Gertrude Hayes, 93, at Southards Pond where she grew up. Gertrude Anna Hayes, nee Southard, recently returned to Southards Pond Park for a trip down memory lane. Mrs. Hayes, was born 98 years ago on Southards Farm, the daughter of Anna Hildagod Southard and Abraham Lincoln Southard. As she gazed out over Southards Pond from the bridge on the south side, she recalled earlier days. "This was always deep here," she said. "A good place to fish."

Gertrude traveled to Babylon from Hampton Bays where she lives with her daughter and granddaughter. Accompanying her on the trip were her granddaughter Cynthia McGowan and her son-in-law Robert J. McGowan of West Islip. She lived on Cockonoe Avenue in Babylon after moving from Southards Lane where she and her husband, the late William George Hayes, raised their two children, Anna and William James. She has 6 grandchildren.

Southards Farm, Southards Lake and Southards Lane remain an integral part of her life, said her daughter. "My mother is someone who has many special memories of this special place in Babylon," she said.