Rick Jacobel, Summer 1958

Rick Jacobel (left) & Family at Lake Ballard (Denny's cabin), 1958:

"There were blueberry bushes that grew in the wild. I remember going out early one morning to collect a colander of the blueberries so that my mother could add them to the pancake batter for our breakfast." - Rick

Rick inside Denny's cabin in 1958 - with friend Snapper T. Turtle, Jr.!

Where The Buffalo Roam... inside Denny's cabin!

Lake Ballard as seen by Rick from Denny Giriat's dock in 1958:

"I used to spend hours out in the row boat with my fishing pole, catching sun fish, and then throwing them back into the water." - Rick Jacobel, 2008

Click on any image to enlarge. And many thanks to Rick for sharing these great memories!

(This page was updated September 21st, 2008)

Joe Krantz's

(Photo by Jim Molloy - August 2008)

Back in the 50's, Joe Krantz's cabin on the west side of the lake was the pride of Lake Ballard. Actually, it still is, even overgrown and abandoned. Because it's still there, like the last of the Mohicans, visible in the August wood.

Lots of Paradise, Act Now!

This is where it started, when in 1931, city dwellers could purchase of piece of heaven for less than a hundred dollars... to fish and boat and swim all the August-day long!

No Interest Charge!

...

The above image is split into two for legibility (click on each image to enlarge). Putnam Lake is in the Patterson area, about 12 miles east of Ballard Lake. The ad is from 1931 - notice the styles - when development of Putnam County was gathering steam as a summer getaway.

Sit Up Straight! Stop Figgiting!

St. James Catholic Church, Route 6, Carmel, NY (postcard image, c. 1940's)

Note: Correct spelling is "fidgeting" - meaning; to move about restlessly, nervously, or impatiently. As kids, we fidgeted a lot in church because we wanted to be someplace else. Like back at the lake swimming!

Lake Carmel Fire House

(Route 52)

Route 52 (North) & 311 (East) Junction, postcard image c. 1950... located about 1/2 mile north of Lake Carmel firehouse pictured above. Click images to enlarge.

Downtown Brewster, NY

Postcard image

Click here for more Brewster photos!

Al's Grocery, Rt. 52, Lake Carmel

Postcard image, 1950's

Downtown Carmel, 1953

Postcard Image (click images to enlarge)

Many thanks for this photo to Skip & Rob Pearlman, descendants of Max Pearlman, the owner.

Update 9/9/09: Carmel Diner, downtown Carmel, NY - circa 1953. See the Carmel Facebook Page (link), where you'll find many interesting historical pictures of and around Carmel. The above is only a sampling, but an excellent one since a number of Ballard Crew members were well acquainted with the Carmel Diner. In fact, a few of us might have been sitting inside at the counter enjoying a hamburger when the above shot was taken. Remember, this was the pre-McDonald's era when cows were cows and life was new!

Update 9/30/10: Skip Pearlman has added some great photos of the Carmel Diner (former) to his Facebook page - including photos of the original diner. Click Here to view.

Bolla's Restaurant - Bottlegate Farm

Postcard images, c. 1946/7(?)

Entrance to Olsen & Johnson's dairy farm was flanked by two giant milk bottles. For a period during the mid-1950's, the restaurant was known as "Bolla's." Mr. Bolla, or "Chef Bolla," had formerly worked as the sous chef at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC.

Update: The following image was taken by Jim Molloy in mid-January, 2009. The former Olsen & Johnson (popular comedy team of Vaudevillian fame) property is currently known as Bottlegate Farm:

Note: Technically, Bottlegate Farm is in "Kent" (a/k/a Town of Kent, also "Kent Lakes"), although "Carmel," about 8 miles further south, is the mailing district.

In The Army... then

1960

Pvt. Jim Molloy and Jim Molloy Sr. - just before Pvt. Jim deployed to Germany. Photo taken in front of the Molloy's cabin (our cabin), the Baptist camp's former mess hall.

