The Lost Trotting Parks Storyboard Archives

The Lost Trotting Parks Storyboard Archives

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Dear Family Friend Celebrates His 100th Birthday


On this past Saturday, Libby and I traveled to Wells to celebrate Ken Ballard's 100th birthday. For many years, Ken was a potato broker in Presque Isle, Maine. He married Laura Libby who was a second cousin to my father, Keith Thompson. Over the years we had many wonder times with Ken and Laura at their camp on Cross Lake and at our camp on Madawaska Lake.

Ken was in wonderful frame remembering all who attended and reflecting on his friendships over the years. It was a great time to see friends and relatives we had not seen for many years.

I might also mention Ken is probably one of the few Mainers still living who actually saw John R Braden in action. Ken said that he was very young but he remembers seeing John R Braden on the track. Many of Braden's successes were between 1920 and 1924. Ken would have been ten in 1920 and fourteen in 1924.

My best to Ken Ballard for having lived a good long life! Those wonderful times have not been forgotten and are truly missed.

Stephen Thompson

No comments:

Post a Comment