The loose items consist of 3 letters, 1916-1921, poems, a pencil sketch, postcards of Barre, MA and a photograph, most likely of the interior of the cabin. The following excerpts of the journal were provided by the seller: "1921 "December 30th, William O Kimball, Elbert A. Wickes and the proprietor of this hotel journeyed up from the Hub by train and Cadillac. Not enough snow for good shoeing but very beautiful in the woods. Went after rabbits Saturday afternoon and got on the hill back of Ammesley's. "Smilo" missed another. Sunday long walk in the woods and over the hill at the head of Rand Brook. Monday 8 degrees below zero and a wind. Went fishing through the ice on Mill Pond and caught one large chub. H.H.B.J. spent the evening at Billy's en-route for Newtonville. Here beginneth the log book…." "1922 "December 30th, Billy Kim, Smilo and Bal en=route from 1 Upland Rd. Watertown, having spent the night at Smilo's. Picked up Lloyd Hayes at Belmont, to Barre by train. Lunch at Parker's. Drove to "hole-in-the-wall" in Sheldon's red truck. To camp on snow shoes over eighteen inches of snow. Many deer tracks on Sand Hill. Bright sunny day. Much chopping wood before supper. Walked by moonlight down Intervale Road and over Lion's Den Hill on snow shoes before going to bed at ten thirty…" "1923 "May 29th, Bob, Billy, Dort and H.H.B.J. left Billy's house at 6:40 P.M. in "Susan" (A boat that many of them seem to talk about) Supper of steak and onions at Deloris's at Marlboro. Full moon. We reached camp at 11:15 to find that the camp had been broken into. Both hasps pried off. Somebody had slept in the bunk in South side and both H's split bamboo rods, two reels with line and all trout hooks stolen. To bed at mid night after setting camp to rights." "1924 "August 2nd, The good ship "Annie Dodge" with crew and passenger list; Malcolm Todd, Alice A. Todd, Almon McManus, Sadie Holem and Al Whitehill, tied up at Nichewaug after pleasant voyage from North Attleboro Mass. Noon by "Fool Time" Very low tide in "Lake Ballard" with water still dropping. Camp Arbutus seems even more attractive and heart satisfying than ever and all hands were gazing away from food during the noon meal. Saturday evening early set sail for Barre and convoyed the ancient craft "Bessie Buick……." "November 22nd, On Halloween at about 5:45 four daring souls took to the road in a trusty coach, a Winton, to face the "haunts" that are known to be about on such a night. A crescent moon shed an eerie light which did not dim the pumpkin lantern faces carried by spiritual figures in every town and hamlet. Worcester was safely reached where a fine dinner was enjoyed by the four H.H.B. Jr., the two Dort boys (Billy and Dick) and Cyclone Bob, at Hotel Warren. Out on the Paxton Road the six Winton Cylinders, brattling the spirit of night, road over the road to camp from Worcester in about an hour. The car was put in the barn and fires were built and all retired before midnight…Saturday morning a typical Nichewaug breakfast made every one happy and about noon all set out in the car to find the famed Royalston Falls, alias Forbes Falls, Royalston Gorge and Cascade Falls……" 1925 July 14th, Malcolm J. Todd and A. P. Whitehill leave North Attelboro Mass at daylight for Nichewaug riding "Hinky Dinky" and "Vamp" but not in such a hurry as Paul Revere. Fine day tho very warm. Route; Franklin, Milford, Upton, West Upton, Grafton, North Grafton, Shrewsbury on to Holden over a very bad road. Nine o'clock at Mt. Pleasant House which was filled with a crowd who could vote without registering in the "Irish Free State." Eats scarce and poor and makeshift quarters for horses which we took care of ourselves with a chance to turn in at eleven P.M. Awake and up at 3:40 A.M. Horses cleaned and fed and on the road at 5 A.M. with stops at Hotel Bartlett. Rutland at six where we routed out an amiable, capable chef and table girl who fixed us up with a fine big breakfast over an hour earlier then usual time. Day fine, horses fresh and in fine fettle with going splendid. Barre before ten where loiter and shop on our way arriving at "Nich" just before noon having a large escort of horse flies in from State Road. Horses in Ed Smith's barn where we hired two stalls." "August 31st, H. arose about six and very softly went about preparation for breakfast but Bob turned out after awhile and Lucia was up in time to bid him good bye. His departure left the honeymooners to struggle along with out legal advice and it was not long before both had sized weapons, one an axe and the other a saw. Later a rake and a bush scythe came into play. Bob cut the bushes, ferns, end grass on the left side of the brook path between house and pool and Lucia cut down some scrawny birches and sawed much wood. The day was hot and made tow or three delightful baths in the river much appreciated. A pleasant evening by lamp light was enjoyed. Gorgeous moonlight. So warm was the night that the door of the camp was left open. During the night, stealthy foot steps were heard which roused the sleepers and then in moonlight framed in the door way was seen the intruder, a handsome hunting dog, a pointer." As you can imagine, with all the handwritten pages, there is so much more to these. The earliest book measures about 8" x 7 ¾" and is in the worst shape of all of them. Some of the pages are loose and the cover stained and worn but all accounted for. "

Description provided by the seller: "Handwritten title page that says 'Chronicles of the Laird and his Companions at Arbutus Lodge. The Laird=Harlan H. Ballard Jr.' This particular journal has 152 full handwritten pages and .. camping photos from the cabin. The last date in this book is June 30th 1940.

Journal, 35 handwritten pages, some more photos and goes from July 5th, 1940 to July 30th 1940.

Journal, 36 handwritten pages, containing newspaper clippings. Dates from March 1944 through September 1946.

A letter included by the same author is addressed to Polly Ballard, probably short of for Olivia Ballard, who is also mentioned in a news clipping in the 1944-1946 journal. Ferguson's diary is not related to Arbutus Lodge. Entries suggest that Ferguson lived near Glens Falls, NY. She comments on World War II events and talks about daily chores, concerts, house hunting, and visits with friends and family.