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“With Our Own Four Hands” is the account of how a young couple, grubbing away with hand tools back in the 1940’s, brought reality to their wartime dream of creating a ski area for western New York skiers. It also touches on the history of skiing and the development of ski equipment starting with a single toe strap to hold the boot against the ski.The book is also an authentic chapter in history of the hamlet of Swain in Allegany County which had been largely by-passed by 20th century developments. It describes the actions of the real people who contributed to the project in various ways, and the effects, both good and bad, of the ski area on the community itself.Also covered are formation on one of the oldest ski patrols in the country and the launching of an Olympic gold medal winner plus a Ski Hall of Fame World Cup Champion along with the actions - some heroic, some hilarious - of more ordinary mortals.The couple’s four children have each contributed a chapter of some of their recollections (which run the gamut from endearing to humorous to hair-raising) of growing up on the ski area. The book starts with an account of “the early years” that Dave wrote in response to a request from newer members of the ski patrol for information about the area’s origins. Realizing that she was the last person alive to know the whole story, Bina has tried to put it all together: the ski area, the community and its people.
