Winter nter 2023
Magazine
The tracks of our heritage Wilmington & Western Railroad’s magical journey through the Red Clay Valley Page 42
Inside: • Delaware Knights of Magic • Greenbank Mill and Philips Farm • Artist Sarah Yeoman
Complimentary Copy
2
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
3
Jump Greenville & Hockessin Life Winter 2023 Continued from Page 8
Greenville & Hockessin Life Table of Contents 10
Holding court with the Delaware Knights of Magic
18
Henry du Pont, Camp Brandywine and the outcome of the Civil War
24
Revisiting the past by taking a trip on a train
34 42
Teaching the joy of moving the paint
48
Gems in your backyard: Greenbank Mill and Philips Farm
56
Q & A with William Mele
8
Photo essay: The tracks of our heritage
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
48
10 56
34
Greenville & Hockessin Life Winter 2023 Letter from the Editor:
18
The Wilmington & Western Railroad offers a chance to revisit the past by taking a trip on a train. In this edition of Greenville & Hockessin Life, writer Natalie Smith offers a look at the history of one of the area’s true treasures—the Wilmington & Western Railroad. That history can be traced back to 1872, when the Wilmington & Western Railroad began passenger and freight service between Wilmington and Landenberg in southern Chester County, Pa. The Wilmington & Western Railroad is also featured in the photo essay by Jim Coarse. Far from the maddening pace of big city recording studios, William Mele has owned and operated Moontree Studio in Hockessin since 2012. It is both a recording studio and an incubator for ideas that continues to explore musical possibilities with up-and-coming recording artists. Recently, Greenville & Hockessin Life talked with William, as well as his creative partners Alex Continued on Page and Andrew Major, about the studio’s new recording concept Sound Portals and their advice for 9 young music makers. Another story in this edition, by writer Ken Mammarella, highlights two hidden gems in the area—Greenbank Mill and Philips Farm. The Red Clay Creek mill dates to 1677, when new owner Robert Philips contracted with neighbor Oliver Evans to install Evans’ innovative milling system, which had three years earlier received America’s third patent. As a result, Greenbank Mill has a place in the history of U.S. manufacturing. Writer and local historian Gene Pisasale takes a look at the impact that Henry du Pont and his company had on the outcome of the U.S. Civil War. Henry du Pont held the view that secession is treason to the government of the United States, and he did everything he could to ensure that his company’s products, including gun powder, didn’t end up in the hands of Confederates and Confederate sympathizers during the Civil War. This edition also features a story about the Delaware Knights of Magic as well as a profile of artist Sarah Yeoman, whose teaching has taken her to workshops and seminars all over the country and the world. We hope that you enjoy these stories as much as we enjoyed working on them and, as always, we welcome your comments and suggestions for stories for an upcoming issue of Greenville & Hockessin Life. We’re already hard at work planning the next issue, which will arrive in the spring of 2024. Sincerely, Randy Lieberman, Publisher randyl@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553 Steve Hoffman, Editor editor@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553, Ext. 13
24
Cover design: Tricia Hoadley Cover photo: Jim Coarse www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
9
|Greenville & Hockessin Spotlight|
Holding court wi Delaware Knight By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer Magical things and mundane things happen at the Delaware Knights of Magic meetings, which are scheduled most second Thursdays at Cokesbury Village near Hockessin. The magic would be expected from the club, which runs a spirited monthly contest for best effects that builds up to an annual champion. The mundane is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of conjuring. A recent meeting, for instance, focused on improving rope magic. “There’s an enormous amount of performing you can do with a simple piece of rope,” club President Larry Denburg wrote in the club newsletter. “We’ll demonstrate how to prepare the ends of your ropes so they don’t fray. We’ll show different types of rope and suggest the best to use for particular effects. Don’t forget about related props: cut/no-cut scissors, break-apart scissors and flash string.” As Denburg explained in the meeting, rope ends can be glued or taped – and there are various types of glue and tape. Clothesline, paracord, shoelaces and nautical ropes vary in softness, stiffness, thickness and color. “We’ll show you the basic way, and you have to customize it,” he said, expressing a theme that recurred in interviews. Denburg and club Vice President Rob Francis used a classic rope trick called the Professor’s Nightmare to talk about elements and techniques. “Do I have three pieces of equal lengths or three pieces of different lengths?” Francis asked those gathered. “Yes,” Denburg replied wryly. Continued on Page 12
10
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
with the hts of Magic Continued on Page 11
“
Photo by Ken Mammarella
Members of the Delaware Knights of Magic meet every month to share tips about tricks, including a recent session about rope magic. www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
11
Jump Delaware Knights of Magic Continued from Page 10 12
Personal growth for decades The Delaware Knights of Magic is “for all magicians and people interested in magic in the Delaware area,” it says on www.dkom.org. It was started in 1944 by three amateur magicians in Wilmington. “We are one of if not the oldest magic club in the country,” its old Facebook page says. The club is unusual in that it’s independent, not affiliated with either the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM has hundreds of branches, called rings) or the Society of American Magicians (SAM also has hundreds of branches, but they’re called assemblies). “No other club has a competition like ours,” said Francis, a boardwalk busker and poker dealer who makes a 192-mile round trip to attend meetings from his home in Toms River, New Jersey. “The best way to learn magic is to be in a club,” said Elsmere resident Dave Myers, a member for more than 40 years. Continued on Page 14
12 DAYS OF
DAY 1
Photo by Ken Mammarella
Club President Larry Denburg leads the talk on rope magic.
DEC 12
DAY 2 DEC 13
DAY 3 DEC 14
DAY 4 DEC 15
25% OFF PANTS & TOPS
25% OFF DRESSES
25% OFF SWEATERS
CHRISTMAS
SALE!
25% OFF SHOES & BOOTS
DECEMBER 12TH-23RD
DAY 5
302-239-4034 Hockessin
DEC 16
DAY 6
DEC 17
DAY 7
DEC 18
25% OFF OUTERWEAR
25% OFF EVENING WEAR
25% OFF HANDBAGS
DAY 9 DEC 20
DAY 10 DEC 21
DAY 11 DEC 22
DAY 12 DEC 23
GIFT CARDS BUY 1, GET 1 50% OFF
25% OFF JEWELRY
25% OFF ALL FURS
www.designerconsignerde.com 12
DEC 19
25% OFF SKIRTS & TOPS
7185 Lancaster Pike Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 10am-6pm, Wed 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 12-4pm
DAY 8
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
ENTIRE STORE 25% OFF
Photo by Ken Mammarella
The club conducts a timed contest at its meetings.
Photo courtesy of Larry Denburg
Some tricks only need a rubber band or two, as Kevin Cook shows off.
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
13
Delaware Knights of Magic Continued from Page 12
“I like the camaraderie,” said Newark resident Russ Zehnacker, who’s been interested in magic for 63 years. “The club is a learning institution. I learned more from it than I have from reading books or watching videos. And it’s a means to validate your routine, to perform in front of your peers.” “Every magician has to have someone to tell you the good, the bad and the ugly,” said Jim Daly, of Ardmore, Pennsylvania. “We all share a common interest,” said Denburg, who lives in Pike Creek. “If your wife is sick of hearing about magic, we’re not. We all need a place to be bad. And if you perform an effect one way, by the time you leave, you’ll have three more ways to try.” Clowning around, too New members are always welcome, but they have to demonstrate an interest in magic, usually by performing. Club leaders are making a special push for new members by theming the January meeting to new members. Those interested can email the club via its site or just show up at Cokesbury at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11, with the Knights’ site offering directions on navigating the Cokesbury campus. For some club members, magic is a career. For others, it’s a side gig or a hobby.
Photo courtesy of Larry Denburg
Force techniques get names that are obvious (such as “cut deeper”) and obscure (such as “equivoque”). 14
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
Reba Strong works with Jeff Thaxton on using straws that are knotted together, but they penetrate each other and come apart.
