Sunday from Shore to Lake

Today I started off on the blustery sea shore and ended at the old family place on the lake. Seemed liked two different days!

Crashing waves, seaglass covered by the night's stormy sands and still finding the remains of Irene wrapped here around a piling. It seemed almost as windy as the hurricane!

So off we went. NEW Fairfield. A little cottage that has been in the family since the 1940's. Mostly unchanged except for absolute necessary improvements! No drinking water, no shower but wonderful views of the lake from the dock and boathouse top.

A pristine, unadorned location. We are lucky to still own a piece of this lake.

Inside, the old croquet mallets, the wall of fame - the original owners, my great uncle and great aunt along with other Hayes family photos and memorabilia. A turtle shell, an old fan, trinkets, feathers, paintbrushes and of course playing cards.

My mother and her siblings (she is the far right beauty with the big white bow). An art project of past...saved with a found feather. We pretty much have a rule - no TV, no internet etc. Just crafts, reading and lots of cooking in the outdoor fire pit.

Sweetcake Mountain hiking trail meanders up a wooded path behind our place. 

And when we reach the top we see our lake. Candlewood is a large man made lake, a valley flooded back in the 40's (I will make sure of the exact time). Islands seen here were tops of hills. Cemetary Island across from our dock was an actual cemetary! The others seen here we call Sand Island and House Island...and beyond are Candlewood Shores.

The woods are so different than my home by the shore. Bird houses, leaves underfoot and the quiet!!!

The cottage is always a work in progress...but not too much! Old paint colors remind us of the past.

A marker by our door that we have never figured out but to us, it is truly the trail end anyways, end of day and time to relax.

A view from the screened porch. Welcome to the Lake. Well said.

So Sad at Pleasure Beach

Those who never had the chance to witness the vibrancy, the specialness of Pleasure Beach, the escape from the "city" and the acceptance of us "mainland" folks taking a stroll or a run through their summer enclave won't be able to appreciate my sadness. Pleasure Beach, in part Stratford and Bridgeport, CT was a destination for many, public and private in years past. I walked out there today with my beach walker friend Alex. I don't believe she ever saw the old Pleasure Beach. The place I knew was completely changed. Cottages were gone. I will add a page of many more images to my sidebar but for now, look at the progression I show here...with true tears in my eyes.

These photos were taken before the complete eviction. There was one early attempt and most, who could get there after the only bridge burned...did their darnedest to continue to enjoy the "island".

Some cottages became overgrown, some just boarded up and then the life, the history of the families became subject to vandalism. That is something I cannot fathom. Bridge was out, but access by walking from Long Beach Stratford was possible and the rest is history. Very sad history.

This is the wooden bridge to Pleasure Beach looking from the island towards Bridgeport, scattered with oyster shells dropped by gulls. Quite a while had passed since the bridge was burned out. A large yellow cement barricade prevented traffic from crossing. I suppose it was for those residents still living out there, could they not have heard that their only access to the mainland was out of service???? I guess there were some stranded cars and home owners.

These are the empty lots of bygone cottages. Not a trace of a foundation, a retaining wall, a dock or a walkway down to the beach.

But fortunately, there is peace here. And flora and fauna abounds.

The Osprey!

The Deer! Wow, this was one big buck!

Some reseeded, some wild, the landscape was covered in a natural garden of hardy flowers. This made me accept the fact that life goes on and hopefully the island will become the National Fish & Wildlife Preserve that was promised!

And the remains. A small toy, a day glow ring of plastic and puzzle pieces. Our only finds of humanity left here after the bulldozing. But the history is documented and the memories live on.

the history of pleasure beach