Still Standing - Summer 2008

Photo by Jim Molloy - July 21, 2008

Taken from Milltown Road, one of the few structures still standing, and barely, located on the north/west corner overlooking Ballard Lake. A fixer upper! (Click on image to enlarge)

Testing The Water

(click on image to enlarge)

Found this one in the shoebox-of-memories buried in the closet. It's Jimmy (Jim Molloy) rowing past Mitchell's dock, 1952. Look closely, see the eyes of the hunter - although he's still in his city clothes. But once he put on his bathing suit, look out! The water snakes and snapping turtles ran for the hills!

"Romeo & Juliet"

Peter Molloy & Geraldine Tischer, approx. 1958

Peter, Geraldine/"Gerry", Bobby Mitchell - (baby refused to be identified)

January, 1952

(David, Peter, Isabel Giriat, Fran Molloy/Mom, Bill)

We're standing on the lake, a day of ice skating. In the background, Denny Giriat's cabin.

(Great views of Denny Giriat's cabin)

Pictured from left to right: Denny Giriat, Peter Molloy, Isabel Giriat, Fran Molloy, David Molloy (petting Denny's dog, "Buddy"). Click on pic(s) to enlarge!

Update; 2/25/09: The following photograph is of Denny Giriat (right) and Van Ness Ballard (center), taken outside Denny's cabin around 1950. Many thanks to John Giriat, a charter member of the Ballard Crew, for these great shots...

Denny's cabin...

Giriat's cabins: Joe's (left), Denny's (right)...


After the blizzard!..

Ballard Barbecue...

Greetings, Ballard Crew!

The following group of fantastic pictures were taken at the lake during the 1950's, taken specifically in the area known as "The Field," with "The Beach" in the background. This series of shots are provided courtesy of Mickey and Karen Kwasnicki. Click on the picture(s) individually to enlarge, enjoy the show - and thanks to Mickey & Karen for sharing these great memories...

In this last picture, I don't recognize the folks around the table, but I do recognize the Rheingold can!

Swimmers & Bathing Beauties!

(click photos to enlarge)

Update: June 3, 2010:

"Big Ray" Van Wagner, Bill Molloy, Dinny Keane

Photos: Thanks to Mickey & Karen Kwasnicki!

Kit, Kids + One Happy Toddler

Update: June 3, 2010:

Kit Keane & Daniel

Kit, Daniel, and Mathew ("Matt") standing

(click images to enlarge)

Daniel & Matt

Kit & Daniel

Keane family photos, courtesy of Mickey & Karen Kwasnicki

Summer

Courtesy of Mickey & Karen Kwasnicki

Another great picture from Mickey and Karen, apparently taken at the "Red Dock," probably around 1956/7. Sitting on the left facing the camera, it appears to be Eileen Amy with daughter Mona Lou (back to camera) - and sitting to Eileen's right, it appears to be Margie Mitchell. And even further to the right, Billy Molloy - plus a bunch of kids playing in and around the water. Really, a typical summer afternoon at the lake - kids having fun, the parents relaxing.

Also a terrific view of the lake, and Milltown Road in the background, see how it climbs up the hill to the left. Like it's going somewhere... and it was.

Note: Click on picture(s) for larger image, greater detail.

Happy Birthday! 1957

Courtesy of Mickey & Karen Kwasnicki

This is just such a fantastic shot!* Hard to believe it was taken 50 years ago. There's Mickey smiling at the camera, and next to him brother Peter smiling at his spoon, and next to Peter brother Billy apparently engrossed in deep conversation! Sitting at the head of the table, it appears to be Bobby Mitchell, with at least one of the [unidentified] girls staring at him - in love again. From what I've heard, Bobby was quite the lady's man!

For the Molloy's, this picture offers an additional treat; our cabin - the camp's converted mess hall - in the background. Also, to the right, Ballard's "spider" emporium, also know as the camp's outhouse, although it did have plumbing (i.e., toilets). But at night, forget it!... Black Widows lurking behind the bowls the size of trucks! Just waiting to grab some kid and drag'em under the creaky floor. In the outhouse, it was Halloween all summer long. Oh, but what a joy!

Update: May 28, 2010: Same great party, different angles! At the head of the table, Dinny Keane! These shots were retrieved from the original slides, which accounts for the outstanding color and detail (given the time period!). Just look at that watermelon, you can almost taste it! And the cake, baked in a bungalow oven!

"I'm RICH!"