I lived in a bungalow at Long Level (right on the river) from age 0 to 1 (1st photo below). I then lived in old farmhouse just up the hill from the river on Klines Run Rd. until I was 10 (4th photo below). I loved growing up by the river. . . Canoeing up to the islands, seeing the “evening calm” and hearing the train rumble at night across the river on the Lancaster side. The sound really carries on the water. If you stand on the shore, you can sometimes hear people in boats out on the river talking in a normal voice.

I loved ice skating on the man-made pond at the marina near Klines Run Road — 50 feet from the river. Vic Bupp (the owner of the marina) and his son Jeff would set up hockey rink by stretching plastic out and securing the edges with railroad ties. Then they filled the contraption with water to make a rink. We’d spend the entire day and evening out there skating and playing hockey. This annual tradition would have started around 1975 when I was 6.

Notes: Our family had 4th of July parties every year and a bunch of people were invited. The very first one was at the bungalow (2nd to last photo below may be from that event). I was told that first 4th of July party lasted 3 days. Those annual gatherings moved to the farmhouse (photo below) and grew larger and larger. I really looked forward to them every year. Really good times. The 4th of Kily was like Christmas to me.

At one point after we moved out of the bungalow, it housed a windsurfing center. (The people must have been cool because they drove a Saab).

Now the bungalow belongs to the Zimmerman Center which is affiliated with the National Park system.

So many good memories.