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RURAL DELIVERYSpring 2020 News from The Middle Valley Community Center, Established 1891

Welcome to Whateversday, 2020. If you are of a certain age and locked down at home without your familiar routine of work or social engagement, times are very strange.

It is unnerving to look at the Community Center and know that it will be some time before it can be filled with people and music and chat and bonhomie. Things are going on, but they aren’t the sort of things that help us enjoy our community.

The building isn’t there to just look pretty. It’s our Community Center and the true value is in being used and enjoyed.

While the Center remains empty, Paul Krylowski is taking the opportunity to work his magic on repairing the windows. But nobody has been mopping the floor or dusting the place. The grounds are being tended. With all of the rain this spring, we look good, looking from the outside in.

Perhaps the best thing we can do now is to accelerate our structural repairs. It is long past time to do a lot of serious work like repairing, repointing and restoring the foundation. We have needed a new roof for a few years. Patching isn’t a proper way to keep the building in good repair. Too much has gone right in the past few years to lose the momentum.

The trustees looked at the practicality of applying for a grant from the State to address some of the issues that were identified by a historical architect last year under a State Cultural grant. He advised that we would need to spend upwards of $300,000 to fully restore the building. That is somewhat beyond a realistic budget and would require a grant that is far beyond our current capacity to manage.

However, the trustees do want to address the building’s deficiencies. We have been raising funds in our Raise the Roof campaign. We are going to have to raise a lot more to fix those structural parts of the building that really do have to be fixed.

If you would like to make a meaningful tax-deductible contribution, (www.MiddleValleyNJ.org) we very much want to hear from you. If you would like to be a part of the fund raising team, we have a job for you (mvccmembers@gmail.com). The tasks are pretty basic. Identify people, companies and funders that might be interested. Cultivate relationships. Promote the Community Center as well worth their care and concern. Ask for financial support.

We have a well-recognized gem in the middle of our valley. Let’s spread the love and make some new friends!

Bill Leavens

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gabriel Letko was the lucky quilt drawing winner. His ticket was drawn at the December 14, 2019 Cirotti Trio concert and he was presented his prize by Trustee and quilt creator Chris Steffan. Congratulations Gabriel!

Guess Who Needs a FACE LIFT???

2Middle Valley

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A year blessed with music...

52019-2020 Financial Report

6Book Fest 2019

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MV History

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Plant Sale Update

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When you hit 70, all the creams, facials, make-up tips, and Botox can no longer fix what is needed to bring back the look of yesteryear. So is it any wonder that the only alternative is a face lift …

… that is if you can afford one!

Oh, wait a minute, I am not referring to me! LOL

Susan Hassinger

Guess Who Needs a FACE LIFT???

I am talking about our beloved Middle Valley Community Center! It is in desperate need of a “Roof Lift!” It has been 70 years since the existing metal roof replaced the wooden shingles that were in place for eons.

We have had our share of leaks that caused issues with the ceiling umpteen times. Those issues have been temporarily resolved by sealing the roof. However, rusting has caused the fasteners to fail and compromised the weather tight integrity of the roof.

We have fixed the original windows, painted trim and the porch ceiling, and replaced the porch light, etc. etc. But putting “lipstick on a pig” is not going to solve the roof issues. It is way beyond time for a “Roof Lift!”

Our successful concerts, Music in The Valley Series, enabled us to start a roof fund. However, Covid-19 has put a stop to them for the unforeseeable future, along with other ideas we had for raising money, due to “social distancing”.

To date we have $885 in the “Raise the Roof Fund.” As I mentioned at the beginning of this, a Face Lift is nice if you can afford it! Well that holds true with the “Roof Lift” except we NEED the new roof even though we can’t afford it. We need it especially if we want to have the building ready for more music and usage when all this Covid-19 subsides. At this point we have no choice but to bite the bullet and have it done.

A new roof is going to cost in the neighborhood of $8,000 and this is where you come in. We are asking our members and friends to help us reach this goal by giving a tax deductible donation to the “Raise the Roof Fund.” I am sending my check for $115 to bring the current fund balance to an even $1,000. Now we only have to raise $7,000 more!!!

