Bobby Mitchell (L) and Peter Molloy, with Tully's cabin in the background. About 1959.
Jim Molloy (L) on "Pride," Peter Molloy on "Buddy." August 1953.
Bill (L) & Peter Molloy at "The Beach" with Tischer's dock in the background. About 1959.
Jim (L) & Dave Molloy at the Kelly's on Holmes Road. The Kelly's "boarded" various horses at their farm, and on this particular day Jim and I were apparently charged with feeding these two their daily oats. I also recall delivering "salt-licks," blocks of salt that we left in the pastures, which helped keep the horses fit and healthy. This photo was probably taken in 1953.
This photo was taken during the early 1950s, and in the background (center) sits "Mario's" facing the camera. On the left is "Helen & Ed's" (aka Charlie Giriat's), and off to the right, partially hidden by the trees, is "Louie's." We're not sure of the photo's history, Jim (Molloy) discovered it recently in one of his albums. But the image represents the only photo to date showing Mario's cabin, making it a great find!
Many thanks to Charles Brooks for sharing this stunning image of the "Spring House!"
"This picture was taken in November 1977 and it shows the cabin just as it was when my Uncle George and Aunt Emma Judson had the cabin in the 1930s. Many times, after we had visited with my great-uncle George and Aunt Emma Judson at the Spring House at Ballard Lake, we stayed and had supper with the Ballards [in Holmes]. For many years Arthur and Thursa Ballard's daughter Hattie was the U. S. Postmistress for Holmes. Oh what joy it would be to live my early life over again with family at Ballard Lake. Maybe there is a Ballard Lake in Heaven..." - Charles
During the 1950's and beyond, it was also known as the "Ponderosa," and located on the north side of Milltown Road - just up the hill a bit - overlooking the lake (see Mickey's map below). But the Ballard Crew knew it mostly as the "Spring House" because of the well, where many of us went for our drinking water. Evidence of the well is clearly visible in bottom portion of the photo. Aside from the details, however, the scene is a genuine work of art - truly magnificent, thanks to Charles!
Many thanks to George W. Paraskeva of Stormville, NY for this great photo of "Connie's," or what the Ballard Crew knew as "Smalley's" during the 1950's. George's parents bought the store from Doris Smalley, located on Route 52 in Stormville, and operated it when the above picture was taken during the early 60's. Certainly a wonderful view of the store, the gas pumps, the signs, the public phone booth (remember those!), and the era! Perfect!
Happy Valley, restaurant and bar, Rt. 52, Lake Carmel, NY - c. 1942
Happy Valley interior. Above photos courtesy of Reg White, Putnam County Historian's Office, with a very special thanks to Lori Kemp of Carmel, NY for her thoughtful assistance and dogged determination!
"In 1960 when I was 15 years, my parents bought "the cabin" across the road from Lake Ballard. There were two cabins on the property. The first had living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. The second was just a couple of rooms with no plumbing. Two months later the electric meter box was struck by lightening and the living-room and bedroom burned down. The Holmes volunteer fire dept saved the rest and some of the old furniture. Mom had insurance and they rebuilt. That summer was so much fun. We drove from Stamford, Conn. almost every weekend. My sister, Ginny, was 18. We would drive up on Friday nites, my parents not coming up until Saturday. My grandparents lived in Lake Carmel. I had spent many years swimming at the beach near the fire dept. on Rt 52 below Barrett Hill Rd. My cousin, Linda, also lived in Lake Carmel and her boyfriend, Billy, lived past White Pond . We met some of the local boys. I would go down the hill to the lake dive off the rock, swim to the stump, shampoo my hair, climb on the stump, jump in, swim across the lake. I met the kids in camp, Peter, Geraldine, Bobby, Joey, Larry, Mona Lou... Throughout the fall and into the winter, we'd make the drive to "the cabin". We had a fireplace and a kerosene heater. We had an outhouse, we called "Mary". The next summer the fun continued. There were lots of parties. We'd play records and dance. The boys would drink beer. There were parties in camp, too. I took many walks in the woods and to Flossie's. Watched the boys jump off that big rock hoping they'd be OK. My parents retired to "the cabin". They added a room. They lived there until around 1980. We had many family picnics with the grandkids. We still swam in the lake. I would walk thru the camp. For a few years the "hippies" lived there then everything was just gone but the lake." - Janet Gill
#2 Cabin
The approach
Entrance off Milltown Road, just east of "The Rock."
Thanks to Janet Gill for all these great memories!