Denburg, a full-time magician and club member since the 1970s, performs at trade shows to attract customers to exhibits and directs the nine-person magic department at the French Woods Festival performing arts summer camp. He seeks gigs to teach and to perform his comedy magic at www.magiclarry.com/1.html. “You’re not just blasting through tricks,” he said. “You’re entertaining.” Chris Capehart, a full-time magician who joined the club when he moved to the Wilmington area 23 years ago, promotes his performance, videos, writings and an effect (The Jedi Push for $375, plus shipping) on www.chriscapehartmastermagician.com. He has twice filmed appearances on “Fool Us,” a CW TV show about magic that began in 2011. He fooled Penn & Teller the first time, and the second episode hadn’t aired when this article was written, so he couldn’t talk about it. Several members are also clowns. Zehnacker is a Shriner clown. Myers and Reba Strong, a magician originally from Wilmington, are caring clowns, meaning they perform for hospital patients and visitors. “I try to make the kids smile,” Myers said. Continued on Page 16
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
15
Delaware Knights of Magic Continued from Page 14
It’s never too late to learn about magic. Philadelphia resident Jack Schultz said he was always interested but never had the time – until he was 72. He’s now “always ready” to perform, citing dice, rubber bands, a deck of cards and a large coin stashed in his pockets. An art, a skill and a story “Magic is an art and a skill,” said Mark Randolph, a Pike Creek resident who had his first paid magic gig at age 13 and now incorporates magic into his work as a mortgage specialist. “We only grow by learning from each other and helping each other,” he said. “I’ve been doing this so long that I’m changing from learning to helping others learn.” Photo courtesy of Larry Denburg Some of that learning involves style. Mark Randolph demonstrates a string routine to Rob Francis (left) and Mitch Kaplan. “Some of the best magical performances Strong, a magician for 42 years, said she’s invested a lot are like choreography,” Zehnacker said, adding that at times he doesn’t want to know how a trick is done. “I like in buying tricks, and it’s clear that other members have done the same. “You’re never supposed to buy a trick to be mystified. It keeps the magic going.” “Some of the best magicians make you so involved in one week and do it the next,” she said. “Knowing how it’s the story that you don’t care how it’s done,” added Mitch done doesn’t mean you can do it. Doing it doesn’t mean you can do it well. It takes a lot of practice, and you have Kaplan, who lives in Aston, Pennsylvania. to make it your own.” Her mentor, for instance, made her devote a year to perfect a trick called Extreme Burn 2.0. The $34.95 system, with its three-hour video, was not enough to perform a routine that she does where dollar bills instantly change denomination. It also turns “paper to money, receipts to money, foreign notes to local,” VanishingIncMagic writes. “The possibilities are endless.” “Every time you buy a trick, you have to adapt,” said Capehart after winning the night’s competition by making a toy helicopter appear from nowhere. After telling the story of how he bought the trick, he said his adaptations include – Wait! This reporter promised not to reveal any Photo courtesy of Larry Denburg Photo courtesy of Larry Denburg secrets. They’re reserved for members Chris Capehart points out the importance of Rob Francis is focused on this trick. of the Delaware Knights of Magic. keeping secrets. 16
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
17
|Greenville & Hockessin History|
Henry du Pont, Ca and the outcome By Gene Pisasale Contributing Writer Historians generally try to avoid discussing questions that begin with “What if…?” Yet one such question concerning a Delaware business and its top executive prompts a long list of queries which are both thought-provoking and fascinating to ponder. When the business under review is one of the foremost industrial concerns in America, it raises the discussion to a whole new level— and instills a sense of wonder at the vicissitudes of history which brought our nation to where it is today. It is December 20, 1860. Following the election of Abraham Lincoln as President, adamant pro-slavery politicians in South Carolina announce that their state has seceded from the Union. The action sent shock waves throughout the entire nation—and spurred several other states in the south to follow South Carolina’s lead. Less than two months later, the newly formed Confederate States of America would eventually encompass 11 members who decreed that they would support and protect the 18
A photograph of Henry du Pont.
Du Pont gunpowder tin, courtesy Hagley Museum and Archives.
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
institution of slavery and oppose any efforts to restrict its expansion. On April 12, 1861, rebels in Charleston, South Carolina put their words into action, firing upon federal troops at Fort Sumter, starting the Civil War. Henry du Pont was the second son of Eleuthere Irenee du Pont, the founder of E.I. du Pont de Nemours, which began in 1802 and became one of the largest producers of gunpowder in North America. Born August 8, 1812, it is ironic that Henry came into this world during a war—and later would have a profound impact on the outcome of another, much larger, conflict. He was educated at West Point and commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1833. After one year of service, Henry agreed to his father’s request and joined the Du Pont Company. In the early 1800s, Du Pont‘s manufacturing operations were producing significant quantities of gunpowder. The firm was the major supplier for the U.S. Army in the War of 1812 and later in the Mexican-American War. In 1850, Henry became president of the Du Pont Company. With
Camp Brandywine e of the Civil War
U.S. mortar powder sign, courtesy Hagley Museum and Archives.
A Camp Brandywine poster, courtesy Hagley Museum and Archives.
his conservative leanings, he later supported Lincoln for President. After the attack on Fort Sumter, Henry was outraged and let it be known that his company would NOT do business with the Confederacy, supplying only the Union Army. According to Lucas Clawson, archivist at the Hagley Museum, du Pont told his own son: “…secession is treason to the government of the United States…” Henry knew that through subterfuge, rebels would try to acquire the high quality gunpowder which his firm produced, but according to Clawson, he “maintained a strict policy that no black powder would be sold or shipped to states in rebellion or to any customers whom he suspected were Confederate sympathizers. He held fast to this policy and made sure all of the company’s sales agents followed his directions…”
In wartime, ‘all bets are off’ so prized materials sometimes find their way into the hands of the enemy. It came to the company’s attention that some of its powder was being seized from abandoned Union military positions— and even from some sales agents, which infuriated Henry and his team. According to Clawson, Du Pont’s accountants estimated that in the year 1863—the height of the Civil War—Confederates gained control of approximately $110,000 worth of gunpowder. This loss was a severe one for the company and management had to make adjustments. Personal political perspectives can influence the direction of a nation. The Hagley archives indicate that Henry despised all Confederates and felt they were never to be trusted or dealt with. Yet what might have transpired if… Henry was a Confederate sympathizer? Delaware was a slave state during the Civil War, along with Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri, although those states did not secede from the Union. Continued on Page 20
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
19
History Continued from Page 19
Despite Delaware voting on January 3, 1861 not to secede, many residents, especially in southern Delaware, owned slaves and supported the horrific practice. What if Henry had secretly aligned his company with those slave owners—and acted on his beliefs? The largest producer of gunpowder in America could easily have provided substantial supplies to the Confederates, at least Samuel Francis du Pont portrait by surreptitiously, through Daniel Huntington. clandestine channels, and affected the outcome of that nation-changing conflict. On Kennett Pike (Delaware Route 52) at the intersection with Briars Lane in Greenville, Delaware stands a blue and gold historical marker. It reads: “CAMP
Gravestone of Henry du Pont in the Du Pont de Nemours Cemetery. 20
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
The Camp Brandywine historical marker, Greenville, Delaware.