With our current membership, I would like to suggest that each family do-nate a tax deductible amount for a minimum of $100 earmarked for the “Raise the Roof Fund.” Donations can be made electronically through our website, MiddleValleyNJ.org. If my math is correct, we could have the $7,000 in time to have our new roof by the Fall!!!

Thank you in advance for helping to keep a roof over our heads.Donate online through PayPal

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Middle Valley

The Lenape tribe called the entire area stretching between Schooley’s Mt. and Fox Hill, an area 2 miles wide and over twelve miles long, “the long valley”. Within this area are the communities of Califon, Lower Valley, Long Valley, Naughright, Bartley and, of course, Middle Valley in the center.

Industries that have been present through time were mining, farming, grist & saw mills, general stores, Post Offices, blacksmith shops, auto repair and a peach basket factory.

Some of the early land owners of Middle Valley were John Budd, John Budd Scott, John Dennis, Samuel Schwachhamer, Jacob Welsch and Trimmers, to name a very few. Some historic buildings/homes still here today are the David Miller home, Samuel Schwachhamer home (now the Raritan Inn), Johannes Hendershot, David Miller’s General Store (now Middle Valley Community Center), William S. Naughright home, Wm. Welsch Jr. home (became a doctor’s resi-dence and used as an asylum).

In the 1930’s Middle Valley, along with Califon and Long Valley, faced the threat of inundation as the State looked for a location (Califon/Bunnvale area) to dam and flood, creating a reservoir to

provide water for other areas of NJ.

The shortest railroad line in NJ was a 1.33 mile spur known as Middle Valley Railroad which only went to the Middle Valley Trap Rock and Mine Company.

From 1876 – 1976, the Central Railroad of NJ traversed Middle Valley. In 1976 the Central Railroad High Bridge Branch was dis-continued morphing into the current Columbia Trail (1998) which runs through a portion of Morris and Hunterdon counties.

Columbia Trail HistoryIn 1876 Lewis H. Taylor was instrumental in bringing the CRR to High Bridge, servicing the Taylor Wharton Iron & Steel Company as well as other foundries and mines in High Bridge and Wharton. The line also served passengers. Children rode the train to Dover to attend school.

1976 Conrail deems the High Bridge Line redundant and in 1980 the rails were dismantled. In the mid 1990’s: Columbia Gas

Chris Steffan

For those of us who live here there is an appreciation for Middle Valley, which has a varied and interesting history, historic buildings, upstanding citizens, plants, and varied wildlife.

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Company bought the right-of-way for an underground gas transmis-sion line. After some negotiation Columbia Gas donated the surface rights of the right-of-way to the Morris and Hunterdon County Park Commissions in April 1998, as compensation for the disturbance of various public lands, about 15 miles. Columbia Gas Transmission Company also agreed to provide the counties with installed trail, ready for public use. The trail was open to the public in 1998. About 10 years later, on the Morris County side, the trail got an upgrade with widening and stone surfacing.

The section of the trail traversing Middle Valley offers shaded, interesting rides (bike or horse) or walks. Trail users can experience views of farms that were worked by our founders cross the South Branch of the Raritan River over a railroad bridge. If you take the time, you may see Gnome homes, painted ‘inspiration’ rocks, cairns or plants such as milk weed (food for monarch butterflies), skunk cabbage (used by early pollinators) or a native pink azalea and many more. When the trail nears the river, look for birds such as Bald Eagle, Osprey, Great Blue or Green Herons, and Merganser ducks. Tree frogs, horses, fox, turtles, red-tailed hawk, coyote or one of the other many interesting creatures that co-exist with us here in Middle Valley may also cross your path. Enjoy being close to the variety of life the Columbia Trail brings you near and, please remember the following:

Enjoy your use of the trail but obey safety laws. In New Jersey, a bicyclist has the same rights and responsibilities as a motor vehicle driver. Obey all traffic signs and signals. Ride as near to the right of the road as practicable exercising due care when passing; ride in the same direction as vehicular traffic; show your intention clearly when turning and changing lanes.

