Essay by Sylvia Robbins, Summer 2008:

 

Dwight and Pauline Dart bought 75 feet of the lake front in 1926 from Mrs. Herlihy next door for $300.00!!!  The Dart family lived at 57 Grove Street, Peterborough, and had three children: Bob, Marilyn, and Dick.  Sylvia was born two years later.

 

For years the family drove the eight miles to use the property.  Food was made at home and put out on a table by the tree out front by the lake.

In the early 1930s a platform was built and a tent was used to dress in.

 

Ernest White had the cottage next door, built in the early 1920s.  He owned the first garage in Peterborough on the corner of River Street and Elm Street.

The Rice Caldwells owned the Brownie next to the Whites, and Sylvia spent lots of time at Sunset Lake with Betty Caldwell and her mom, who ran the candy shop at the public beach each day, taking a boat to get there! 

 

Sometime around 1936 Dwight bought a prefab camp from MARIARDEN Summer Theater Camp for girls off Summer Street in Peterborough and brought it to the lake.  It was put on the platform and was only one room big enough for two beds, a refrigerator, and a stove and sink.  An outhouse was across the street.  A porch was built, too.

 

All four children were brought up here with other children on the lake and Nashua Fresh Air Camp across from us.

In 1957 Sylvia and husband Roy Robbins bought the camp and Roy and Marilyn’s husband, String Stromgren, did a lot of work on the building.  They enclosed the porch, added a sun deck, two bedrooms with a toilet inside, and a kitchen.  

 

The Robbins had two sons at that time, Steve (4 years) and Christopher (2 years) and lived on Concord Street in Peterborough.  Roy worked at Derby’s store and was part owner of Derby’s of Keene and Derby’s of Newport, New Hampshire.

 

The boys grew up on the lake in the summer with all their friends in camps up and down the lake.  The lake was busy all the time with children swimming, rowing, water skiing, and having fun always.  (Our boys, when teenagers, spent a lot of time across the lake with girl counselors!!!)

 

For years every Friday night in the summer, “Dart In” - “Robbins Nest” was open to Sunset Lake people who came to the camps for the weekend.  Roy served drinks and Sylvia served help-yourself Lake desserts on the counter.  Lots of friends, lots of talk, and again, great memories!!!

 

In 2002 the land was bought across the road from Hilda and Charles Parrott.  

 

In 2005 Stephen and Christopher took the camp over, but Sylvia stays there all summer with her dog AURORA.  Roy Robbins died in 2006.

 

After eighty years this lake and memories of friends and fun are real special to Sylvia.

 

Two sons and wives.
 

Three grandchildren.
 

Two great grandchildren.