BRANDYWINE– In the Civil War the first camp of this name was at Wilmington Fair Grounds for the First and Second Delaware Regiments. The same name was given this site in September 1862 for a camp of Pennsylvania troops sent to guard the powder mills. They were relieved by the Fourth Delaware Regiment the next month when the site was known briefly as Camp du Pont, then later as Camp Brandywine.” Without the protection of Federal troops, the Du Pont powder works could easily have been sabotaged or looted by rebel forces, changing the trajectory of the war. Henry du Pont was not an “armchair observer.” Since 1846 he had held the post of Adjutant General of Delaware and in May 1861, Governor William Burton appointed him a Major General, in charge of all the soldiers in the state. Upon taking this office, Henry ordered every man of military age in Delaware to take an oath of allegiance to the United States—or else surrender his weapons, although the order was overruled by Governor Burton. Henry was one of many du Pont family members who supported the Union. His son Henry Algernon du Pont served under General Philip Sheridan and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Samuel Francis du Pont was a two-star Admiral and helped capture Port Royal, South Carolina. Congress named Du Pont Circle in Washington, D.C. in his honor. Continued on Page 22 www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
21
History Continued from Page 21
Henry du Pont died on the same date of his birth—August 8—in 1889. In his 77 years, he helped to guide a nation through the most turbulent time in its history. His gravesite lies along with other family members in the Du Pont de Nemours Cemetery. It is fortunate for our country that there were citizens like Henry du Pont who held a unique combination of attributes—business savviness and unbridled loyalty—at exactly the right time. Without them, the nation we know and love today could have turned out quite differently. Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and The Henry du Pont gravesite plaque. lecturer based in Kennett Square. His 11 books focus mostly on the history of the Chester County/ places and events of this region over more than 300 years. mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s latest book is Heritage of the His books are available on his website at www.GenePisasale. Brandywine Valley, a beautifully illustrated hardcover book com and also on www.Amazon.com. Gene can be reached with over 250 images showcasing the fascinating people, via e-mail at Gene@GenePisasale.com.
:( 35,&( 0$7&+ '$,/<
$33/,$1&( 79 6$/( 7(/(9,6,21 $33/,$1&(6
12 6$/(6 7$;
$33/,$1&( 6$/( :( %($7 1$7,21$/ 6725( 35,&(6
6+23 &+226(
ZZZ FEMRH FRP
6,1&( _ 9(7(5$1 2:1(' 23(5$7(' _ 927(' ,1 '(/$:$5(
&KXUFKPDQV 5G 5W ( 1HZ &DVWOH
22
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
23
|Greenville & Hockessin Spotlight|
Revisiting the pa taking a trip on a
Wilmington & Western RR features spe sometimes Santa Claus also comes alon Photo by John Hintz
Giving a kiss to Santa Claus on the Santa Claus Express offered by the Wilmington & Western Railroad and starting Nov. 23.
24
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
past by a train special journey; long for the ride By Natalie Smith Contributing Writer There’s a sort of time machine at Greenback County Park. Set among the trees and situated off Newport Gap Pike (Route 41) this rarely seen machine can transport you to an era when travel was accompanied by the unmistakable sounds of a high-pitched whistle and chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga. The Wilmington & Western Railroad (WWRR) is the proud provider of this experience, and can take those riding its rails through the scenic Red Clay Valley, from the Greenbank Station to Hockessin. Its locomotives, both steam and diesel-electric, passenger and specialty cars were all built in the early- to mid-20th century. “We do consider ourselves a museum in motion,” said Kevin J. Martin, WWRR’s general manager. “Our mission is not just to educate about the railroad but also the valley. We want to educate people about the mills that were down the line and what used to be there and [what’s gone].”
Photo courtesy of Double S. Media
Steam Engine No. 58 was built in 1907. It is in service at Wilmington & Western Railroad.
The WWRR can trace its beginnings to 1872, when it began passenger and freight service between Wilmington and Landenberg in southern Chester County, Pa. Through the years the line changed hands, and along with the ups and downs of the economy and the growing popularity of automotive transport, it led to the then-Baltimore & Ohio line being shortened to Hockessin in the 1950s. Enter philanthropist and steam-engine enthusiast Thomas C. Marshall, Jr. “[In 1966] he got together with other steam enthusiasts with the idea of bringing steam tourism to the Wilmington area,” Martin explained. “They would lease or rent the line from B&O on the weekends and they would run steam [trains] up and down the line.” These tourist trains would run between Greenbank and Mt. Cuba. Continued on Page 26 www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
25
Wilmington & Western RR Jump Continued from Page 25 26
After WWRR’s owner filed to abandon the line, Marshall and the other train buffs, under the banner of the non-profit Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc., rallied and successfully raised funds to purchase the line in 1982. “We don’t share it with anyone,” Martin noted. “It’s ours. We are responsible for it.” The responsibility is all-encompassing. Besides all the positions that physically operate the train, among those who also keep the wheels rolling are ticket agents, gift shop associates, track crew members, restoration crew members and on-board narrators who inform guests about the train and valley. And of those folks who spend their time running the WWRR – most of them don’t get paid. “We are 99 percent volunteer-run,” Martin said, “so
there’re only about a handful of paid staff. We have anywhere from 60 to 80 [volunteers]. It just kind of fluctuates. Sometimes we have older volunteers who decide to kind of step away and younger ones that step in … but they do everything from fixing to running the trains. The train wouldn’t leave the yard without the volunteers.” But volunteers who are interested in driving a train don’t have to come with experience. “We train them,” Martin said. “We are approved by the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) to train them on how to be engineers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they can leave here and go to Amtrak. On our line and for our service, you could walk in with no experience and work your way up to a diesel or steam engineer.
Photo courtesy of Double S. Media
Steam Engine American 98 was built in 1909. It is out of service while undergoing a 1472 inspection. It is performed every 15 years or 1,472 service days, whichever comes first. Among the actions performed is taking the entire boiler apart and performing an ultrasound. The inspection takes about 6 or 7 years. 26
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
“We can train from the ground up, from trainman – who are the people that collect your tickets and get you on the train -- all the way up to steam engineer. Now, it’s going to take years. This isn’t a two-month process and you’re done, but we can train you if you want to stick with it all the way up. A lot of our older volunteers say steam is sometimes a young man’s game. It’s a lot of hard work.” Volunteers are drawn from all over, Martin said. “We get people mostly from the Mid-Atlantic region, and have volunteers who travel as long as two-and-a-half hours from New Jersey and Maryland,” he said. “We get people who volunteer at multiple railroads, like at New Hope (Bucks County, Pa.) or Stewartstown (York County, Pa.).” The dedication of the volunteers can be inspiring. Martin recalled those working on the steam engine on Independence Day, traveling to Hockessin for the fireworks. “They just have a love of trains. It was pretty hot, 100-some-odd degrees, and they are sitting there, firing Continued on Page 28
Photo courtesy of Double S. Media
Kevin J. Martin is the general manager of the Wilmington & Western Railroad.
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
27
Wilmington & Western RR Continued from Page 27
that boiler the entire way up. When they get done, they’re covered in soot. They are hot and sweaty but they love it, so we try to support that, because without them, we wouldn’t get the train out the door.” WWRR’s current equipment includes: three steam locomotives, with one in service and another waiting for service; two first-generation diesel locomotives; five passenger cars, including a parlor car; one Doodlebug, which is a coach with its own engine; and three cabooses. The diesel locomotives power the lion’s share of the trips. “[Some] 65 to 70 percent of our trips are diesel,” Martin said, “with the remaining ones being either steam or the Doodlebug.” Martin said that steam engines have a very passionate fan base. “When we take out steam, you will see enthusiasts standing in the creek, waiting,” he said. “That’s what is called ‘chasing the train.’ They follow the train on the road and every crossing. They are there taking pictures and videos.
The Station Gallery Fine Art & Custom Framing
“Over There” 8 x 10 oil by Lynne Lockhart
Changing Monthly Exhibits 3922 Kennett Pike • Greenville, Delaware stationgallery.net • 302-654-8638 28
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
“I understand people’s enthusiasm for them. I understand people’s dedication; it takes a lot to be going through the woods or standing there for 20 minutes, hoping the train comes by or that you’re timing it correctly. “So, you have your steam enthusiasts and they want to be on the train or take pictures. You also have people that just want to experience the steam train ride with their child. If you’ve ever been on the train, there are two distinct sounds between the steam especially when they blow the whistle. “With diesel, you hear a horn just like you would hear CSX (freight trains) when they go through. It’s the kind of that blaring horn that people hear. With steam, you’re going to hear that chugga-chugga-chugga that people associate with trains. You don’t hear that with diesel. I think people enjoy that experience on the train.” A very popular car is the caboose. Martin said contrary to popular belief, a caboose was never attached to passenger trains, only freight trains, where it served as the conductor’s office, although WWRR will often use them.
