Read selections from New Jersey historian Kevin Perry's book on Peters Valley:
• Who the Heck was Peter?
• Tocks Island - An Overview
• Birth of the Crafts Center

III. WHO THE HECK WAS PETER?

The limited information about Peter has been difficult to discover. In the Sussex County Road Petitions, we first find Peter Van Neste mentioned as a Sandiston Surveyor of Highways on June 6, 1770 (SC Road Book A, p. 59). Note that Sandyston was spelled with an “I” until the 1800s. Other road petitions establish that Peter Van Neste was a Sandiston Surveyor of Highways from at least June 6, 1770, until at least October 4, 1792. All told, Peter was a petitioning surveyor on at least 18 township roads. This is significant not only in terms of number of roads. Consider also that these were the first major roads in a young township, which was less than a generation from being frontier. These roads crisscrossed the township, from Walpack to Montague, and from the Delaware River eastward to the Kittatinny Mountains. While the road petitions show us Peter’s major public activity, deeds show that he came to this region c.1761.

One deed from dated November 25, 1817 cites “the cross roads near the schoolhouse”. This appears to be the first documented mention of the building that later came to be known as the Old Dutch Reformed Church, or “Overly”. Research has indicated that the structure was probably built by Peter in the 1790s as his residence.

While Peter’s story and identity are substantially unclear, it is clear that Peter’s Valley was named for him, and that the name was in common usage before the 1800s. Given the time period, we can refer back to civil records, and the earlier mentioned church records, to glean some facts and make some assumptions. Peter the elder came to Peter’s Valley c.1761, and his wife’s name was Catherine (sp). It is at least possible that he is the Petrus Van Nest, shown in church records to have been married to Catlyntje Davis when they had a child, Judick, in August 1772. No record was found of Peter Junior’s birth. However, later records show that he married Abigal (sp) Laton (sp), and that they had a daughter, Caty Ann (b. 6/27/1803), and a son, Ira Vredenbergh (b.2/12/1812). Beyond this, it is hoped that descendants of Peter Van Neste may someday shed some more light on the life of our mysterious “founder”.

In the 1970s, The New York Times interviewed some local residents about the effects of the Tocks Island project, and reported their belief that Peter’s Valley was named for Peter DeGelleke, first superintendent of the Delaware Water gap National Recreation Area. DeGelleke was often and wrongly blamed for all things bad that came from Tocks Island. In ignorance, or perhaps just anger, some locals claimed that DeGelleke named Peter’s valley for himself – an unfortunate twisting of history against a man who didn’t deserve the animosity he faced.

Despite the vague information about Peter Van Neste, he has endured beyond others of greater fame. Even through renaming as Bevans, Hens Foot and The Corners; the name Peter’s Valley has endured.

VI. TOCKS ISLAND ~ AN OVERVIEW

“We will never have a true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.” – Will Rogers

It is necessary to acknowledge the role TILP, which was responsible for the valley’s transition from a quiet farming and seasonal recreation village, to a craft education center. It is also appropriate to address some of the beliefs which carry on to this day regarding the roles of the Corps of Engineers (COE), the National Park Service (NPS) and Peters Valley Craft Education Center (PVC).

TILP originated in 1962, when COE forwarded The Delaware Basin Report to the Senate and House Committees on Public Works. The COE was eager to get started on the project, so they cited present needs for flood control and “other purposes”. These other, arguable purposes were recreation, electrical power and water supply. The COE used the then recent memories of the floods from 1955’s Hurricanes Connie and Diane to support their plan. In return for the proposed benefits of TILP, 37 miles of the Delaware River would be altered, destroying 10,000 acres of farmland, forests and wildlife habitats, along with river-dependent businesses such as fisheries. Residents, environmentalists and others strenuously opposed the plan. Arguments against TILP included the instability of the proposed dam location, costs outweighing benefits, and exaggerated benefits. Over the objections, Congress authorized the project, and land acquisition began.

