Saugus, MA.

At that time the lake was very clear and you could drink the lake water. Of course there were not many power boats on the lake. You either rowed a boat or rigged a sail on it. Beef Island was above water and still had a shack on it. At Fourth of July, we would spend the days before the Fourth rowing around the lake looking for any old pieces of wood to burn on the island to celebrate the Fourth.

Meader’s Dance Hall was in operation and we all enjoyed the dancing and polkas. If you got too hot, you took a few steps from the hall, jumped off the wall and dove into the lake.

My Dad rented up there until 1941 when war was declared. After the war, my wife and I rented at Meader’s until we purchased a camp on 21st Street, next to Ross Abbot’s place, and have been thereever since. While I was at sea during WWII, I would say to myself “if I ever make it home, I will get a place on Mousam Lake”…
... My wife and I have raised 3 children on the lake, my daughter Cheryl’s two boys, now 22 and 20, and my son Banke’s three children, Natalie, Racheal, and Eric. 
Our children Cheryl, Marshall Jr. (Banke) and Valerie were brought up with the Weavers, Herrmanns, Grants, Janie Hooper, the Richards, and Ronnie Demers, David, and others whose names I have forgotten. For us and our children, the periods of the late 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s were the best.
As I write this I am remembering when Cliff Herrmann towed 5 skiers from around Grant’s Point on upper Mousam on a beautiful summer afternoon, all in costume with Cheryl as “the girl”, Ronnie Demers in a raccoon coat and top hat, Bob Weaver, Bob Herrmann, and one other, either a Herrmann or a Weaver. They were as good as the Florida skiers.
I will end this now as I may go on for pages.
Sincerely, 
Marshall M. Dawes, Sr.
Thanks, Mr. Dawes, for a great letter! . If anyone else would like to share their memories, please send them to the MLRA c/o Paula Rose.