“We will always have at least one caboose on for our Santa Claus trains,” he said. “We have all three of them on because they’re so popular.” The Santa Claus Express runs weekends from Nov. 24 through Dec. 23 and is powered by the diesel locomotive. The Jolly Old Elf rides the train and greets everyone on board, and gives all children a chocolate treat. Cameras are encouraged during 1½-hour round-trips to Ashland. Also featured during the holidays is the Holiday Lights Express, which runs late afternoons and evenings in December. The diesel-powered trips feature 100-year-old heated coaches, which are enveloped in colorful holiday lights. “All of those decorations are done by volunteers,” Martin said. “It takes them about three weeks to a month to decorate the train, [They’re] coming in at night and attaching the lights. Going up and down Continued on Page 32
Photo by Tom Tzaca
Volunteers decorate the passenger cars with thousands of lights for the Holiday Lights Express of the Wilmington & Western Railroad.
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
29
YOUR HOME, YOUR WAY, INSIDE & OUT Change to spring brings the urge to refresh our indoor and outdoor spaces. From your own design inspiration to professionals who can offer expert advice, measurement, and installation, 2023 brings focus back to home. It Can Be Quite Daunting To Get Started Tackling “dream Home” Projects. Is It Time To Redo That Old Favorite Couch In the Living Room? Or, Finally Find Fun New Outdoor Pillows To Display For Spring? Maybe It’s Time To Finally Find the Right Sheer or Texture For Draperies In the Great Room. If there’s One Thing Everyone Can Agree On In the Post Covid World, It’s That Being Comfortable In Your Own Home Should Never Be Taken For Granted. With Free In-store Design Services To Brighten Your Home and Bring Your Vision To Life, A One-stop-shop With Over 35 Years Experience Is Continuing To
Inspire Delaware Residents With the Tools Needed To Reinvent their Homes. With An Endless Array of Design Elements, Walking Into the Interior Alternative Is Like Being A Kid In A Candy Store. You’ll Find Thousands of Indoor and Outdoor Fabric Selections Broken Into Categories Such As Ultra-high Performance, Classic Velvet, Bold Boucle, Caterpillar-like Chenille, Fauxsuede, Natural Cotton, Linen and More. All these Amazing Choices To Go Along With Designer-direct Prices. Prefer To Shop From Home? The Staff Can Bring their Expertise Right To You. You
Can Redesign Your Entire Home Without Ever Leaving. A Design Professional Will Come Out To Your Home With Gorgeous, High-performance Fabric Swatches and Help You Select Just the Right Color and Pattern For Your Projects. We offer Customized Creations For Drapery/window Treatments, Sofas/sectionals, Bedding, Headboards, Cushions and Pillows For the Home. You Can Call Us Anytime (302-454-3232) and We Will Help Make Your Dream Home A Reality. We Do Home Appointments, Instore Appointments, and Walk-ins. Many of Our High Perfor-
mance, Best Selling Private Label Dorell Fabrics Are Available Both In the Store and On thefabricoutlet.Com. Our Dorell Private Label Develops An Abundance of New Products Each Year and Many of the Items At the Interior Alternative Cannot Be Found Anywhere Else In the Country. Whether You Are An Experienced Interior Designer or Looking To Redesign Your Home For the First Time, the Interior Alternative Is A Must-stop-shop Before Tackling Any Home Decor Project. Our Staff Are Trained and Excited To Help You Redesign the Home of Your Dreams Without Breaking the Bank.
Wilmington & Western RR Continued from Page 29
stairs and underneath the train to make sure they’re plugging them in correctly.” As an added treat, “Our neighbors whose houses sit against the tracks, they decorate the back of their houses just like you would decorate the front of your house,” Martin added. But it’s not always been smooth going. Over the years, the WWRR has faced some issues that affected its running. In September 1999, Hurricane Floyd wrecked two bridges over the Red Clay Creek and 11 others were damaged. The repairs took 18 months. In 2003, the creek saw copious amounts of added water, courtesy of Tropical Storm Henri. Six bridges were demolished and parts of the tracks flooded. But through both incidents, the WWRR folks persevered and triumphed. Martin recognized that riding the WWRR is an activity that seems to bind families together. “We want to make sure that the kids who are getting on the train now, their grandkids have the ability to get on our train,” he said. “We have people that come all the time say, ‘I brought my son and now I’m bringing my grandchild’. That’s what we love. We love that kind of family-shared experience. “I love as general manager to be on that platform and see families smiling and see kids excited to be on the train. And when that (holiday) train pulls into the station and it’s just lit up … that’s why I come to work. That’s why I like my job. I want people to be excited about trains and the history of the valley.” More information about the Wilmington & Western Railroad, including more history, charter and rental information and times, dates and ticket prices for upcoming events is available at www.wwrr.com. Natalie Smith may be contacted at natalie@ DoubleSMedia.com 32
Photo courtesy of Double S. Media
Passenger car No. 410 was built in 1914 by the Pullman Co. It was called a combine, meaning it was a combination of baggage storage and passenger seating.
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
33
|Greenville & Hockessin People|
Artist Sarah Yeoman’s teaching has taken her to wor seminars all over the country and the world, where her students the magic of what happens when paint m
Teaching the jo of moving the pa
34 34
Gr Gre G Gree Greenville reenvil re en env en nvvill illl lle & Hock H Ho Hockessin ocke cckke kesss ssi ssiin LLife iife if fe | W fe Wi Win Winter iin nter teerr 2 te 20 2023 023 23 | w ww www www.ghlifemagazine.com ww.g ww .gh ggh hllif iiffeem ema maggaz ma gaaazzin iine ne n ee.co ..ccom .co cco om
workshops and ere she shows int meets water
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
Watercolor artist Sarah Yeoman in her Yorklyn studio.
joy paint By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. John Steinbeck In a video made by the Delaware Division of the Arts that profiled the work of Yorklyn-based artist Sarah Yeoman in 2017, three individual droplets of black watercolor suddenly and without warning began a race down the white paper that began to hold the crows Yeoman was painting. A fourth drip joined the race, then a fifth and a sixth. It created a most spectacular effect – an accident of texture and beauty – and instead of panicking, the artist continued to apply her brush and work on, stepping back when the painting was completed. Continued on Page 36
Jump Yeoman Sarah Continued from Page 35 36
“That’s how I do most of them,” she said to the camera. “I start at the top and work towards the bottom, connecting the shapes as I go, letting the colors mix and mingle. I actually love the drips, because they’re part of the painting process.” The six-minute video served as a tutorial on Yeoman’s life as an artist and in a greater sense, the approach she brings to her long career as a teacher, both at the Center for Creative Arts just down the road from her home and at workshops and seminars in Delaware, throughout the country and around the world. Start at the top and move your way down. Get away from the pretty. Embrace the imperfect. Practice and play. Liberate yourself. Trust your artistic instinct.
