1905: GROPP'S LAKE GENEALOGY

Albion Mills, Laurie's Mill, Kirby's Mill, Hutchinson Pond, Lord, where does it end? Joseph West wrote this column for the the local newspaper way back in 1905. West was the most knowledgeable Hamilton Historian who was an expert on the History of Hamilton. Today, I am considered the Hamilton Historian, but believe me dear reader, to paraphrase the Holy Bible, I am not fit to tie the shoes of the likes of Joseph West. However, thanks to the abilities of the personal computer, I am succeeding in bringing forth very important and heretofore unknown history that has lain way back in the dusty cobwebs on the shelves of local history. The above article gives a very incisive genealogical history of the area we all know of today as Gropp's Lake; giving still another peek at the magnificent historical heritage of Sandtown.

1912: BOATING AT LAKESIDE PARK (Ca 1912)

How I love these old, faded and rabbit eared gems from the past! Thanks to Adobe "Photo Shop CS4 Extended," I am able to transform what was a very drab, faded and somewhat worse for wear piece of history and bring it into the 21st century, A bit of enhancement to the blue sky and water, bring those boaters into clearer view, attach a color coordinated border, add a caption, and voila! We have an historic view of Gropp's Lake, AKA Lakeside as it appeared nearly a century ago.

I will be posting numerous Lakeside Park photos and views on this website during the next days and perhaps weeks, thanks to "Lakeside Girl," a visitor who has been a regular since 2005 when this blog was started. Stay tuned.

1909: LAKESIDE PARK A CENTURY AGO

This real estate ad is absolutely intriguing! The price of the lots when compared to the price they would command 100 years later in the year 2009 is mind boggling! How many visitors to this site can lay claim to being one of the original subscribers and purchasers of Lakeside Park real estate as illustrated in the ad. Hamilton Has some wonderful neighborhoods: Hamilton Square, Groveville, but if I had the financial ability, I would have loved to have purchased a lake front lot at Lakeside Park, and as an alternate, the lovely area "on the hill" and across the road, Lakeside Heights.

1913: AFTER BREAKFAST CLUB CAMPS AT LAKESIDE PARK

Back in 1913, one didn't have to travel to the pines or some other remote area to set up camp for the summer. Hamilton had a huge amount of woods suitable for camping. Lakeside Park was developed by Charles Teunon. Back in 1912 and 13 he was advertising "summer bungalows" away from the noisy and busy city of Trenton. These campers were yearly visitors to Lakeside.