Share the road/trail. Be aware of and respect the rights and safety of other road and trail users, especially children, pedestrians, jog-gers and equestrians. When approaching trail users from behind, call out indicating which side you intend to pass on: “On your left” or “On your right”. Keep in mind that hikers, other bikers or eques-trians don’t always hear you coming.

And, please, respect the private property you are traveling through by staying on the trail.

Sources of information and inspiration:History of Middle Valley, New Jersey – Steven F. Firtko; copyright 1995.Images of America: Washington Township, Morris County – Elizabeth Guzenski, Charlotte Arndt, & Juergen Arndt; copyright 2013.What Dwells in Middle Valley? – Alison Goessling; copyright 2016. The book is a picto-rial view of Middle Valley inhabitants. Alison donated all net profits to the Community Center. Purchase at: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/what-dwells-in-middle-valley1. Various websites photos courtesy Chris Steffan

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Music EventsThe Community Center has had good fortune in promoting and enjoying music events that we have hosted over the years. Lauren Vazquez has done a superb job of locating and signing up an eclectic array of musicians and groups to perform in the Center.

The musicians all love playing in the building. Our crowd is respectful and attentive. The building interior dimensions and hard walls provide seriously good tonal qualities. The musicians make a little money and they have a good time.

Our audiences have enjoyed some engaging live perfor-mances. They can bring their own libations, eat goodies, kick back and relax. They enjoy the ambience of being in a curious 220 year old landmark.

With the music events, the building has been able to do exactly what the founders of the Middle Valley Hall Association intended. Music encourages the sharing of social experience within the community. As a real benefit of the concerts, we have made a goodly number of friends and supporters outside of our immediate neighborhood.

And then the stupid virus came along. All building use is now stopped. Musicians aren’t there. Audiences aren’t there. Silence reigns. We have had to suspend everything we have been working on to make the Center a more rel-evant community attribute. But the building is still there. The musicians still want to play. People still want to listen. We shall return to normal...soon.

Bill Leavens

In 2019, we were blessed with 13 marvelous music shows. So, thank you to the musician hosts and audience guests who joined us on Saturday nights in 2019 to create an amazing year of music. Revenue from every show is split between musicians and Center. I’m pleased to tell you that in 2019, the music netted $2,728.20, all of which went into improving the building and future shows. Every time you attend a show, you enable us to con-tinue to bring Music in the Valley to life. That idea, first conceived in 2017, has grown into something very special. Again, thank you for that.

Unfamiliar with Music in the Valley? Between Spring and Fall, on perfectly placed Saturday evenings, local musicians play great live music in our acoustically amazing Center in Middle Valley. Your part is to buy a ticket, show up and relax with music, friends and your favorite beverage. All shows are BYOB. We provide ice, cups and bottle openers. We also have cider, coffee and/or tea. The place is set up coffee house style and there are lots of smiles, support and love.

Besides the amazing acoustics, the musicians love to play at our Center because there are no visual distractions or noise during the show. They play to a captive audience and are able to completely focus on their music. It’s really special for everyone.

We did have a full calendar planned for 2020, but life in the time of a pandemic got in the way and we needed to cancel our shows. In the meantime, many of our musicians found zoom, face-book and other ways to bring their music to you remotely but we know, it’s just not the same, is it?

So, until we can safely be together, we will continue to preserve, hold, and in time, share our space with you and music again. There is one thing we know: our little old building enjoys the energy and attention and is longing for the day the music comes back.

A year blessed with music and a hopeful look aheadLauren Vasquez

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MVCC 2019-2020 Financial ReportKathryn Z. Krylowski

Thanks to the efforts of MVCC Trustees, volunteers, members and friends, 2019 was a break-even year for the Middle Valley Community Center. A total revenue of $8,014.36 was realized from the continuation of the Music In The Valley Series, the Center’s first Book Fest, a quilt raffle, building usage, membership dues and generous donations. While expenses of $12,055.890 left us with a negative bank balance, the amount of $4,333 paid to John Bolt Architect for the Assessment Grant, will be reimbursed shortly. Our total profit for the 2019 year is $291.47. We were able to continue adding to our interest-bearing savings account with 10% of music concert proceeds for a savings account total of $884.02. Below is a breakdown of income and expenses for last year:

