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Old House Pond Properties

Continued. . .

Meanwhile, with Binnie, Nancy and Ned free to choose whether to rent or occupy their respective houses, and New House not yet available to Mike and Myrn for their exclusive use, Mark and Irene decided to build another rental house on the campsite, reserving it for Mike and his family to use during their visits. The newest addition was named “La Cachette” (French for "the hideaway"). It was finished in 1982, the summer Myrnice was pregnant with their second daughter, Katie. In order to provide easier pond access for La Cachette residents, a flight of stairs was later added where the old ice chute had been - from the meadow down to the pond.

Extensive renovations have been done on New House, Studio House and the Dacha (which is now Binnie’s full-time residence,) with some minor changes made at La Cachette. In 1989, Mark passed away, having spent his last Christmas at New House; in 1999, Irene died at the age of 90! Michael and Myrnice took possession of New House, while the three siblings and the two spouses shared ownership of La Cachette, and later, Hilltop.

La Cachette sold in 2011, and Hilltop is used exclusively for rentals now. Many returning tenants have come to care for the houses as we do. Mike and Myrn’s daughter, Lara, and her partner, Britt, have taken primary responsibility for managing the properties. They, Binnie and Myrnice now each contribute in various ways to maintaining the houses and preparing for tenants. Nancy and Ned’s daughter, Pam, handles rental arrangements. All family members take part to ensure that the houses and pond setting remain as special a vacation spot as ever, for tenants and family alike.

The latest chapters in the Ravitch family history include the deaths of Mike in 2004 and Nancy in 2011. Their love for the pond lives on in the rest of us and enriches the legacy Mark and Irene left us to share with you!

The history of