In a message dated 12/9/2003 4:01:24 AM Eastern Standard Time, GABERRIE-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: > Sarah, Thanks for your message. I also remember when they drained Banks > (Pond) Lake at Lakeland, and paid a fee to enter and fish at that event. > This was > in the 1940's I believe. I also remember Ed Rivers (ex Governor of Georgia) > who's home was Lakeland. > Bill > Yes, Bill, I just read about Banks Lake being drained in the book by Nell Roquemore.....I remember my Dad (who was born in old Milltown, Berrien Co, GA) taking me to the River's home once - I was so impressed as the water in the lake behind the home was al-most on the same level as the lawn in the back of the house...I'd never seen that before & yet I was from flat South GA also (Americus)......It stuck in my memory because of that....Had hoped we could get out to Bank's Lake this past trip, but ran out of time & will have to do that next time...Think my husb would enjoy that more than the Courthouse <g>(he's not into genealogy!) I even saw a picture in that book of my Grandfather, "HAMP" HOWELL, who d in 1919 in Milltown - he died before I was born & don't think I ever saw a picture of him before, so that was a touching one to find in the book..... Rivers was quite popular there in that area due to all he did to im-prove the area's roads in particular.....I think my Aunt "Beth" had some sort of big reception for him after he was elected - this was held at hers & Uncle Henry's house [ELIZABETH "Beth" (HOWELL) JONES & HENRY H. JONES (their home was the Lakeland Hotel.) Are you kin to any HOWELLs; LAMBs; CARROLLs; LOVEJOYs; TALLEYs from there? I saw a lot of STUDSTILLs in the cemetery across from First Baptist Ch in Lakeland, but those are not my husb's direct line - this was a bro, HUSTUS STUDSTILL's who mar RACHEL (SIRMANS) - & was a bro to my husb's GGG-Grandfather... Sarah Howell Studstill