer of mine,” Jacques said. “I ran into him on the chair lift at Sugarloaf this spring.”
During the eight minute ride they covered a lot of ground, Jacques stated. Morrill asked about the ski area, Jacques told him about projects the directors wanted to get done. Jacques noted he had mentioned the possibility of getting MCM to help at a board meeting.
“I saw the opportunity to bring it up with (Morrill) while on the chair lift,” Jacques said. “I told him our town is literally crumbling, driven by the Otis Mill. Morrill said, ‘My uncle, George Morrill was an electrician at that mill for years.’ It just so happened I was too and I also know that your uncle George was one of the founding fathers of Spruce Mountain.”
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Jacques knew MCM sometimes does a community build, asked Morrill what would be needed to take the project on. Morrill told him MCM likes doing things for the community, the lodge/barn sounded like a great project. Morrill shared his email address, Jacques filled out an application online and sent a follow up email to Morrill.
“From there it just took off,” Jacques noted. “It took a little while. He had to sell the project to the network. They embraced it, gave us the green light, it got chosen as a project. Right place at the right time. I guess knowing the right people.”
Jacques has set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $25,000. As of Monday morning, $12,275 had been raised. Those wishing to support the mountain may also mail checks to Spruce Mountain Ski Club, PO Box 113, Jay, Maine 04239.
That goal is not concrete, Jacques stressed. “We have to raise more to get the renovations to the highest level possible,” he said. “The more we raise, the more we get. We fully intend to set the bar higher every time we hit the goal.”
The Spruce Mountain Ski Area Facebook page shows several local businesses are supporting the renovations in various ways.
My Dad’s Place in North Jay is seeking to partner with other businesses in September and October. Sundays through Wednesdays have been designated as “Spruce Pizza Nights” at the restaurant, which will donate $2 from up to 50 pizzas sold on each of the 36 nights. Spruce Mountain inspired co*cktails and mocktails are also being created with $1 from each one sold also being donated.
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Bailey Brothers Ford in Livermore Falls has announced it will donate $100 from every new or pre-owned vehicle sold through Oct. 31.
Poppy’s Redemption Center on Main Street in Jay will be giving six cents for bottle donations specified for the mountain fund. The new business posted it has designated drop off bins for those wishing to leave bottles when it is closed.
Jacques said Otis Federal Credit Union in Jay has donated $10,000 towards the project and Franklin Savings Bank, which has a branch in Jay contributed $5,000.
“One of our local sawmills has offered V-match (tongue and groove) pine and dimensional lumber,” he noted. He plans to reach out to contractors about getting heat pumps donated and equipment companies for donations of hood exhaust fans and Fry-O-Lators for the kitchen. Any local business with materials they want to donate would be welcome, he stated.
The board planned to meet Thursday night to go over the wish list, Jacques noted.
“Then I turn over our wish list to Maine Cabin Masters and they tell us whether or not it is realistic,” he said. Improvement priorities include making the barn/lodge handicapped accessible which involves changing out all the doors and windows, painting the building, addressing deterioration going on under the front portion of the building, and a complete overhaul of the kitchen area, he indicated.
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When asked if volunteers were needed for the renovations, Jacques said not really. “Maine Cabin Masters brings in lot of subcontractors and they handle that side of things,” he noted. They follow a code of work which doesn’t allow volunteers, he stated.
“However, the club is always looking for volunteers,” Jacques said.
“There is plenty to do over at the mountain,” he noted. “We are also in the process of rebuilding our outbuildings, the tow hut, pump house and things of that nature which the club is responsible for. There is always weed whacking, bush hogging, cutting and chipping brush. Those kinds of things that we have to do all the time anyway.”
A post on the mountain’s Facebook page notes, because of the upcoming renovations, the Hillclimb event that was to be held on Aug. 17 has been canceled. “They were very understanding and we can’t wait to have them back in 2025,” it notes.
“I would like to thank all the local businesses and individuals who have contributed so far,” Jacques stated. “I am hoping to see what our community can pull together for a project like this. It’s a once in a lifetime chance for Spruce Mountain. The more money we raise, the more we will get done.”
