SOLVED. Boy befriends couple in ghost town [s]

[Emma]

I remember reading this book (possibly there was a sequel?) when I was 10 or 11, and absolutely adoring it. It may have been published anywhere from 1950-1980. As best I can remember, the story concerns a preteen boy who goes to live somewhere rural (perhaps near a lake?) for the summer, and, true to YA fiction convention, is lonely and miserable and angsty. He explores the area around where he is staying and encounters an elderly couple living in a nearby ghost town. I believe the part of the town name was some kind of bird, although I might be totally wrong about that. I don't think it's ever cleared up whether the couple are ghosts or just incredibly old, and I think a preteen girl becomes involved in the adventure as well.

It would be wonderful if someone could clear this up! I think I took this book out of the library half a dozen times, it was amazing.

Thanks!

[Michelle Mulford]

Well, the old people weren't ghosts, but Gone-Away Lake and Return to Gone-Away have a similar plot.

[Emma]

That's it! Thank you so much, I'm really impressed. I shall have to find a copy, those were great books.