The Schnitger Story
We first learned about Duck Harbor Pond in 1984 when Dave's childhood friend Maitland Peters called to say he had bought property on the lake. Beginning in 2008, a visit with Mait and Karen Peters became a regular summer activity for us. Our annual visits grew from one week to two weeks to three weeks long...
Finding Our Place
At the end of summer 2014, we learned that Bob and Jeanne Walters wanted to sell their property at 20 Laurel Lane, consisting of a well, septic system, and double-wide mobile home, located just one driveway away from Mait and Karen's Eager Beaver Estate, around the bend from the main part of the lake. Although experts recommend that your vacation home be no more than a three-hour drive from your primary home, this would be three time zones away from ours! But we had grown to love the lake, so we made an offer, and the Walters accepted!
Double or Nothing
2015 was our first summer in the double-wide, which we named "Double or Nothing." Jeanne Walters had left nice touches for us, including some furniture, towels, and household items. The mobile home had been vacant for some years and needed repairs, which we undertook with the enthusiasm of new owners. Evicting the resident mice, squirrels, carpenter ants, and paper wasps was our first priority. In between chores, we would go jump in the lake. That would rejuvenate us to tackle the next chore. We hosted an end-of-summer party for our new friends on Laurel Lane and knew we had made the right choice. The Schnitgers fit in with the Schnackenberg neighborhood.
In following summers, our children and grandchildren, friends and relatives came to visit. Everyone had a wonderful time in and on Duck Harbor Pond. Our collection of water toys began to grow. So many visitors put a strain on Double or Nothing. One weekend when ten of us were squeezed into the mobile home, the septic backed up into the single bathroom. We scrambled to make repairs while kind neighbors helped out by taking in some of our guests. Another time we uncovered a giant mouse condo staining the bathroom walls. Yes, the writing was literally on the wall for our next home improvement.
Building Our Dream
We had outgrown the double-wide and needed more space. In 2019 we contracted with Dave Dulay Homes to build us a modular home. Well, you know what happened next: the COVID pandemic! Pennsylvania shut down construction for several months, including closing the modular home factory. Dave Dulay eventually finished as much as he could in summer 2020. We then asked another Dave—Dave Corazza—to complete the house, which he did beautifully. We love our new home and have added a power boat (thank you, Croccos) to our collection of lake toys.
What We Love
We love so much about Duck Harbor Pond: from the eagles to the great blue herons, from the yellow water lilies at the western end of the lake to the white water lilies at our end. We love kayaking, sailing, water skiing, wake surfing, and hydrofoiling. We love that there are quiet hours on the lake when no wakes are allowed. We love the many lake traditions: July 4th fireworks, pontoon boat parades on balmy summer evenings, yoga on the lake shore, and progressive dinners. We love the historic Joel Hill sawmill and Equinunk Historical Society. We love the beautiful sunsets and the intense summer thunderstorms. But most of all, we love the many friendships we have made at Duck Harbor Pond.
Around the Bend
We live at the far eastern end of the lake—yeah, that end, the stump and swamp end. You can find us swimming every day, so please slow down when you come around the corner and stop for a chat. Our neighbors tell us we fit in well there, around the bend...
