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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.

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.

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.

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!!

Could those be speakers instead of lights?

XXXX

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

Photo contributed by Kenneth Gray

Another picture from Kenny.