36
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
‘My work has always been about light’ In order to properly illuminate Yeoman’s work as a teacher, it is best to first reflect it through the prism of her artistic career. A signature member of the American Watercolor Society, her 40-year journey has been dotted with countless gallery shows and exhibitions around the globe that include Philadelphia, Santa Fe, Lake Placid, the Hudson Valley, New York City and as far away as China, South America, and Turkey. Working primarily out of her Yorklyn home and studio and her upstate New York State cabin at Indian Lake – whether in studio or in plein air form -- Yeoman’s paintings are infused with an appreciation for light, mood and place, from her crows and ravens series to her landscapes of the Brandywine Valley and the Adirondacks. “My work has always been about light, and it will always be about light,” Yeoman said. “It’s about finding form by
Yeoman’s studio is a working testament to her distinguished career as a watercolor artist that has included teaching thousands of students at workshops throughout the United States and in several countries.
gradually revealing light and shadows, as if I’m sneaking up on the shapes and the values and always remembering that it is not about the title or my feelings but about light and shadow which informs everything we look at.” Whether it is through her in-person workshops, private tutorials or online Zoom sessions, Yeoman has encouraged her students to search for that same sense of emotion. As a teacher, she’s criss-crossed the country and the globe, from private instruction in her studio to seminars and workshops at the Abanakee Studios in Indian Lake and in several states and countries, including Italy and Canada. She recently returned from a seminar at the Southwestern Watercolor Society in Dallas, Texas. From the first dip of a brush, Yeoman’s classes are about finding the wonders of what happens when paint meets water. Artistic freedom is encouraged; mastery of the medium is not. “I teach the joy of moving the paint,” she said. “I start each session by introducing them to three colors, teach them how to mix them and have them consider the ratio of pigment to water -- more water means the color is lighter
and less water means the colors will have more weight to it. “Then I watch them get the feel of painting – to pull the beads of water and paint down the page. It’s so exciting when they get the feeling of how that works.” When the onset of COVID-19 arrived in 2020, Yeoman saw her sold-out, in-person workshop in France postponed indefinitely, but rather than panic, she took her teaching online. She created an online teaching platform partnership with the Lake Placid Center for the Arts that converted her teaching to Zoom sessions that quickly drew nearly 100 participants from around the world. At a recent online session – using three cameras and microphones set up in her home studio -- Yeoman taught watercolor classes to 96 students from 30 states. “People from all over the world have become a part of these online classes,” Yeoman said. “I had one woman who lived in the Arctic Circle who would join my classes. You would never otherwise get to speak with someone living in such a remote area of the world if it were not for these Zoom workshops.” Continued on Page 38 www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
37
Sarah Yeoman Continued from Page 37
‘It’s about finding the jewels’ Since the time when cavemen scrawled images on stone, it has been the anthem call of every artist to say that their work is not hitting the mark, and it’s a frequently heard chorus in many of Yeoman’s in-person seminars. Her remedy for self-doubt is simple: Yeoman will casually stand behind a student, and while he or she laments their creative shortcomings, she will use a mat frame to center the focus on a small point in the painting. “I will tell them, ‘You see that there? There’s a painting there, a painting in a painting,’” she said. “Too many times, someone who is new to art is afraid to make a mistake, and when they make a mistake, they think that there’s something wrong. “I really enjoy helping people let go of their fear enough to find their own voice. People are so afraid to say, ‘This is who I am, and this is my mark’ so by helping them begin to continue or renew that part of themselves is very rewarding. It’s about finding the jewels.” The balancing act of teaching and the solitary need to create is often the necessary evil of any creative person. For Yeoman, there is a tiny crevice of a moment between her two passions that allows her to get her students’ paintings out of her head and reinvent her definition – the
“Auburn Preserve”
Meat Market
Quality BUTCHER SHOP & DELI
Serving Hockessin since 1980 Complete Landscape Service Design - Construction - Installation Master Plans/General Site Development New Installations - Renovations Foundation Plantings - Screening - Raised Beds Entry Spaces - Streambank Restoration Outdoor Rooms - Hardscape - Specialty Gardens
• Prepared Meats • All Natural Chicken • Catering Specialties • Marinated Items • Certified Angus Western Beef • Boar’s Head Gourmet Deli Meats • Honey Glazed Sliced Ham • Homemade Sausage • Homemade Prepared Salads • Fresh Roasted Beef & Turkey
302-239-2529 Hockessin, Delaware 19707
302.239.9229 www.irwinlandscaping.com 38
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
Shoppes of Hockessin MC/VISA/WSFS
Rt. 41 — Lancaster Pike M-F 8:30-6 • Sat 8-4:30
‘Who am I?’ inner soundtrack that keeps repeating like a mantra in the mind of every artist. “Teaching is an interruption of what I love the most, but teaching is how I make my living,” she said. “Every time I return to my art, it’s painful to get back to that space and then trust that what I have to say as an artist will continue to matter.” An artist does not retire, and a teacher will always find a way to teach, Yeoman said from her Yorklyn home. She has fully committed herself to the continuing duality of purpose that serves the artist and the students. From April 3-5, 2024, Yeoman will return to the Center for Creative Arts, where she will teach a three-day workshop entitled, “The Light of Watercolor.” The class will focus on learning how to interpret that light and the mood and atmosphere that are created because of it. Yeoman will guide students through a series of imagined landscape exercises to familiarize them with how various pigments move and interact with paper and water and gradually reveal light and shadow. Continued on Page 40
“Keurners Farm” www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
39
Sarah Yeoman Continued from Page 39
“It’s all so intertwined, and I don’t know if I can truly separate one from the other,” Yeoman said. “Teaching has kept me curious because I am always experimenting and trying something new. I’ve had times when I have been teaching when I am talking and painting at the same time, and it’s where I have done some of my most interesting work. “What I love most about teaching is sharing the truth that there is just so much joy in playing with paint, and you can’t make a mistake, because that particular painting they are working on has never existed before, so there is no expectation of the outcome.” Becoming an artist, Yeoman said, is being willing to just let go. “Every working artist is on the edge of control and the unknown, and that scares the hell out of people,” she said. “I teach my students to trust the watercolor. I teach them to paint outside the lines. I teach them to learn the materials, and then start to explore composition, abstraction, shapes and pigmentation, and not let their brush dictate the marks on the paper.” To learn more about Sarah Yeoman and her classes, workshops and private instruction, visit www.sarahyeoman.com or email slyeoman@gmail. com. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
40
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
“Oversee Farm”
“From the Ruins”
%UDQG\ZLQH /LJKWLQJ *DOOHU\ /,*+7,1* '(6,*1 63(&,$/,676
&(57,),(' /,*+7,1* '(6,*1(5 $1' (1(5*< 63(&,$/,676 )25 5(6,'(17,$/ $1' &200(5&,$/ _ /(' /,*+7 ),;785(6
ZZZ EUDQG\ZLQHOLJKWLQJJDOOHU\ FRP &RQFRUG 3LNH :LOPLQJWRQ '( 6KRZURRP +RXUV 0 ) SP 6DW SP www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
41
|Greenville & Hockessin Life Photo Essay|
The tracks of our heritage
Photos by Jim Coarse Text by Richard L. Gaw
Wilmington & Western Railroad’s magical journey through the Red Clay Valley Over the course of our lives, there are few permanent markers. Save for our family and our friends, we are for the most part transient beings, gathering up new moments and memories and people along our journey, like a child with an armful of seashells at the shoreline. For those who read this article, however, it is safe to say that the Wilmington & Western 9HPSYVHK OHZ KLÄLK [OL VKKZ HUK OLSK VU SPRL a faithful companion from our childhood to adulthood. Churning through the colorfully changing landscapes of the Red Clay Valley, we have climbed aboard its locomotives and passenger cars and cabooses to share the ride beside our grandparents, our parents, our siblings, our friends and now our own children. From Greenbank Station, we have boarded charter rides to celebrate special occasions; sung “Happy Birthday” at countless parties; tilted our glasses at wedding celebrations; and ushered in countless holiday seasons on the Holiday Lights Express and the Santa Claus Express. Following in the footsteps of founder and long-time steward Thomas C. Marshall, Jr., the Wilmington & Western Railroad is fueled in part by the infectious exuberance of its volunteer staff. Continued on Page 45
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
43
|Wilmington & Western Railroad|
Continued from Page 43
