History of Rocky Point
The picture above is the earliest picture we could find of Rocky Point although there is evidence that it was present in July 1908. In the diary of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lord and published in Marion Proudfoot’s book “Camping at the Pond”, it is stated that on Friday July 10, 1908 they wrote; “The Ball Cottage burned with all in it except the launch which was taken out into the pond.”
Our deed shows that George F. Ball was the first camp owner of our parcel following Edw. D. and Harry M. Ricker who owned most of the property on the eastern shore at one time for logging purposes. Since the camp pictured above was the same one we purchased, and the Ball property completely burned at one time this must have been the second Ball cottage.
The Balls had the property from 1906 until 1945 at which time Kate Ball (widow of George), sold the property to Pliney N. Gale who owned it for about a year and sold it to Eugene H. and Alice C. Kennedy of Chelsea, Vermont. Those of us who grew up on the pond remember this family as the owners we all can remember. Eugene celebrated his 100th birthday at a Groton Association meeting on my parent’s beach at the north end of pond.
In 1976 Sandy and I were fortunate enough to acquire “Rocky Point” from the Kennedy Estate. Sounds pretty important, doesn’t it? Well it was! When we bought it, it was in sad shape. The next two pictures indicate some of the issues. It had no running water, a very old out house, that Sandy would not go into and Kerry our 2 year old daughter said “take it to the dump, daddy”. But we were as proud as we could be, to be camp owners on Groton Pond.
Then the work started and as far as I can tell it hasn’t stopped! We began by placing an “I” beam under the front of the camp and adding a bathroom. This was how I won my family over. A bathroom! After that, I pretty much could do what ever I wanted! What a great idea this was. We began spending our entire summer here and the kids just loved it, just as I did as a child.
In 1990 we decided to build a boathouse/ bunkhouse on our property next door for guests and storage but within a couple of years we decided we would retire early and make it our retirement home. Now we live at Lake Groton for 6 months and our Children and Grandchildren enjoy “Rocky Point” when they can. We rent it when they can’t.
My father (Ernie) and my mother (Jeanne) bought their camp in 1947. I was born in 1949 and I have spent every summer of my life on the pond. Mom is still coming each year, she is now 87, and all three of my sisters enjoy it here as much as we do.
The way I feel about this place is best expressed by those who came before me. Read the last page (56) of Marion Proudfoot’s book, “Camping at the Pond” and you will know what I mean.
Please share any old photos of Rocky Point or the East Shore in general, if you have them. We would be grateful. If you are a descendent of the Ball clan, we would love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Jon and Sandy Desilets
(October 2008)