WATERBORO — The club history says it succinctly: In 1978, some snowmobilers got together to form a riding group, and the Ossipee Mountaineers Snowmobile Club was born.

On Saturday, the membership got together and invited the public to drop by and go for a ride, to help mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the club. There was a ceremony that evening, along with a public spaghetti supper.

Folks started gathering about 10 a.m. A big pot of chili was simmering on the stove in the clubhouse, and members were chatting and reminiscing about rides they had taken or the ones they hope to take in the future. Outside, there was an impromptu display of sleds, and the grooming equipment used to keep the trails in fine condition. Back inside, club president Chrissy McGinley sat at a table, writing her speech for the evening ceremony.

“There’s a lot of history here,” she said. The club was founded by two men, she said, Earl Jones and Larry Chase. An early member, who joined four years after the cub was officially formed, was Linwood Pooler. He didn’t know it that morning as he chatted with other members ”“ it was a surprise ”“ but Pooler, who previously served as vice president, president, assistant trailmaster and trailmaster, was to be formally recognized by the group Saturday evening.

Rick McGriff, outside powering up his Arctic Cat, said he’s rather new to snowmobiling, compared to some folks. Originally from Indiana, he and his wife joined the club five years ago. Three years ago, they moved from Biddeford to Waterboro.

He said he enjoys the camaraderie ”“ and the riding.

“I love it,” he said.

His wife, Cindy McGriff, volunteered to chair the 40th anniversary celebration.

“I wanted to be active and help out,” she said. “I love the club, the people and the community.”

The club maintains 40 miles of trails and members do a lot of brush trimming and bridge building.

Club safety officer Rebecca LaFrance said her job is to promote safety awareness, particularly of hand signals used on the trails, and she has had a warm reception with providing literature the schools.

She’s also promoting landowner relations, and while that topic isn’t part of her safety officer duties, LaFrance pointed out 90 percent of the Waterboro trail system is on private land, so showing respect for the landowner is critical.

The clubhouse is located on Old Alfred Road and is open weekends during the season. It’s a space where the 65 members can warm up and get some coffee or lunch.

Pooler, sporting one of the original club shirts, was born, raised and still lives in Scarborough, but his family owned property in Waterboro and he came here frequently. He knew Chase and Jones, and so joined the club.

An avid snowmobiler, Pooler got involved in the pastime early on, buying his first snowsled, a 23-horsepower Moto Ski Zephyr, in 1969. Later, he moved on to an Arctic Cat and he’s been a fan of that particular brand ever since; these days Pooler, 83, rides an Arctic Cat 202 Panther.

Pooler said his first 10 years with the group mostly involved going to meetings. He retired in 1992, after making ice cream for Hood for more than 21 years and Deering for more than 14 years, and has since had more time to become involved.

“I made a commitment I’d stick with it, work and volunteer,” he said. “I helped design and build bridges, and I cut a lot of brush.”

He recalled trips with other club members: He’s camped at Portage, snowmobiled in Fort Kent and in Dickey in the north woods, and was at Estcourt Station, the northernmost point in Maine. Pooler smiled broadly as he talked about the pastime he so clearly loves.

“I like to get out in the woods,” he said. “I like to go at slow speeds so I can know what’s coming around a corner and I like to see deer and moose.”

McGinley and her husband Shawn joined Ossipee Mountaineers in 2005, but McGinley was a snowmobiler early on. She said she used to race with her brothers and cousins off Clark Road in Alfred.

Nancy and Kevin Crowell were club members 20 years ago, but left the sport for a time. Three years ago, they rejoined the group.

“We wanted to get back into the sport,” said Nancy Crowell. “We wanted to get to know other people and have fun.”

Ossipee Mountaineers Snowmobile Club welcomes new members. Information can be found at: www.ossipeemountaineers.com or on their Facebook page.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.