“We are predominantly volunteer-run, so for anyone to volunteer to shovel coal for 12 hours on a 98-degree day, they have to have some passion for what they are doing, and that passion spills out to our passengers, who see the enthusiasm that our volunteers have,” said General Manager Kevin Martin. “All of us here want to share our train with you. We want to share the knowledge that our train crew has about the car you sit on and the beautiful Red Clay Valley.” For generations of passengers, the Wilmington & Western Railroad has served as “a museum in motion,” as part of an educational mission that also includes a 5,000-square-foot education center, the popular Rail Road 101 course and the Railroading Summer Camp for children. ¸0M ^L JHU NL[ H Ä]L `LHY VSK [V NL[ VU [OL [YHPU and learn that the coach they are riding on was built in 1914, that is a piece of their education,” Martin said. “They are learning to enjoy a mode of transportation that has drastically changed over the years but is far from a lost industry. Every year, we meet so many children who are fascinated by trains and want to know more about them.” Continued on Page 47
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
45
|Wilmington & Western Railroad|
Continued from Page 45
Passenger by passenger, generation after generation, the Wilmington & Western Railroad is a magical journey that will remain a permanent one in the lives of those who climb aboard. Include the Wilmington & Western Railroad in this year’s holiday plans. The Holiday Lights Express takes off from Greenbank Station for hour-long evening rides from Dec. 6 to Dec. 30. Passengers can also climb aboard the Santa Claus Express for 90-minute trips through December 23. To learn more about the Wilmington & Western Railroad and make your reservations, visit www.wwrr.com. www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
47
|Around Hockessin|
Gems in your Greenbank Mill a
ur backyard: and Philips Farm By Ken Mammarella Contributing Writer Of the many ways to enjoy Greenbank Mill and Philips Farm, two of the – Wait, you mean you’ve never heard of the mill and the farm, and you’ve lived here for decades? “We hear that all the time,” said Barbara Nelson, chairman of the board of Greenbank Mill Associates, the nonprofit that runs the site that contains both. “Nobody knows about us.” The Red Clay Creek mill dates to 1677, it says on www.greenbankmill.com/history. It was state-ofthe-art in 1793, when new owner Robert Philips contracted with neighbor Oliver Evans to install Evans’ innovative milling system, which had three years before received America’s third patent. “Greenbank won a place in the history of American manufacturing” with Evans’ machinery, according to the property’s application to be listed as part of the National Register of Historic Places. “The work of this Delaware inventor revolutionized milling in America,” it further reads. “An anecdote frequently told about Greenbank relates that Evans invited several millers to study his machinery in operation. They arrived to find the mill running unattended; Evans was making hay in the adjoining field.” Following reconstruction after a massive 1969 fire and massive 2003 flood, the site marches along as a National Historic District showcasing industrial, agricultural and social history of times gone by. Photo by Ken Mammarella
Barbara Nelson (chairman of the board of Greenbank Mill Associates) and Steve Garrow (livestock coordinator and site manager) feed sheep at Greenbank Mill and Philips Farm.
History happened here Here’s one way to enjoy it: Schedule a tour or attend a program and observe all the relics, small and large, from the rope bed to automated wool carder, from the candle molds to the immense grist mill. Another way is to just wander around the 9-acre property on Greenbank Road, a sylvan retreat remarkably close to the hustle and bustle of Kirkwood Highway. There’s catch-and-release fishing, trails to explore, sheep to watch and maybe touch and, surprisingly, fairy houses to find. Over the centuries, the owners of the mill “tried to define its role in the changing marketplace,” the site says, citing the Mill Creek Hundred History Blog as a major source for the account. The European history of the site dates back to Swede’s Mill. “Not much is known of this mill except a vague description and undecipherable archaeological remains,” it says. The present gristmill was built in the 1760s, and “according to local legend, George Washington posted a guard at the mill when American troops took up positions along the Red Clay Creek after the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge.” In 1790, with business declining, the mill was auctioned. Philips was so successful with Evans’ automated system that he expanded and diversified. Starting in 1810, the newly built “Madison Factory grew to house the entire wool production process, from the back of the sheep to the back of man.” In 1824, the site added a sawmill, and it later expanded into making wooden objects, such as bentwood chairs, carriage spindles and croquet sets. “Woodworking ended at the mill in 1881 when a partner embezzled $20,000.” Continued on Page 50
Gems in your backyard Continued from Page 49
By 1969, it was Delaware’s only grist mill operating on water power, doing custom milling for local farmers, when vandals set a fire that destroyed the woolen mill and damaged other areas. ‘Sheep to shawl’ Employees and volunteers rebuilt operations, and they continued to persevere after damage from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and a freak storm in 2003 that dumped 8½ inches in 12 hours, flooding the first floor of the mill chest-high. Much of the site interpretation today revolves around sheep and wool. Seven Leicester Longwool sheep live there: Philip, a 1-year-old ram; the ewes Jenny, Lucy, Buttercup and Daisy; and two castrated males named Stormy and Lucky. Five Merinos and another Leicester Longwool live over at Winterthur, as part of Winterthur’s educational programming. The sheep are also shown off at
other events, such as A Day in Old New Castle. “Each has their own personality,” said Steve Garrow, the livestock manager and site manager. The sheep are rotated among four pastures, so plants can recover, and volunteers divvy up twice-daily feedings of sheep grain. “They’re very boisterous when we show up late,” said Nelson, also a shepherd with a weekly shift. “All the shepherds have their favorites. Philip, he’s the cutest.” Its most popular annual event is its Shearing Day and Herb Sale on the last Saturday in April, when the sheep are sheared. Leicesters can be shorn twice a year and can produce up to 18 pounds of fleece annually (no wonder it’s “WoolyWednesday” on its Facebook page, going by Greenbank Mills). The day also includes demonstrations of “hand processing from sheep to shawl, including natural dyeing and spinning.” Public healthcare days every quarter showcase another aspect of ovine lives.
Charles Philips photo from the collection of Greenbank Mill. Greenbank Mill in the 1890s.
Continued on Page 52
Photo by Ken Mammarella
“Even though the frame structure has been largely rebuilt, it is a faithful restoration,” according to the property’s successful application to be on the National Register of Historic Places.
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
51
Gems in your backyard Continued from Page 50
Photo by Ken Mammarella
The property showcases sheep and the technology to turn fleece into clothing.
The house, the mill and the barn Throughout the year, Greenbank Mill displays multiple sizes and styles of carding equipment, used to untangle fibers and ensure them running in the same direction. The Fiber Guild meets regularly at the mill to work on assorted looms and spinning wheels. The gift shop sells unwashed fleece, natural yarn and roving (the stage between the two). Three major historic structures remain: the 1794 Robert Philips House, the 1812 mill, and the pole barn, from about 1808. Smaller interesting structures include a springhouse and an outdoor oven. The farmhouse includes a museum of furnishings and objects and a gift shop. The mill has a space, overlooking the old gristmill, and big enough to hold 84 people, that’s available for rentals. Renters also get access to the nearby grove for outdoor activities. Such one-time rentals and rentals of apartments form the bulk of the site’s income. In 2022, Greenbank Mill received a $150,000 state grant to revitalize the barn. This year, it was given a $250,000 grant to continue the barn’s revitalization
and improve the mill’s water system. “There are a lot of people offering their time and energy to keep this treasure operating smoothly,” said State Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos, who includes the site in his district. “I believe that the next step is getting the mill wheel operational again, which will really enhance the visitor’s experience.” The great outdoors “I believe the entire Historic Red Clay Valley, running along Route 41 from Kirkwood Highway to Faulkland Road, which the Mill is a part of, is important to preserve and promote,” he added. “Just look at what rich historical sites are all along there: the Wilmington & Western Railroad, Greenbank Mill and Brandywine Springs Park, which had the amusement park. Each site offers its own view into Delaware’s past but taken together, I believe its a wonderful mosaic of a bygone time in Delaware’s history that should be preserved and treasured.” Outdoors at Greenbank Mill, there’s a kitchen garden by the farmhouse, along with beehives. Continued on Page 55
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
53
Gems in your backyard Continued from Page 52
Some parts of the acreage are mowed; some are weed-whacked and trimmed; some grows with reckless abandon. Visitors can walk to the creek, where people fish and swim and have crafted fairy houses. Nelson said she’s seen deer, groundhogs, hawks and other creatures. The site’s event calendar also includes a monthly Maker’s Market May-October (artisans, refreshments and tours) Northwestern New Castle and Folklore Fridays in County’s fast-flowing streams the fall. were popular locations for “What I like is that it is mills to process grain and other so peaceful,” said Garrow, material. Multiple roads recall that history by incorporating who was first hired to fix the word “mill” in their names. up one of the site’s apart-
Photos by Ken Mammarella
Some visitors have created fairy homes near Red Clay Creek.
