Wow, Dan and I were busy today. We started off with a stop at the Claryville Fire Department’s monthly pancake breakfast. There we were lucky enough to spend a little time with Bob Richards and Michal Heron, who live on Red Hill. They told us some great stories, which will definitely become part of Neversink Transmissions.
Here is a very rough edit of some audio we recorded during the day.
Right to left: Michal Heron, Bob Richards and Patricia Eakins at the pancake breakfast.
Next we were off to meet Joe Weise at his place down the river. We chatted in his workshop for 45 minutes or so, and then he took us across the road to the river, where he showed us Junction Pool, the spot where the east and west branches converge. We also stopped at the river across from the church, where we saw a small dam built in the 1850s, and the beginnings of the raceway that fed the tannery. We also had the opportunity to gather some excellent branches for the tower!
Joe has been writing down reminiscences from the time he and his wife Barbara ran the general store in Claryville, 1975-81. He read some aloud for us.
Joe reading from his reminiscences.
An old map of Claryville, showing the various residences.
Joe and Barbara have cultivated their land in many ways over the years. Here you see the various signs they used to hang out by the road to advertise their wares.
Story telling at the confluence.
Joe Weise at the confluence.
In front of the garden.
The dam behind the church.
After that visit, we spent a lovely hour at the Wellington residence. We went for a swim, ate some watermelon, and saw Duke’s trout pond. Pat and Duke told us about the trout pool and the water system that brings spring water to the pool and the house. We also heard about the massive rock that slid down onto Frost Valley road back in the early 90s. It became the source for much of Duke’s rock work.
The Wellington's trout pool. The right edge is is built on the repaired rock work of the old grist mill that used to sit at this site.
The rock that provided material for Duke's rock walls and pools.
Our final visit of the day was on the west branch of the Neversink. We rode our bikes up to Leroy’s pool, where we met Hovey and Margaret Brock. They showed us their beautiful swimming hole and told us about the changes they’ve seen there over the years. Then they took us up to meet Gioia and Mitchell, Hovey’s parents. Their family has lived on this part of the Neversink for generations. In fact, it is they who are responsible for the lack of power lines going through this part of the river! Gioia’s mother decided that the power lines should run on land, up in the forest, rather than disrupting the her scenic river. To this day, the west branch of the Neversink is free of power lines, and the power company has to send its men hiking in the forest to do maintenance!
Looking down on Leroy's pool.
Above the waterfall, Leroy's pool.
Hovey Brock, after a dip in the river.
Gioia Brock, at her home above the river.
The sitting room at the Brock's, looking out over their garden.
