MAJOR-SMOLINSKI | SANDY POND FAITHFUL

After a lapse of several months, some Sandy Pond-related emails arrived. One offered a clarification of events that led to the ruin of old Sandy Island Beach. This long, interesting email occupies its own page. See What Really Happened ...

There also was an inquiry about the Pine Lodge camp mentioned in one of the earlier letters (see Hal Johns, Feb. 15, 2004, below). This prompted me to contact Johns, who sent me an amusing tale about one of his summer adventures at Sandy Pond. For more, see Pine Lodge.

Also, someone raised the age-old question: How do I find a cottage to rent at Sandy Pond this summer? I offered some advice, but had no real answer. If anyone has a cottage to rent or knows of one that is available, email me at JMajor9863@aol.com.

December 29, 2004

Somehow I stumbled onto your web site researching maps of Sandy Pond. Iinstantly became sidetracked reading the interesting stories and such found on your pages.

I ice fish there religiously during these winter months and was lucky enough to be on top yesterday for a few fish catching hours. I am located in Pottstown PA, and own a fishing cabin at the top of the Salmon River in Altmar. We enjoy the area year round as my wife and I were married at the Salmon River Falls July 1.

PS: The fish are getting BIG! sunnies bigger than your hand! Pike up to 15 lbs although yesterday's batch were all under 30" or 7 lbs.

I just read about every word on your web site about Sandy Pond and wanted to drop you a line. My grandfather and grandmother both started vacationing at Sandy Pond in the early '40s and bought a broken down cottage to fix. If you stand on the shoreline where the Bayview Hotel was and look west across the bay to the peninsula, the big gray cottage with the wrap- around porch that sits on the corner of the creek is my grandparents.

We still have the cottage and land in our familiy to this day and I was just boating there last week. My property extends from the pond side all the way over to the beach side. And like you said in you web site, there is something truly amazing about enjoying the serenity of the pond side and then having the luxury of walking a couple hundred feet through the woods and over through the cut and onto the glorious beach!

My name is Richard H. Jordan III and my grandparents names were Harold and Ruth Shermer. Our neighbors at Sandy Pond were (when my grandparents were alive) the Smiths, Flannigans, Moores, Wolibur, Shines, Barber, and a few others I can't recall right now.

Have a truly wonderful day,

I love your web site, came across the Sandy Pond section referred to me by a neighbor. We have a cottage on the South Pond (aka south Sandy Pond, Little Sandy Pond). We are on the western side and also have frontage on Lake Ontario. Thanks so much for sharing this. We have been going there for over 50 years and I love it more each year.

My family also has a very long history with Sandy Pond. I'm a third-generation vacationer. My grandfather's family was from Sandy Creek and then they all migrated to Pittsburgh.

Anyway, I wanted to share some memories about Sandy Pond. I just graduated from college, but I've been vacationing at the Pond every year for two weeks since "before I was born". I'm introducing a whole new generation to the lake with what will be my fourth annual July 4th blowout at my family's cottage. We always rented, until 2000 when my parents finally bought a place the family used to rent.

You should really go back. The beaches are very clean and the nuclear power plant is still in view. (LOVE IT.) The "Irish" Wigwam is great (just down the road from our place) and "The little store" is still there. There are a few little ice-

PS: When I was a kid I got a LEECH on my leg from swimming in the pond. No one had ever seen one before in the pond and no one has since since.

Feb 15, 2004

I enjoyed reading your stories and seeing the old photos of Sandy Pond. Your stories and photos brought back many many memories I had.

My three aunts and father had a cottage on the south side of the inlet for about 50 years. Each summer I would spend at least 3 weeks at the cottage with them.

They owned the largest cottage (named Pine Lodge) on the pond south side of the inlet and their property included beaches on Lake Ontario.

Hal Johns

March 1, 2004

I just finished reading your Sandy Pond pages and wanted you to know how much I enjoyed reading every word. I too grew up vacationing on Sandy Pond (Kiblin Shores) and have returned there with my own family.

I especially enjoyed your mention of the black oil roads. I can still smell the oil and remember how my feet would be stained black.

I currently live in northern Pennsylvania about 2.5 to 3 hours drive from the Pond and stumbled on your pages during a search for properties for sale in that area.

Thanks again for a great read that brought back some good memories of Sandy Pond and all the fun I had there.

Joseph Johnson

March 5, 2004

My name is Bernie Carr and I enjoyed your article with great understanding. After WW2 I had the privilege to accompany my grandparents to visit their cousin who had a camp on Big Sandy (North Pond). I was proficient with their first boat and motor by the age of 7. As a teenager I was actually a lifeguard at Sandy Island Beach.

In the late ‘40s my Grandparents purchased the property next to their cousin where Mr. Kiblin's cows went to the Pond for water ($425 acquired 35 ft of frontage going back to a lot 59x500).

Since that time I have spent the greater part of every summer at Sandy Pond – except my four years of service to my country; right, the US Coast Guard.

I now own that property myself. My uncle owns the property next to me in the front, and my cousin is next to me in the back. I have two other cousins who own cottages at the other end of the tract.

As you may notice, I am committed.

I have four daughters. One lives in Oregon, one in Florida, one in New Hampshire, and one is in college at Bennington, Vermont. The girls are close and we still have reunions at Sandy Pond.

I personally have seen the beach covered with water during a storm and remember the tall dunes. I have seen three channel locations. I have lost considerable shoreline mostly due to the St Lawrence Seaway. It will never be the same, but I applaud the Nature Conservatory for restoring the beach.

Oh, the little place across from the Comfort was Tot's Pavilion. The place down the dirt road from there was was The Lodge. All three are just a memory.

Bernie Carr

(Bernie later sent several Sandy Pond stories. See index below.)

1	Paradise Found	ALSO:
2	Head for the Hill	Bernie Carr's stories
•	Climb It No More	• The Ice Cometh / The Fishing Expert
3	Frozen in Time	• Ooops!
4	The Rise and Fall	• Lure of a Lifetime / Love's True Test
•	What Really Happened ...	Bernie's website: www.sandypondny.com
5	Ever Hopeful
6	Nature's Reward	Other Sandy Pond websites:
7	Sandy Pond Today	www.sandypondresorts.com
8	Feedback from the Faithful	www.spcma.homestead.com
		www/pulaskinychamber.com