ments, and later hired to live on the site, joined by his dogs Paprika and Bella. “The beautiful breezes. The smells. So close to the community.” “I’ve been there several times for different events and have always enjoyed it,” wrote Andy Sutherland on the site’s social media page. “It’s a nice glimpse into what the area was like years ago. I appreciate the efforts to preserve something that isn’t just another mansion.”
9021 Gap Newport Pike Avondale PA 19311
(484) 720-8593 \P]PVTa/]TfVPaST]bc^aPVT R^\ BXiTb Ua^\ $g$ c^ g" EXST^ ATR^aSX]V CT\_TaPcdaT 2^]ca^[ ;XVWcTS 5T]RTS
>] BXcT <P]PVTa 6PcTS 5PRX[Xch <^]cW c^ <^]cW >][X]T ?Ph\T]c >_cX^]b
Office Hours: <^] 5aX) () $) BPc) () ) Gate Access: %P\ _\ 3PX[h
OTHER CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: Oxford Mini Storage (610) 932-9111 ^gU^aS\X]Xbc^aPVT/ZT]]Tcc ]Tc Kennett Square Mini Storage (610) 444-4551 :b\b /eTaXi^] ]Tc Avondale Mini Storage (610) 268-0680 \X]Xbc^aPVT Pe^]SP[T/V\PX[ R^\ State Line Self Storage (410) 658-4004 bcPcT[X]Tbb('/V\PX[ R^\ www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
55
Jump |Greenville & Hockessin Q & A| Continued from Page 56
William Mele, Owner & Producer of Moontree Studio Far from the maddening pace of big city recording studios, William Mele has owned and operated Moontree Studio in Hockessin since 2012. It is both a recording studio and an incubator for ideas that continues to explore musical possibilities with up-and-coming recording artists. Recently, Greenville & Hockessin Life talked with William – as well as his creative partners Alex and Andrew Major -- about the studio’s new recording concept Sound Portals, their advice for young music makers and the incredible list of guests invited to their dinner parties. Greenville & Hockessin Life: Take the readers of Greenville & Hockessin Life back to your early interest in the technical aspects of sound and recording. What first inspired you to pursue your passion? William: I remember as a child watching my cousin Pat play guitar. Ever since, I have been addicted to music. It has always piqued my interest as to how things sound the way they do, and what goes on in the process of producing what we hear on the radio. I wasn’t sure what career to pursue in college. I was sitting in English class one day, and I peered over to another classmate who had pulled up a link to this college called Full Sail University. I simply wanted to understand more about the technical side of it, so I decided to attend the college for the next two years, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Recording Arts. Continued on Page 58
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
William Mele, owner and producer of Moontree Studio in Hockessin.
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
57
William Mele Continued from Page 56
Before anyone establishes their first firm foothold in their career, they very often spend years honing their craft in the trenches, gathering both skills and experience. Describe a few of those early gigs, where they were, what you did and what they taught you. After sending my (not so impressive) resume at the time to recording studios across the country, I managed to land two internships in Philadelphia. The first studio was called Cedar Street Studio, where I learned more about mixing techniques, microphone placement and organization under the studio’s owner, Ted Richardson. The second studio was called Third Story Recording, which happens to be Philadelphia’s oldest recording studio. It was there where I was able to interact with clients, setup for record-
ing sessions and eventually had the opportunity to run the beautiful recording console. Shortly after those internships ended, I decided to start my own studio, right in my backyard. You began Moontree Studio in 2012. Provide a brief description of what the company does, and where you can be seen throughout Delaware. Moontree Studio is a recording facility located in Hockessin that focuses on the audio needs of clients for music production, recording, mixing and mastering. We provide a relaxing atmosphere for clients to focus on their craft whether it be recording an entire album, an episode of a podcast, or anything in between.
Moontree Studio and Sound Portals producers Andrew and Alex Major, along with Alex’s daughter, Natalia. 58
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
Among the myriad of roles that Moontree Studio plays, one of the most fascinating is Sound Portals, a vehicle for up-and-coming musicians to use to showcase themselves and their music. What led to the start of Sound Portals, and how does it work? After some years working with individual artists, I grew my relationships with many musicians and individuals involved with the industry. One of the ways I found so many amazing artists came from working live sound at Dew Point Brewing in Yorklyn. After a long night of working with Alex and Andrew, we decided to combine forces to give back to the community. We wanted artists to have an opportunity to record their work, while being put through the exposure of our upcoming Youtube page, “Sound Portals,” that provides artists with live recordings that showcase their talent. We believe that it is a positive and fun way to give back to gig-hungry musicians who tirelessly give us their entertainment on a weekly basis through local performances. The Sound Portal service we provide is free of charge, with the agreed acknowledgement that we reserve the right to post
whatever material we capture on our Youtube Channel. Artists come to the studio rehearsed and lay down live recorded takes of four to five songs. The entire session is filmed from different points of view and after it has been edited, it is uploaded to our channel. I also provide one free mix revision for all the material that is captured, and final mixes are sent out to the artists so they may showcase their material in whatever way they wish. Reel off a few of the musicians you have worked with through Sound Portals. We have worked with our very own Andrew Major, The Brandywine Riders, Zipline Lilly, Danielle Ruth, Too Tall Slim and The Guilty Pleasures, The Carly Simmons Band, The Deep Conversations Podcast, G Dash Jones and Blue Tulip. Where can the readers of Greenville & Hockessin Life see the work you have done with Sound Portals? Continued on Page 60
Wedding & Special Event Venue
484.832.9030 | barnofnottingham.com | thebarnofnottingham@gmail.com www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
59
William Mele Continued from Page 59
Our work can be accessed through our Youtube Channel, “Sound Portals.” Sneak peeks and behind the scenes pictures and video of Sound Portals can be found on the Instagram account @Moontreestudio as well as our video creator Andrew’s Instagram @Rumkakeuniverse. Moontree Studio is located in Hockessin, not in a major metropolitan city. What do you all find are the professional advantages of establishing a sound studio in Delaware, as opposed to say Philadelphia or New York City? One of the benefits of being in a rural area like Hockessin is the solitude that comes with it. No noisy neighbors, beautiful views and fresh air. Our studio is a perfect environment for anyone looking for a nice change of scenery that is conducive to creativity. Major cities like Philadelphia and New York have amazing and often famous recording facilities, but they can come with a heavy price tag when you factor in renting the space and hiring an engineer. I never wanted Moontree Studio to be a place that focuses on the quantity of clients, but rather
