Lake Life – Boat House

Before I was born my parents built a home on the Coosa River. A few years later the property became waterfront when Alabama Power completed building the Logan Martin Dam. After I was born we would spend summers and weekends at the lake. I loved playing in the boat house. From inside the boat house you could see the bream and small fish swimming in the warm water. It was like looking into my own private aquarium. We used to swim by the rock retaining wall that my parents built by hand using rocks found on the property.  That wall has since been covered with concrete and no longer can you see the character of the rocks.  The large water oak trees by the boat house were small saplings planted when I was a baby 53 years ago. My parents have passed away and the home has belonged to another family for several years now. I do get to see the old place when I visit my aunt and uncle who still own the home next door. Just looking at the boat house it still looks perfect to me. It does need some TLC since it’s more than 50 years old now. Rules and regulations on the lake prevent any true maintenance except minor repairs and paint. To make any structural changes or even to replace wood or tin the change has to be approved by the power company and rarely gets approved. Plus enclosed boat houses are no longer allowed, but our old one is grandfathered in. No longer can you have doors or close it up completely to protect your boat and gear. New boat houses have to be open, with open windows and no doors. I sure do miss looking into my private aquarium. Maybe I can sneak over there next time I visit and take another peek.

Early 1970 – me swimming by the old rock wall.

CFFC