History of the cabin for rent

The history of the Benton Cove vacation rental property begins in the 1930s. My grandparents, Margaret and Teddy Cooper saw an advertisement in the New York Times for a vacation spot called "Freedom" on Big Pond (just over Latimer Hill) in East Otis, Massachusetts. They began vacationing there when my mother, Edith, was just a teenager. The proprietors of Freedom, "Aunt Nan and Uncle Ray" Hubbard fast became close friends with Teddy and Margaret. In the summer of 1937, my mother stayed the whole summer with Aunt Nan at Freedom. It was there that she met my father, John Leonard, who worked for Uncle Ray.

Loving life on the water, Teddy and Margaret bought a plot of lakefront land from Aunt Nan and Uncle Ray on Benton Pond. At the time, there was no road to that side of the lake. In 1938, they contracted with the Adirondack Log Cabin Company that resided in Grand Central Station in New York, to build the cabin "Leeway" for $1800.00. Leeway became the first cabin on the east side of Benton Pond and the road leading to it became "Ray Hubbard Road."

My mother and father were married in 1942 and were given an adjoining parcel of the land as a wedding present. In 1958, they purchased a hunting trailer and it was placed 60 feet away from Leeway on the adjoining property.  Every summer, my family would pack up and move out to the lake as soon as school got out and stay in Plywood through Labor Day. Eventually my Mother inherited Leeway from Grandma. The total span of waterfront property became 225 feet. 1971 was a big year. Mom and Dad added running water and electricity to Leeway. No more trips to the outhouse!

My husband Tom and I purchased the property from my mother in 1995 and used Plywood each summer while renting out Leeway to help with expenses.  Finally, in 2018 our dream came true and we have replaced “Plywood” with our retirement cabin “Arcadia”! This construction project included installing a well and septic system which both houses share.  In addition, we replaced Leeway's foundation, updated the electric and plumbing, insulated and replaced the roof and enclosed the porch so it can be used on rainy and cold nights. 

We hope you enjoy many beautiful sunsets while here and leave with your hearts full of peace and serenity!

Tori Gabriel