60
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
the quality. Compared to some recording studios, we might look small, but we pride ourselves in giving each artist the opportunity to thrive and grow in a place that is eager to give their work the attention that it deserves. Let’s bring in Alex and Andrew. For any musician entering the music industry, it is often a balancing act between sharpening his or craft with the necessary evil of booking gigs and the exhaustive legwork of self-promotion. It’s a grind, and the three of you have gotten to know dozens of these musicians. As a valuable part of that process, what advice would you give a young musician who may be reading this article and is on the very same path? William: Love what you do. Let your passion open doors. With a genuine love for music and a lot of determination, you can make the connections that can get your foot in the door. That is why I find it so incredibly important to support local music. With more support from your local community, you can make a name for yourself and Continued on Page 62
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
61
William Mele Continued from Page 60
establish friendships through music, a universal language. Every artist started somewhere, so why can’t you? Share your music with others, and they will share it with you. It opens up a spider web of possibilities that can get your foot in the door. Alex: Experiment. You can’t go wrong with experimenting. You might try singing and realize that it’s not your thing. You may try to produce music and realize that maybe that’s not your thing, but with each new thing you experiment with, the more comfortable you become with music. Find what you are good at, and be persistent, because persistence is key. Andrew: My advice would be to not overthink, because sometimes overthinking will prevent you from starting in the first place. If you just take a leap of faith, you may learn what you’re good at, which will build your confidence and at the same time, you’ll feel better that you started. It will be challenging, but don’t stop. Just keep going. Continued on Page 64
:H HQFRXUDJH ORFDO RUJDQL]DWLRQV VFKRROV FLYLF DQG IUDWHUQDO JURXSV DQG FKXUFKHV WR VXEPLW QHZV UHOHDVHV
38%/,6+(' %< $' 352 ,1& 5DQGDOO 6 /LHEHUPDQ 3XEOLVKHU ',63/$< $'9(57,6,1* H[W
&20081,7< (9(176 H[W
6WHYHQ +RIIPDQ (GLWRU 5LFKDUG / *DZ $VVRFLDWH (GLWRU %UHQGD %XWW 2IILFH 0DQDJHU 7ULFLD +RDGOH\ $UW 'LUHFWRU 6KHUU\ +XWFKLQVRQ *UDSKLF 'HVLJQHU $ODQ ( 7XUQV $GYHUWLVLQJ 'LUHFWRU 7HUL 7XUQV $GYHUWLVLQJ ([HFXWLYH +HOHQ ( :DUUHQ $GYHUWLVLQJ ([HFXWLYH
3 2 %R[ .HOWRQ 3$ 62
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
63
William Mele Continued from Page 62
What are your favorite spots in Greenville or Hockessin? For some of the best tacos you ever will taste, I really enjoy Tasty Taco. It is located right behind the Wawa in Hockessin and is a true hidden gem of Hockessin cuisine. If I find myself in Greenville, it is hard not to stop at Purebread for a delicious breakfast or afternoon lunch! Here’s a question for all three of you. If you could throw a dinner party and invite anyone – living or not, famous or not – who would you like to see around that dinner table? William: I would really enjoy talking with musicians from the past as well as prominent figures in today’s music industry. To name a few, I would like to see Duke Ellington, Jimmy Hendrix, Jimmy Iovine, Pharrell, Rick Rubin, and Frank Sinatra. If I had the privilege to have dinner with them, I would inquire about the personal struggles and victories they have experienced in their lifetime and how it inspired the music they made. Andrew: I would invite Stan Lee, the creator of the Marvel comic books, and pick his brain a bit. I would also invite
Nasir Jones and ask him how he has remained so relevant in the music industry for so long. Alex: The first person at the table would be Neil deGrasse Tyson, because I have a vast interest in astrophysics. I would also invite Prince. He’s the greatest musician I can think of, and I would love to be able to talk about music for hours with him. What food or beverage can always be found in your refrigerator? Andrew: Rum cake universe hot sauce, made by my hot sauce company, Rumkake. Alex: Water. William: It’s usually beer or tacos. To learn more about Moontree Studio, visit https:// instagram.com/moontreestudio, on Facebook or contact William Mele at (302) 377-6869. ~ Richard L. Gaw
Next edition of
Greenville & Hockessin Life Magazine arrives July 3, 2024
Call today to Advertise
610-869-5553 64
Greenville & Hockessin Life | Winter 2023 | www.ghlifemagazine.com
www.ghlifemagazine.com | Winter 2023 | Greenville & Hockessin Life
65
&KHVWHU &RXQW\ 35(66 6287+ -(11(569,//( 5' :(67 *529( 3$ ZZZ FKHVWHUFRXQW\ FRP
6HUYLQJ WKH &KHVWHU &RXQW\ EXVLQHVV FRPPXQLW\ VLQFH <RXU VRXUFH IRU ORFDO QHZV JRYHUQPHQW VFKRROV VSRUWV DQG PXFK PRUH 3XEOLVKHG HYHU\ :HGQHVGD\ 7R VXEVFULEH FDOO H[W
/,)( 0$*$=,1(6 /DQGHQEHUJ /LIH .HQQHWW 6TXDUH /LIH &KDGGV )RUG /LIH 1HZDUN /LIH 0LGGOHWRZQ /LIH &HFLO &RXQW\ /LIH *UHHQYLOOH +RFNHVVLQ /LIH (DFK RI RXU /LIH PDJD]LQHV RIIHU ´K\SHU ORFDOµ QHZV IURP HDFK FRPPXQLW\ LQ WKH IRUP RI IHDWXUHV SURÀOHV KLVWRU\ HQWHUWDLQPHQW DQG KRPH DQG JDUGHQ VWRULHV 2XU ´FRIIHH WDEOH ´ NHHSVDNH IRUPDW ZLWK H[WHQVLYH GLUHFW PDLO DSSHDOV WR D ZLGH YDULHW\ RI DGYHUWLVHUV
&+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( 38%/,6+,1* 6RXWKHUQ &KHVWHU &KDPEHU RI &RPPHUFH &211(&7,216 :HVWHUQ &KHVWHU &RXQW\ /LIH 7KH 2[IRUGLDQ &HFLO &RXQW\ &KDPEHU RI &RPPHUFH $QQXDO %XVLQHVV 'LUHFWRU\ ([WRQ 5HJLRQ &KDPEHU RI &RPPHUFH &XVWRP WDLORUHG PDJD]LQHV WKDW DUH HVVHQWLDO IRU \RXU ORFDO &KDPEHU RI &RPPHUFH DQG EXVLQHVV FRPPXQLW\
(9(17 63(&,$/7< 38%/,6+,1* 0XVKURRP )HVWLYDO 9LVLWRUV *XLGH 8QLRQYLOOH &RPPXQLW\ )DLU DQG )DUP 6KRZ .HQQHWW 5XQ (YHQW *XLGH 0LGGOHWRZQ 3HDFK )HVWLYDO %UDQG\ZLQH +RVSLWDO·V 6WUDZEHUU\ )HVWLYDO 3HQQ 7RZQVKLS 1HZVOHWWHU :H FDQ EH WKH SHUIHFW PHGLD VSRQVRU WR SXEOLFL]H DQG SURPRWH \RXU FRPPXQLW\ HYHQW (DFK SXEOLFDWLRQ LV FXVWRP GHVLJQHG WR \RXU QHHGV
)25 025( ,1)250$7,21 &217$&7 5$1'< /,(%(50$1 $7 UDQG\O#FKHVWHUFRXQW\ FRP RU FDOO H[W
FURNITURE & CABINETRY We build everything from Kitchens, Bars, Free-standing or Built-in Entertainment Centers, Bookcases, Tables and Furniture
SHOWROOM MONDAY-SATURDAY 10AM-4PM
ALL OUR WOODWORKING IS MADE HERE BY OUR CRAFTSMEN 610-869-0700 | 420 West Baltimore Pike, West Grove, PA | londongrove.com
Greenville & Hockessin Life Magazine Winter 2023
ghlifemagazine.com A Chester County Press Publication P.O. Box 150, Kelton PA 19346 address corrections not required
Discover the R&D Difference Call Today. 610-444-6421 | rdhvac.com