On September 29, 2021

Fond memories of Killington

Dear Editor,

I wanted to take a moment to reflect back and share to a time in my youth that I have such fond memories living for a couple years in Killington.

The year was I believe 1972, give or take, I was in third or fourth grade. My family had made a move to Killington as my father had gotten a job as an engineer on the development of the gondola for the mountain. The valley was in its infancy. When my family first moved up, my sister and I would attend the only school, two rooms until they built a “open concept” school that was modern for its time. My parents had a piece of property that they owned on Dean Hill Road, the hope was to build a chalet for skiers and also reside there. Times were tough, there was a recession and the hope never came to fruition.

I remember countless times of waiting in the car while Dad went in to go over the day’s work with Pres Smith at his home. I believe I may have gone in once or twice, I remember something about a tree growing in the living room ….

Scott was my age. We rode the same school bus, probably the only bus as there was not many of us. Puppy love would find us and we would sneak a kiss in an empty reading room at school and sit together in the very back of the bus.

The job for the mountain ended and we had to move away as there were no engineering opportunities for Dad. I remember Scott and I exchanged small school photos and said we would write letters … I do recall writing and receiving a few.

My son just recently competed in a Spartan race at Killington a few weeks ago and it brought me to write this sort of a full circle feeling that surfaced such fond memories. I moved a lot growing up and my time in Killington were by far my most precious.

Thank you for your time and best to Scott!

Karen Mastrangelo, formerly of Killington

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