Millbrook Wrap up for 2013
 With the conclusion of the Christmas Hymn Sing program on December 2,2012 we concluded our program year 2012. It was an exciting year trying to recover from the storm damages of 2011. Some of which still needs to repaired. Millbrook Days was back and enjoyed by those that attended and volunteered. The National Park Service did an outstanding job in replacing the roofs on numerous structures. They needed repair and NPS stood up to the task. As of this writing, the wagon shop and restroom building is receiving it's new roof and it should be finished before the end of the year. That is if the snow doesn't blow too much. Wishing them the most in success.

Volunteer Of the Year Award 2012
 Dick Plog a member of the Millbrook Village Society was awarded with the prestigious Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Volunteer of the Year Award at the Volunteer Appreciation gathering sponsored by the NPS at the Peters Valley pavillion on September 15,2012. Congratulations to one of our own. Great job Dick.

Buildings at Millbrook get new hats(roofs) and Friday Workcrew is busy too.
 Thanks to the National Park Service several of the buildings in the village were re-roofed over the past season. The toughest job seemed to be the VanCampen Barn. We were looking at the scaffolding up until the week before Millbrook Days but by the appointed time, the building was completely re-roofed and the scaffolding was gone. Other buildings receiving new roofs were the Spangenberg Cabin and the back of the Garris House(kitchen area). The Trauger Barn is sporting a blue tarp roof in preparation for a restoration of this building that has needed work for many years as testified to by the orange fence that surrounds the building. Thanks again to the NPS for their interest in keeping Millbrook Village in shape.
Spangenber Cabin being re-roofed. Van Campen Barn with its new roof Garris House Kitchen with a new roof Trauger Barn with its blue roof. Over the next year or so this building will be restored.

 
New Roof on Wagon Shop New Steps on Cider Mill Well Surround in Progress  






Storm Damage from Hurricane Irene Still visible in village.
 Most of the village roads and parking lots were restored to useable condition prior to the village opening for the season but work still remains to be accomplished. See Hurricane Irene Damage

Cutting Lumber for the National Park Service

Since the society owns a Wood-Mizer Saw Mill and the Park Service is in need of decking lumber for observation platforms and boardwalks, the society volunteers have been spending Fridays and also numerous Tuesdays to cut hardwood logs into the required dimensional lumber. They supply the logs and we slice them up. We have been at it since around the beginning of March. This is a monumental effort utilizing the always helpful Millbrook Volunteers. The photos below relate to this effort. Contractors employed by the NPS have been using the wood as shown below. We visited Childs Park to see the final resting place for some of our cut wood.

       
From the raw log.  To the finished lumber  Our efforts in place at Childs Park, Pa. The platform overlooks this beautiful view of Dingmans Creek. 
 

Covered Bridge - A bridge with no place to go while permitting is in process.

The only thing remaining for the bridge project is to move it across the VanCampen Brook and then install the decking and siding. These steps were left to the end to make the move lighter. We are now caught in the administrative limbo of having to secure the necessary permitting which will involve costly engineering studies and in most likelyhood a long delay while the administrative gods have been sated. So here we are - donors of a bridge with no place to go. Perhaps it will rot in place on the pine cribbing as a testament to the volunteers that invested hundreds of manhours for the benefit of the village.

 

 		 

The weavers in Hill House are seeking textile stories from the
descendants of Millbrook Village about any spinning or weaving
activity that took place in the village. Do you have a family story or
memory you'd like to share? If so, please e-mail
mailto@millbrooknj.com  to tell us about it. As
much as possible, we would like to incorporate real family stories
into the textile presentation given to our visitors. Our village
volunteers and guests appreciate your taking the time to share your
family history with us.

  Barn Frame Loom has been re-warped!

Sally Orgren has been busy in the Hill House rewarping the barn frame loom. She makes a special request to keep any cats out of the house as they would wreak havoc with the loose threads on this project.

Barn Frame Loom Before Rewarping Loom in Process of Rewarping Barn Frame Loom rewarped and in operation. Fabric coming off the Barn Frame Loom

We managed to keep all of those hundreds of threads in order (thankfully, no cats came to help us out!) and the loom is back in operation. Come visit Hill House and see the beautiful fabric a loom from the 1700's can still produce!

In August, we will begin rewarping the Weaver's Delight (the rug loom). If you ever wondered "How did they set up those old looms?" now is the time to visit Hill House and see for yourself! Stay tuned for pictures to come of the colorful rugs recently woven on this vintage loom by our volunteers.

Items on Our Wish List

Mannequins and Dress Makers forms are needed by the society to be used in our displays of period clothing. If you have knowledge where we might acquire these and other items please use the feedback form to get back to us.

 Large framing chisels and wooden mallets for volunteer use in building projects. We can sharpen and replace handles if necessary

Stationary Gasoline Engine to power our Sawmill, 40-50 HP minimum, 70HP preferred or even better, an old 25to30HP "one lunger"(horses were  stronger back     then.)