Letter by Harold F. Gardner
Since we both camped and
fished at the lake we took our camping equipment on the train, in the baggage car, then loaded it on a hired dray
(horse drawn) for the trip to the lake. At times these camping trips lasted for several days or a week and it was
then necessary to walk to Milford and back in order to obtain food and supplies. Automobiles
had not yet come into
general use in those days. At that time the Proud farm was mostly all under cultivation, including the portion
across the road. To the west of the house was a peach orchard. The old cottage which still stands on the shore was
new and kept in good repair. The cottage was at times occupied by friends or rented out. Just to the east of the
cottage was a small boat house. This was torn down many years ago.
There were very few rowboats around the lake in
those early days and it was usually necessary to obtain one for fishing from some distance away and then row it to
our campsite on the lake shore adjoining the cottage. My camping companion on those early days was usually a very
good friend and who died sever years ago. He was a photographer for the Detroit Times and later with the Detroit News.
We once rowed a boat from Proud Lake up the Huron River to Commerce Lake and back. At that time the county was pretty
wild and only a few cottages were on Commerce Lake. Proud Lake and its surrounding shores look very much the same today
as they did fifty years ago.