Cor. of  Chatot Road by Shelly Walker's

     It's a little discouraging that we're getting more snow today. We had just a smidgen overnight - not enough to really measure, but today there are big, soft fluffy snowflakes falling and although this kind of snow doesn't require much effort to shovel or plow, it does build up quickly. We have between two and three feet of snow in most places on the level now and really don't need or want more.

Ice fishing near boat access

     Middle son, Bob came up to camp yesterday to shovel off the roofs and was very surprised at the amount of snow we have here compared to St. Johnsbury. We haven't been further from home than Danville in several weeks - just haven't needed to head out for anything special, so we don't have any knowledge of how much difference there is in any direction from here. We are sort of living in a cocoon this winter while I'm writing.

     I have finished writing the chapter on the Joe's Pond Association and will now concentrate on a very large chapter on Joe's Pond itself. This one

involves everything starting with first two "fishing houses" built on the pond, one by James McKillop who had a farm on what is now Route 15 and whose land included a fair amount of waterfront, and another built by Asa Mack on the west shore near where the Dimick and Hamilton cottages are. Both were built around 1894. The earliest camp we know of was the Beck's on Flint's Point, built in 1897 and now owned by Richard Beck. 
     The fishing houses were like our modern day boat houses. Both McKillop and Mack built boats  and rented them out. At one time McKillop had a fleet of twenty, according to an advertisement he posted in the newspaper. Asa Mack probably didn't have nearly that many, and likely used the "fishing house" for his own boat. The Mack farm was about where Jay and Kate Chatot's house is now. 
     I was talking with Barbara Chase yesterday - Ted is doing very well, has finished his chemo and radiation and is recovering from that. I had asked some questions trying to figure out which Ted Chase did certain things while a member of the Joe's Pond Association. There are three Teds in the chapter - Ted's father and grandfather were both Theodore Chase. Turns out Ted's grandfather bought their cottage in 1919 and Ted and Barbara are thinking they should somehow celebrate the family having a camp at Joe's Pond for 100 years. That's a fun reason to throw a party, right?
     From there I began trying to figure out who else might still own a camp that had been in the family for that long. I know Richard Beck has, of course - but wonder about others. There are other camps that are at least that old, but few that are still in the same family. Possibly Jim Kellogg's, and maybe the Ward's - their  grandfather, Chauncey Merton Willey bought the land for their camp from Douglas Blackadar, but I'm not sure what year. I can't think of many others, but I'd be interested to know of any that you might think of - or if you ARE one of those long-established Joe's Ponders. Let me know: janebrowncabot@gmail.com - or post a comment here. Thanks - I'm always looking for another piece to this puzzle!