While the COE was the chief instigator of the Tocks Island project, it was not the only player. TILP was a COE project, but administration of the acquired land that was to surround the reservoir was given over to the NPS. In acquiring property, the COE came across as an unfeeling bully. By association, the NPS found its own reputation suffering. Then the NPS found themselves responsible for far more property and structures than they had foreseen, and under unexpected circumstances. They ended up with a huge, 70,000-acre property, beyond their staffing capacity, a multitude of access points, and a river with an almost continual flow of traffic. Then the economy gave the NPS further problems.

“…no country can be well governed unless its citizens as a body keep religiously before their minds that they are the guardians of the law and that the law officers are only the machinery for its execution, nothing more.” – Mark Twain, The Gilded Age

Brought into the middle of the Tocks Island madness was Peters Valley. The NPS had to find ways to effectively utilize the property they had. Contrary to one popular belief, Bevans/Peter’s Valley was not acquired for the express purpose of housing the craft center. Acquisition of village property began in 1969, nearly a year before the idea of a craft center was first proposed. Unfortunately, this has been the underlying history of Peters Valley versus its neighbors, and those victimized by TILP. Peters Valley is an innocent tenant, given the opportunity to occupy vacant structures. They had nothing to do with creating the vacancies. Unfortunately they are viewed by some as bearing the blame for the loss of homes and businesses.

In rancorous recollections, the government has become even more unfeeling and bullying through retelling, and the good aspects of the Peters Valley Craft Education Center are often overlooked in a baseless feeling that PVC is part of a TILP conspiracy. TILP hurt a lot of people – including some who are wrongly blamed for it. Tocks Island was officially de-authorized in 1992, but it continues to rear its ugly head. In times of drought, you still hear a few calls to reconsider the project.

1970-71 ~ BIRTH OF THE CRAFTS CENTER 1970-71 ~

“Art is the signature of civilizations.” – Beverly Sills

Out of the turmoil of the 1960s came an unusual concept for the times – a cooperative venture between the U.S. government and artisans to promote traditional and contemporary crafts.

It is unclear whether the original National Park Service (NPS) idea for promoting crafts at Bevans, NJ came from park Superintendent, Peter DeGelleke, or park Historian Albert Dillahunty. DeGelleke started things moving in January 1970 by contacting Joseph Macialek, Area Agent for the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Cooperative Extension Service. In February 1970 they met with representatives of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, the National Woodcarvers Association, and the historical societies of Monroe County, Northampton County, Pike County, Sussex County, Warren County, and White Township to discuss long-range crafts plans, and the potential of Bevans as a demonstration site. There was also initial planning for a weekend crafts fair at a NPS facility. DeGelleke’s objective was to preserve symbols of the past. Initial meetings concentrated on planning a craft fair as a “first step in stimulating and evaluating interest” in a cooperative program in a permanent craft center. However, the potential of a craft center itself had everyone excited. On March 18, 1970 the Organization Committee issued a report, stating organization objectives of demonstrating craft production to the visiting public, establishing a sales outlet for member craftsmen and craftsmen in residence, and conducting educational and apprenticeship programs in crafts design, production and marketing.

A week later, the Site Committee reported on the Craft Fair site, stating that Peters Valley could easily contain 36 craftsmen. Available facilities included a large barn and courtyard, garage, house and two small buildings next to it. Proposed names for the organization were Peter’s Valley, Peter’s Valley Craft Village, Peter’s Valley Guild, and Peter’s Valley Craft Community.

An April 22, 1970 “Note on Craft Meeting” stated, “If the Peter’s Valley concept develops into the large organization envisioned by some of the incorporators, it will be difficult to conduct all business at membership meetings”. Six Incorporating Trustees were elected: Albert Dillahunty (NPS – First elected), Sally Francisco (Kittatinny Craftsmen), Richard Ludwig (Pocono Chapter, Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen), Joseph Macialek (Area Agent, PSU Cooperative Extension Service), Ralph DeVries (Sussex County Historical Society), and Wallace Fleming (White Township Historical Society). A number of favorable responses had been received to a letter sent to craftsmen to gauge interest in the craft fair. The first “Show” Committee consisted of Britt Puleo, Carolyn Cromwell, Kate Hayes, Sandra Jurris, Maribelle Rhodes, Ada Robacker, Dr. Earl Robacker, and William McCreath.