2019 IncomeRaise the Roof Fund $115.00 (total donations 2019 $885)Building usage $305.00Book Fest $1,304.50Music events $2,728.20Quilt Raffle $324.59General Donations $294.07Membership dues $1.347.51Book sales $42.95

2019 ExpensesBuilding expenses $5,249.37 (repairs, materials & building assessment partial)Book Fest expenses $554.86Community Event exp. $75.14 (picnic, annual dinner, 501c3 presentation)Fund Raising expenses $1,479.41 (advertising, food, supplies)General expenses $289.47 (domain name, stamps, supplies, PO Box rent)Insurance $3,966.66 (1 year commercial & umbrella; 3 years D&O)Postage $76.50 (mailings)Charities Registration $30.00Utilities $193.61Website renewals $ 141.05 (domain and hosting)

2020 Update As MVCC has suspended the music season, Membership Annual Dinner and Meeting and Membership Annual Picnic until further notice due to the corona-virus pandemic, Trustees have been working together at a distance to keep in touch with members, friends and each other. In January, Middle Valley resident and longtime MVCC supporter and member Robert J. Waters passed. The Waters family very generously designated the Middle Valley Community Center as the beneficiary of donations made in memory of our friend Bob. This generosity, for which we are so grateful, along with the remote plant sale fundraiser, and the annual mem-bership drive have enabled us to continue in 2020 without our scheduled activities held in the building. In summary, our 2020 income to date is $6,757.70 from the plant sale, Robert J. Waters memorial, Raise the Roof, general donations and dues renewals. Expenses to-date are $5,510.58 for the building assessment grant requirement final payment*, plant sale fund raising and general expenses (PO Box fee, 25% insurance payment, postage and utilities).

*Cost of building assessment to be reimbursed through State grant

The purpose of the Middle Valley Community Center (MVCC) is to preserve and enhance the Middle Valley Historic District, provide educational and social activities for the public, and establish a gathering place for the community. To this end, MVCC owns, and maintains the circa 1890 Middle Valley Community Center (listed on the NJ Register of Historic Places) as a focal point for these activities and events. MVCC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

©2020 Middle Valley Community Center

contact usmvccmembers@gmail.com

websiteMiddleValleyNJ.org

CONSIDER HELPING US

Middle Valley is looking for a few good people. We are a small, loosely knit neighborhood organization composed of people who simply love this area. We are all about two things – maintaining the Community Center and using that resource in comradeship. We are looking for volunteers to be active at our events and participating at a more fulfilling level. With the current state of the world, we are figuring out how to be active within the community again and we will need folks to participate and help organize events.

If you would like to become involved we are looking for volunteers to be active at our events (greeters, ticket takers, setup, parking guides, etc). Drop us an email to mvccmembers@gmail.com.

If you would like to become a member use the form at the end of this newsletter or join online at our website, MiddleValleyNJ.org/membership.

We welcome your interest in suggesting individuals for joining the Board of Trustees. That role is more demanding, but can help shape our future and literally make things happen. Trustees act on and are responsible for the management of the Center’s activities, including developing appropriate policies and the supporting programs and activities.

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The Book Fest event was held November 9, 2019 in the Center. It was well received and was the first book signing the Center has ever held. Member DJ Murphy organized the day and invited 13 fellow contemporary authors to participate in the single day event. Authors freely signed copies of guest’s books and also offered for sale copies of their own works.

Guests were offered complimentary food, wine and door prizes donated by local businesses. Our paid sponsorships were PeaPack Gladstone Bank, Raritan Inn, Weichert Realtors, PMR [Precision Motor Sports], Niki Silverstein MD, Riverside Wine & Liquors, R. Fernandes Homes, Health Care Connect, llc., J.A. Lisa stone mason, Freeman Motors. Our product/services donors were Circa Restaurant, Casa Maya Restaurant, Califon Lumber Company, DJV Murphy, Hoffmans Supply, Knicks NBA, MAX’s Market & Eatery and Melick’s Town Farm. A special thank you to all these businesses and individuals for helping make this event a success and to the authors for their contributions.

