Boyd's Lake

[David]

[sigmore]

I wonder what year the first picture is from? I don't think that I remember the posts for the foundation. It was always on concrete block the way I remember it. What was that thing that looks like it might be an area light on the platform? When did Boyd's lake first open?? I need some answers, help, help.

[Bruce Osburn]

The first photo is the way I remember the diving platform, sitting on pilings, way back in 1950-1953. And the girl standing, facing, suggests this photo may have been made during that time period. Her swim suit has a skirt, which was normal back then.

[Jody Meacham]

I wondered the same thing as Sigmore. Obviously there was a wooden diving platform out there before the cinder block one I remembered. And it looks like a light pole to me, too, which would seem to indicate there was night swimming at the lake at one point.

[sigmore]

Jody, the more I think about it, I don't think our founding fathers would have allowed night swimming. Too much of a chance of "hanky-panky" if you know what I mean!!

[Jim Harris]

Could those be speakers instead of lights?

[Bruce Brown]

XXXX

[Jody Meacham]

I think Jim's onto something. They could have played music from the beach house on loudspeakers.

[Linda Lancaster]

I cannot imagine anyone swimming at Boyd's Lake at night. Every time I swam out to that diving board I felt like there were water snakes all over the place. I know they lived under that platform. Regardless of all that, I think Boyd's Lake was one of my favorite places in Hamlet. I loved that place. Rode my bike out there many times. I ride by there when I visit Hamlet;it is a shame that it is closed.

[Linda Lancaster]

One more comment...that sure looks like Jimmy Taylor walking on the platform in the picture "Space Flight."

[Bill Dennis]

We would slip into Boyd's Lake late at night, we would go in at the dam and swim out to the diving board and back.

[freddie hassler]

Swam at night many times when I worked as a Life Gaurd
Granny aka Mrs Boyd would let all the help and others have a blast. cut on the flood lights and off to the diving board we would go.doing a 1 1/2 at night was a thrill
anyone remember the stump that was under the platform?

[sigmore]

Well now, there's a man with some answers!! Thanks Freddie.

[mikeshirleywood]

freddie. i do remember the stump under the platform. in fact, there were two more about 20 ft out behind the platform we used to stand on. i was so short, i had a hard time locating them.

on a side note, you were a pretty tough life guard, as well as you should have been. maybe i was a little mischevious, and that was why i stayed in trouble.

[freddie hassler]

you are so right about the other stumps at that location, I would use landmarks on shore to find them, once I got lined up I would slowly go down till my foot hit them, so as to stand, put my hands in the air.
Those who didn't known I was standing on a stump, often asked me was it that shallow there?

[Jean Raby Nelson]

IF memory serves me correctly, the diving board was wooden in the mid to late 50s. I remember hanging on the wooden boards under the dive platform while I pondered how in the world I was going to get back to shore. Someone (a friend) took me out there but they didn't know I didn't swim. I could do a decent dog paddle so I made it back

[David]

Thanks to Harry A. West, Rockingham High School 1957 for cleaning up this picture. He said he really good memories of Boyd's Lake.

[David]

Photo contributed by Kenneth Gray

boyd_lake_hamlet_nc.JPG (68.94 KiB) Viewed 29296 times

[David]

Boyds Lake 1952.JPG (37.68 KiB) Viewed 29246 times

Another picture from Kenny.