Kwasnicki Family - 1959!

There's Mickey standing next to his dad eating watermelon! And that's his mom sitting on the right, with sister Patty (middle), and family friend Peggy Dixon (left). This great photo was taken on the deck of their cabin (aka "The Chapel"), their feet resting on the gangway down to the dock - which, by the way, was the best dock on Lake Ballard!

Remember those giant truck inner-tubes! Mickey with his mom and dad. 

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Ballard Lake Reunion!

 Above photo courtesy of Karen Kwasnicki - August 11, 2012
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 August 11, 2012
Click here to see the "same" picture 50 years ago!

 More Lake Ballard Reunion pics HERE!

The Ponderosa-2

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This bright, sunny photo was taken in 1960, and shows Dianne Leuck's mom posing in front of their cabin, the "Ponderosa." The photographer (probably Dianne's dad) was standing on the small road which led to Joe Krantz's place. Immediately to the right and out of frame was the Sweeny's cabin, and just below that Leuck's dock. I think you'll agree that this photo really captures the light and shadow so typical of the era. You can also view the original Ponderosa post here.

Photo added 4/25/15:

Note: The "Ponderosa" (aka "The Spring House") had been previously occupied for many years by the "Judson's," Ballard relatives. The Judson family left the cabin in the early 1950's. And at least one, our own Charles Brooks, went west - all the way to California!

The Kelly Place, Holmes, NY

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This is a very exciting find! It's the Kelly house on Holmes Road, about 1/2 mile east of Route 52. This superb, undated photograph by Yvonne Rabdau appears to have been taken just before the house disappeared around the year 2000, although it could just as well have been captured 50 or 100 years ago - as memory tells us there's been no material change in its appearance over these many intervening years. In fact, the only thing missing is the Kelly's themselves, sitting on the porch and waving at every car as it rolled by! Additional photos from the Kelly place may be found in the original Kelly post here. Also, note that the above image was cropped to fit the blog, so be sure to check out the full version posted at our Flickr site (listed under "Links" in the right sidebar).

Flossie's!!!

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The long, arduous search is finally over! Thanks to Ballard Crew member George Paraskeva of Stormville, NY, Flossie's, once the holy grail of Ballard Lake shopping, has been returned to its rightful place on Route 52, and history! Feast your eyes upon her countenance! See the signs beckoning us in! Behold the glory of the world before Wal-Mart! Hers were the carefree days of pennies, nickels and dimes, of boys and girls walking from 1/2 miles around to shop at Flossie's! And get back up the hill before the milk turns sour! Don't forget the bread, careful with the eggs, buy yourself a Pepsi and bring home the change! Now and forever we'll fondly remember Flossie Ballard tending her tiny store, her young son Roger playing in the background - and all the joys of Ballard shopping! Read the comments for additional information, and check out the original Flossie post here.
Added: 1959 photo from Putnam County Courier; first row left, Flossie (black dress) with son Roger:

See complete list of names, many from the Ballard family, here. With a special note of thanks to Lori Kemp of "Carmel, NY" Facebook! 

RIP Flossie Ballard 1921-2012

Thanksgiving, 1954!

These great photos - thanks to Mona-Lou Amy! - were taken inside Molloy's cabin (Jim & Fran Molloy pictured above) on Thanksgiving, 1954. One of many Amy-Molloy holiday get-togethers.

(L) Mona-Lou Amy, Pete Molloy, Jim Molloy, Bill Molloy.

(L) Bill Molloy, Mona-Lou Amy, Dave Molloy, Leslie Amy, Peter Molloy, Jim Molloy.

(L) Jim Molloy, Mona-Lou Amy, Lou & Eileen Amy, Bill Molloy, Leslie Amy.

Fall, 2010

Camp entrance, looking in from Milltown Road, the tree apparently downed by the recent storm. Photos by Jim Molloy - October 13, 2010

Looking east; 50 years ago we would have clearly seen Mitchell's (aka the Chapel) on the left, and the Red Dock near the center. The dark area in the center leads to what we knew as "The Beach."

Looking toward "The Rock" from Milltown Road.

Looking east toward Mitchell's, the Red Dock, and The Beach.

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The Ponderosa

Welcome home to the Leuck family! The Leuck's occupied the Ponderosa (aka "Spring House") from 1960 to 1981. Many thanks to Dianne Leuck-Sigmund for the following memories!

"The Ponderosa" ('Named after the TV series' - Dianne) - 1960

Ponderosa kitchen - 1960

Ponderosa "potbelly!" - 1960

Ponderosa's dock, constructed by Dianne's brothers. Pictured: Dianne's parents - Mom on the dock, Dad rowing the boat!

Dianne's daughters Heidi & Melissa on the Ballard ice; Melissa with her Grandpa

The Ponderosa - 1981

(side view - 1981)

Dianne Leuck-Sigmund - ice skating, 1966

Vinny & Kit Keane

Vinny & Kit Keane (latter 1950's)

Vinny (Vincent)

Photos from the Keane family collection, courtesy of Mickey & Karen Kwasnicki!

Pearl Island

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Here's part of the Ballard Crew in action, 1957 - looking from the "Red Dock." This terrific photo provided by Karen & Mickey Kwasnicki, courtesy of Dinny Keane.

It's our...

The "Spa" - Lake Carmel

This Photo from 1947 courtesy of Christine Vought

The "Spa" up close, the way many of us remember it from the 50's! The year of the picture dates slightly before the birth of Rock'n'Roll, but if you look inside they were warming up the dance floor! Great era, and great photo thanks to Christine: additional photos here, and here.

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Boys, Horses, Summer, Winter

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.

Mario's

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!

Spring House

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!

Connie's Grocery - formerly "Smalley's"

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!

Old Haunts

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!

Happy Valley, early 1950's:

Courtesy of Society for the Preservation of Putnam County

Colors of Fall - 1961

Looking toward the Rock from Milltown Road - '61

From the Rock looking toward Milltown Road - '61

These great shots courtesy of Janet Gill!

Janet & Company - 1961

Janet & Betsy

Janet Gill!

Pete Molloy, parents, and kids... at the Rock

Janet!!

Bobby Mitchell, Billy Cappelletti, Jimmy Kardias

Freddie Rhinehart, Jerry Ritcher, Herbie Rhinehart, "Ziggy"

Bobby Mitchell(!)

Peter Molloy

Bill "Duffer" Kelly, Bobby Mitchell, Tony Colella, "Dudley" (Wayne Davis), Dickie Sheldon

Thanks to Janet Gill for these terrific photos!