Art Show On Tap For This FallThe MVCC Book Fest is now just a memory, but the organization is now in the planning stages of a second art show, featuring many of the area’s fine artists.

Last fall some 14 authors shared their latest creations with a sizable crowd in attendance for this first all day presentation by our area’s talented authors. Now MVCC is reaching out to another group of talented residents.

No date has been set with the current challenges of the virus, but tentative plans call for a Fall get together in our historic building in the “middle” of Middle Valley. The art show is to include a variety of works of art including original and prints. Crafts on display for purchase are to include potters, ceramicists, fabric design makers, and others.

DJ Murphy

Book Fest 2019

12 of the 14 authors (left to right); Cheryl DeVleeschouwer, Carol Camerino, D.W. Maroney, Jean Joachim, Brenda Havens, DJ Murphy, Marin Resnick, Thomas Yannitte, Charles Levin, Kristina Garlick, Mark Vogel and Renny Hodgskin

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Middle Valley History Mysteries... can you identify?

Can you help us identify either of these buildings?

This postcard was up for auction but unfortunately escaped purchase. We only have this low res image as reference. We would like to identify the owners and locations. The mountain range orientation is a key factor in the identifications.

If you know or have a hunch on possible locations, please contact us at: pkmvcc@centurylink.net

Middle Valley PostcardsEarly photographers captured images of the area and sold these photographs as postcards. They have become a collected item showing up on Ebay or in antique shops. These early postcards were not printed on an off-set printing press but were actual photographic prints from negatives. As such the detail on original photographic postcards can be very sharp. See the examples below left.

Later in the 1800’s some of the postcards started to be reproduced on printing presses and as such cannot be enlarged to reveal sharp details because the photographs have a screen (dots) applied for printing purposes (below right).

1911 photo of Mr & Mrs Brown’s current home on Middle Valley Rd. This is a great example of a photographic print postcard.

Not sure when the original photo was taken but it appears this photo was printed on a press at a later date. It is a very early image of Middle Valley, NJ.

This is an enlargement of the postcard and even when using descreening software the image is still fuzzy and soft. Notice the large building where the future gas station would stand someday at the corner of Middle Valley Rd and West Mill Rd.

An enlargement of the same 1911 postcard. Had this been printed on an offset printing press, the screen used in the printing process would have made the clarity of this enlargement impossible.

Paul Krylowski

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The Plant SaleWe had a unique opportunity presented to the Center to make a little money, make some new friends, and spread around some beauty.

Another organization I am involved with conducts an annual sale of native gar-den plants. Due to complications imposed by the virus, a decision was made by that organization to cancel the event after plants had been ordered.

Because the plants were newly available and because I wanted to maintain a good relationship with the local grower, I sought out the MVCC Board’s recom-mendation to hold a Middle Valley Native Plant Sale. The thinking was that everything up to the point of plant delivery could be done on line. DJ Murphy and I picked up the plants and scattered them about in my driveway.

Paul Krylowski cooked up a fabulous web page that included a selection and check out procedure through PayPal. Customers were solicited through targeted emails and orders began to be placed until the varieties were sold out.

Delivery was accomplished by inviting purchasers to pick plants up from my parking lot on a scheduled basis. In the height of the lock down, we were able to sell nearly $2,000 worth of great little plants. We made a little money on the deal and Lisa Tansug was able to plant some interesting leftovers around the Center.

For a half-baked, first time adventure, it all turned out to be a win-win. You can rest assured that this will become an annual event. It was (relatively) easy, intro-duced a number of new folks to the community, and it was fun!

Bill Leavens

Please return this portion with your payment or make a payment on-line (see below).

� $35 enclosed for 1 year family membership � $_____ Raise the Roof donation enclosed [all donations are tax deductible, MVCC is a 501(c)(3)]

Name

Address

City State ZIP

Telephone E-mail Address

Membership and donation payments may also be made on-line at www.MiddleValleyNJ.org/Membership

Please make check payable to:

MVCCPO Box 387

Long Valley, NJ 07853

2020 Middle Valley Community Center Membership Application/Dues Form

Interested in becoming a member?