May 2, 2010 (click to enlarge)Constructed during the 1920’s by Arthur Ballard, Ballard Lake spans three main periods; the first from about 1930 until 1950, when the lake was used primarily as a Baptist summer camp for boys. The camp included an open-air chapel, large mess-hall, and roughly a dozen sleeping bungalows. The property was owned by the Arthur Ballard family of Holmes, New York, who at one time owned a great deal of land in the area. Mainly farmers, the Ballard's date back to pre-American Revolution.
The next [and partially concurrent] period evolved during the early 1930's, when Arthur Ballard, then the Ballard patriarch, began renting cabins beyond the main or central camp. On Mickey’s Map, these early rentals (and occupants) included Joe Giriat’s, Denny Giriat’s, Charlie Giriat’s, Mario’s, Louie’s, and Joe Krantz’s. Also the cabin which became known as the ”Spring House” which was located directly on Milltown Road overlooking the lake (NW corner) - and was the common/shared source for drinking water, with an exterior pump-house and accessible water-pipe situated next to the road.
Joe Krantz’s cabin, which was actually more akin to a house, represented the most substantial living-structure on the lake. Although the Spring House and the other structures are now gone, Joe Krantz's still survives - but barely. All these early rentals apparently went to Ballard family members, relatives, or close friends/associates – and may well have been exchanges, in that some of the renters constructed their own cabins; Charlie Giriat’s, for example. Regarding relatives, the Spring House was occupied by the "Judson's," Ballard cousins, until the early 1950's.
As the 1940’s came to a close, Ballard (first Arthur, then his son Van Ness) also rented the central bungalows as summer rentals. The Baptist camp was phasing out, although baptisms were performed “in” the lake until the 1960's (like the movie, "Oh Brother"). Interestingly, the rental agreements were quite informal by most standards - a nominal, annual payment, sealed by a handshake. By the early 50's, virtually all the structures on the lake had become rentals. The chapel and mess-hall were also converted to rentals, many of the summer residents then arriving by referral.
The heyday of Ballard Lake was from 1950 until the mid-60's, when every bungalow/cabin was occupied by us "city folk." Many of the pictures on this blog are from this period. This was also the era of two-parent families, usually with two or more kids. The cluster of cabins on the east-south/east side of the lake became known collectively as "the camp," and the camp jumped all summer long, and often into the fall. Including the lake itself which was alive with all types of fish, snakes, turtles, frogs, and… kids. This was before acid rain took a heavy toll on many of the aquatic creatures.
As the kids grew older, families started giving up their cabins, and by the late 60's hardly a familiar face could be found anywhere around the lake. Also, Arthur Ballard's son, Van Ness, had apparently grown weary of renting, that is, re-renting - and subsequently the lake became all but abandoned. This is when the squatters moved in; hippies, flower children, and freeloaders – plus a few renters. But remember, this was the notorious "60's" when everything was "free," including the cabin next door, which was often used as a source for firewood until one-by-one the cabins collapsed, then disappeared.
The lake and surrounding property were eventually sold by the Ballard family, bringing to an end the Ballard Lake history. Except for here, the Ballard Lake blog, which contains many fond memories, back when the lake was a great adventure to us city kids - when "Indians" stalked the woods, and snapping turtles surfaced like whales, and huge man-eating fish tried to pull us under! Back when the lake was teaming with life, and the night air filled with bright, electric bugs – and wide-eyed kids sailed the great Ballard Sea... into history.
© DM for the Ballard Crew
