Delaware Water Gap: Fascinating History for a National Treasure

Delaware Water Gap... what a strange name.  This is exactly what I thought 40 years ago driving through the area and impressed by the scenery.  Well, it was time to return... so we did.

Delaware River

The website http://delawarewatergap.org/ states:

 The Delaware Water Gap is not only a geological phenomenon, its also a 70,000 acre National Recreation Area as well as a small borough known for its haven of artists, craft shops and boutiques that draw inspiration from its scenery and rich history.

Stop in this old house for a history lesson

From my perspective, there are more historical buildings existing on the New Jersey side of the park.  It seems the residents in Pennsylvania by and large sold their lands to the US Government when threatened with Imminent Domain. 

An original house from the early 1900s

From http://www.njskylands.com/pkdwgnra we learn:
Tens of millions of dollars were appropriated and work began to prepare the area for flooding. Three to five thousand dwellings were demolished. Some fifteen thousand people were displaced, many of whom represented 300 years and 13 generations of history and culture in the Upper Delaware Valley. A serene region of farms, hamlets and villages along a free flowing river was systematically dismantled as part of a plan that was eventually shelved. There was passionate opposition from many corners to the government's agenda. Some of the more visible historical homes were temporarily spared only to be destroyed by squatters and arsonists. For 18 years the valley was the site of a bizarre free-for-all with an unpredictable outcome.
Finally, in 1978 the project was deemed economically & environmentally unsound, and the government, instead of selling back the remaining 83 homes to original owners, transferred the properties to the National Park Service. The Delaware River was placed under the protection of the Scenic Rivers Act.

Well house in historic Millbrook

Our first stop was The Village of Bevans which is now the Peters Valley School of Craft. This Sunday we visited several of the buildings before entering the Gift/Information building.  From there we drove to the black smith shop so Bill could observe the finer points of knife making.  Making the best of the time, I took Anna on a stroll and toured the historic grounds and studios. 

Nothing better than a back rub

Another small borough that survived is Millbrook Village.  This town is a collection of historic buildings from the original settlement along with other artifacts where you can explore life in the valley during the late 1800s.

Millbrook started in 1832 when a local farmer built a grist mill along the newly-finished Columbia-Walpack Turnpike where it crossed a stream known as "Van Campens Mill Brook." By 1875, Millbrook had reached a peak of 75 inhabitants and about nineteen major buildings. 

Brook by the Mill

The park service interprets Millbrook Village as an late 1800 hamlet so you can experience the feeling of the valley countryside hamlets.  This is important as most of our nation's people lived in small settlements such as this until the end of the 19th century.   And, driving along the old, narrow, steep roads through the rough country side the late 1800s come to life.

Back porch and cellar from the
early 1900s house

During the summer volunteers with the Millbrook Village Society along with other volunteers and park rangers demonstrate life in Millbrook.  The Sunday we visited Millbrook, a lady was interpreting life in an early 1900s house.  It was our good fortune that this lady was the great grand-daughter of the original owner and had spent summers in the house!  Talk about living history.

Step back in time, enter the general store

The two mentioned are only a few of the hamlets, villages, and historical places in the park. Most are found along the Old Mine Road which was constructed in the mid-1700s.  Driving along this road, the park's main passage in New Jersey, takes you back 100 years to an earlier time.

Trails through the park
Imagine driving a wagon through this.