278 French Road
I started to go to Groton with my parents about 1930. Before route 232, we walked from Ricker’s Pond, via the railroad track, carrying all our supplies for the day. Pliny Gale, Sr. had an inboard motor boat we called the “Put, Put”. We would raise a white flag at the south end of the pond and he would come with his boat to take us to our destination, sometimes we stayed at his camp. In those days, we did a lot of berry picking., especially blueberries. The perch were plentiful and good sized too. I have many paper cut-outs of bass 22 inches weighing 3 and 41bs. And of 20 & 22 inch pickerel. Catfish were plentiful. You could depend on catching a meal of fish in an hour or less. It all sounds like a fish story now but it’s a true one. I also wish I could hear the singing of the whip-poor wills again.
I can remember the Civilian & Conservation Corp (CCC) constructing route 232. At one time Perry Merrill, Commissioner of State Forests & Parks, had a booth set up on the road down by Ricker’s, charging a small amount, maybe a quarter, for use of the road. At first even the campers had to pay to get to their own camps. My father and others fought that and it was later changed to exclude campers and finally everyone.
In 1932, Oskar & Amanda Olsen purchased the lot which camp #108 & 109 are on now from R. J. & M. J. Miller. We had a lot of fun picnicking before the camp was built in 1933. (picture #lA below) As I remember it, my father and two of his brothers started building in the morning and stayed that night with a roof over their heads. (picture 1B & 2) My parents turned the camp over to Wendell and me in 1979 but they both continued to come in their 90’s.
In 1936, Axel & Emma Erickson (my mothers cousin) built on lot 109. It later became their daughter, Virginia and husband Ronald Reed’s camp and now has been passed on to granddaughter Elaine and husband John Magnan.
(picture #3) Amanda and Oskar in their bathing suits of the 1930’s. (Picture not taken at Groton)
My father built two of his own wooden boats. (picture #4 & 5) I now have an old aluminum boat, a canoe and at one time a pontoon boat purchased from Steve Erhard after he bought his new one. It is now Jon Desilets float. We believe in recycling.
The camp at first was one very large room that contained three daybeds, table and chairs and in the back end of the room, a sink, hand pump and cupboards. The sink, now outside, serves as a flower bed with the pump still beside it. (picture #6) The room was large enough to hold many Scandinavian dances. We cranked up the old Sears Victrola or danced to the lively accordion music played by our talented relatives.
The outhouse was pretty classy, a two holer, (picture #7) up back on the hill near where we now have a bunk house. The bunk house has three bunks and two closets.
In the early 1950’s a bedroom was added to the camp on the northwest side and in 1974 a porch, kitchen and bathroom was added on the back. It wasn’t easy convincing my father of these additions. (picture #8) It was suppose to be a camp. He needn’t have worried as it still is, considering all the beautiful homes which now grace our shore line.
In 1938, we had a hurricane which flattened a good share of our trees, especially the beautiful white birches. In picture #9 you can see some of the trees in the back of my camp laid on their sides. The mini-hurricane of2000 also leveled a few trees and toppled the old wood shed. The camp did not get damaged either time. (picture 10, 11& 12)
Since 1974, most of the changes have been made on the outside.
1985 the front deck was rebuilt with the addition of steps to the lake and another dock. (picture 13)
1989 a small storage shed built. 1993 Aluminum siding put on.
1999 A new driveway.
2002 A well (before the water was pumped from the brook) and new steps, rail and a wooden retaining wall along the back of the camp.
I feel blessed to have been able to enjoy such a beautiful spot for so many years and to be fortunate to have my cousins: Virginia Erickson Reed (deceased), Fred Olsen, Alice Erhard, Margaret Bruce, their siblings, Sonja Derrien, & Steven Erhard, Elaine Magnan and sister Martha with camps near me. Needless to say, my own family is hooked on Groton Pond too!
Evelyn Bird
278 French Road
