Irish Ferguson left his mark on London

On the back of the chair in the middle of the pictures it says, 'In Memory of "Irish Ferguson" '. Irish Ferguson was one of the most alive old men I've ever known. He had a youthful love of life that stayed with him right into his senior years.

The story of the London ski hill starts way back to the late '40s. At that time it was only one run at the end of gravel road. I cannot say for sure when exactly Irish got involved but it may have been right at the beginning or shortly thereafter. Irish was a dreamer and a man who liked to make dreams a reality.

I knew Irish from my sailing days on Lake Huron. We both kept our sailboats in the marina at Bayfield. The sailing club owes a lot ot Irish as does the former London Ski Club, now known as Boler Mountain.

Today the little hill that could has three quad chairlifts serving 16 runs. Some like to call the place the Byron Bump but everyone calls it a success. It provides a wonderful opportunity for children to enjoy skiing in an area not known for its winter sports. The hill may be small but its lifts are efficient and skiers not only come down fast but are returned to the top quickly.

Whenever I see the lift with Irish's name on the back, I have to smile. Irish was an example to all of us.