Members of the Poodunck Snowmobile Club stand Wednesday next to the new $250,000 trail groomer delivered that day. From left are Membership Chairperson Marlene Fletcher, Trailmaster Dave Berry, club President Tom Child, USDA Rural Development Public Information Officer Leigh Hallett and club Secretary Grace “Mac” Goodrow. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times
DIXFIELD — The Poodunck Snowmobile Club has a new $250,000 trail groomer, paid in part by a $135,000 federal grant.
The club took delivery of the Prinoth machine Wednesday.
Leigh Hallett, public information officer for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, said the grant came from the Rural Business Development program.
“That is a very competitive program, and they applied twice,” she said at Wednesday’s delivery.
Club President Tom Child said getting the groomer was a two-year process.
“This was all something that was started by longtime member Jon Holmes, who initiated it and set it all up,” he said.
The club was established in 1969 and Holmes, who was unable to attend Wednesday’s delivery, was an integral part of it, Child said.
The groomer replaces a 2009 machine, which was sold to the Canton Hi-Riders Snowmobile Club.
“We gave them a good deal on it because we wanted to keep it local,” Child said. Money from the sale went toward the new groomer.
Trailmaster Dave Berry, who will operate the groomer most of the time, gave members rides Wednesday in a field on the Common Road.
Berry said the club maintains about 50 miles of trails. Eight to 10 active members have been busy doing trail work since September, including replacing one of 20 bridges, rerouting of trails, cutting brush and installing culverts. The club trails connect to points north and west with two sections of the Interconnected Trail System — ITS 89 and ITS 82.
Membership Chairperson Marlene Fletcher said the club has 104 members, including a number from out of state.
“Part of the enjoyment of our trails is Colonel Holman (Mountain),” Secretary Grace “Mac” Goodrow said, “because you get up there and the view is just phenomenal. We get up there and talk to people and they say we came from such and such a place and ‘these (trails) are fabulous.'”
Child said the next project is to build a garage for the groomer.
Poodunck Snowmobile Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To donate, contact Child at tchild058@gmail.com
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