The Certificate of Incorporation for PVC was filed July27, 1970. This was followed, days later, by welcome correspondence from Lemuel Garrison, Director, Northeast Region, NPS. Garrison designated “the recently organized and incorporated Peters Valley Craftsmen, Inc. …as an official cooperating association for this area”. The stated purpose of Peters Valley Craftsmen, Inc. was “to foster and promote public interest in and appreciation of handcrafts, both traditional and contemporary, by providing on-site demonstrations and instruction by qualified craftsmen and one or more sales outlets where craft items would be available for purchase”.

Admission to the fair was free, and the first Craft Fair posters showed the location as Bevans,. 3-4 volunteers gathered in Sally Francisco’s kitchen to silkscreen the posters.

A PVC meeting on August 5, 1970 evaluated the success of the first Craft Fair. Organization, publicity, cleanliness, the food concession, sales, merchandise, craftsmen, historical society and traditional crafts participation, attendees, local participation and the NPS were all given commendable comments. Participants included 30 craftsmen, three historical societies, two traditional crafters, and a cookie baking demonstration. The NPS had forecast a maximum attendance of 2500 people, and had planned its support accordingly. The actual, estimated attendance was 7500 people over two days. The August 5 meeting immediately progressed into planning the 1971 fair.

The First Charter meeting of PVC was held Sep 16, 1970. A Visitors Day was scheduled for members and invited guests. Summer quarters were available for three teachers. PVC found that most craftspeople were interested in teaching at Peters Valley in jewelry and woodworking. There was a lack of interested/available weavers.

In February 1971, the business of planning the craft center moved steadily forward. Four resident artists were engaged: Andrew Willner (wood), Karl Seemuller (wood), Susan Allison (weaving), and Bruce Bernheim (glass). Proposed craftsmen would demonstrate in the summer, and conduct educational programs during the remainder of the year. The Craft Fair was seen as “the most feasible step in stimulating interest in establishing a crafts program and assembling the beginnings of such an organization”.

On March 5, 1971 DEWA recognized Peters Valley Craft Village as “the official name chosen for the area formerly known as Bevans”. Committees were established for the organization of PVC as a corporate entity. By March 7, twelve of the village’s 32 buildings already had been acquired by the NPS and turned over to the craftsmen for the project”. 120 students were expected for the summer, with housing available for 25. PVC was issued a 5-year NPS Special Use Permit on April 1, 1971, and the Peters Valley Store had its grand opening on May 29, 1971, Memorial Day weekend.

It is unfortunate that records weren’t kept of all the individuals, from all over, who volunteered their efforts from the beginning. Some came for a few hours or weeks. Others have volunteered for years. Eventually, they numbered in the hundreds. Nobody at PVC was paid at first, and Fair organizers even had to bring their own materials to clean up after the fair.

The upcoming 1971 Craft Fair had already attracted national attention, and would include a student exhibition and craft demonstrations. Peters Valley had 10 potters’ wheels on loan from Newark State College, and owed its early success not only to volunteers, but to creative logistics as well. Much of the early equipment, from potters’ wheels to beds, was acquired through loans, donations, or shrewd bargaining for used materiel. By the summer of 1971, students were enrolled from Sussex County, Maine, California, North Carolina, and Bermuda.

1971 had the first 10-week summer session for PVC. There were more than 68 students for the 2-4 week courses, plus 38 students for 1-2 day workshops. September 16, 1971 saw the first Annual Meeting of PVC. The officers elected were Sally Francisco (President), Robert Adams (VP-Finance), Britt Puleo (VP-Education), Ada Robacker (Secretary), and Chet Aument (Treasurer). Directors were Peter DeGelleke, Ralph DeVries, Albert Dillahunty, Carol Ludwig and Joseph Macialek.