Inside the mess-hall, and what later (1952) became our (the Molloy's) cabin. This interior shot looks just like it did when we first moved in, with its massive, commercial stove, and the large service table! Which kinda proves that although things may change, our memory never does. And on this particular day in 1940, the early Ballard Crew was cooking for a crowd! From the left: Dot Coutard, Martha Giriat, Isabelle Giriat, "Hug," and Alice Landi.
[Visable] from the left: Dot Coutard, Isabelle Giriat, Hug, unidentified.
The hungry mob outside the mess-hall: Most are unidentified, but from the left, Arthur Ballard Jr., Denny Giriat. Standing on the extreme right, Martha Giriat. Below; Marge Giriat(?), Charlie Giriat, and Van-Ness Ballard. (Bottle; can't make out the label)
Charlie Giriat, Van-Ness Ballard, and Martha Giriat - outside the messs-hall.
Many thanks to Dee "Dorothy" Giriat for these and all the great photos, a wonderful ride through Ballard Lake's early history! Be sure to visit our sister-site at Flickr and click on the slide-show, which also includes outtakes not displayed here.
The above is a rare photo, indeed. Standing center is Arthur Ballard Sr., Van-Ness Ballard's father! To his right, Mickey, and below, toddler Glen Williams. Dated March 26, 1939
Here's Van-Ness Ballard's brother (cousin?), Arthur Ballard Jr., with toddler, Glen Williams. Look at Arthur's spiffy high-tops, possibly purchased from a Sears & Roebuck catalog. Photo dated March 26, 1939.
What a terrific photo! From the left; Isabelle Giriat; Arthur Ballard Jr.; Mickey; Martha Giriat; and toddler Glen Williams - March 26, 1939.
Mickey, Martha & Isabelle Giriat, and Glen Williams - March 26, 1939.
All the above were taken outside Denny Giriat's cabin. Many thanks to Dee (Dorothy) Giriat for providing them!
1942 - Above we see Pabst's delivery boy (aka "Joe Braun") outside Denny's cabin, captured by one of Ballard's notorious gunmen, Bob Coutard.
In the above we clearly see why, too, as Bob guzzles the hops from his nefarious caper.
The above is just one of Bob's accomplices, Denny Giriat! Of all people! I think his brother Charlie Giriat was in on it, too - because Denny and Bob are sitting (smashed) on Charlie's dock!
The above may also help explain why the Baptists abandoned Ballard, and went to Lake Whaley. That is, assuming they weren't in on this business in the first place. After all, that moonshine still us kids found buried in the woods wasn't built by the Ballard Crew!
Thanks to Dee (Dorothy Giriat), this wonderful series of images chronicles the construction of Charlie Giriat's (Dee's father) cabin, Chateau Pres Du Lac. The above photo was taken in May, 1941, and the photographer appears to be standing on or near the "Red Dock." On Mickey's map here from the 1950's, Pres Du Lac is designated as "Helen & Ed's" (who kept themselves locked in their cabin, with the shades down).
Above, Pres Du Lac from across the lake, 1942. Note there's no evidence of "The Chapel," which must have come later. Further to the left, can't see Denny's or Joe's (Giriats) either, although their cabins may be hiding behind the trees in this shot. To the right, a few cabins from the central camp may be seen. All in all, a wonderful photo! (And taken in the year I was learning to say "Mama"!)
Above, Pres Du Lac at completion, 1939. On the left, Dee's mom, Martha Giriat (others unidentified).
Above captured July 15, 1939 - apparently taken before the final paint; the dark color appears to be a base coat. That's my guess, anyway.
Above, Martha Giriat (Dee's mom), July 19, 1939.
Above, Pres Du Lac during construction, May 12, 1939. The photographer appears to be in a boat, just off where the chapel would have been.
Above, Martha Giriat (Dee's mom), April 23, 1939, taken during early construction of Pres Du Lac. Great shot, great *series, thanks to Dee!
Bobby Mitchell (L) and Peter Molloy, with Tully's cabin in the background. About 1959.
Jim Molloy (L) on "Pride," Peter Molloy on "Buddy." August 1953.
Bill (L) & Peter Molloy at "The Beach" with Tischer's dock in the background. About 1959.
Jim (L) & Dave Molloy at the Kelly's on Holmes Road. The Kelly's "boarded" various horses at their farm, and on this particular day Jim and I were apparently charged with feeding these two their daily oats. I also recall delivering "salt-licks," blocks of salt that we left in the pastures, which helped keep the horses fit and healthy. This photo was probably taken in 1953.
