8/9/24
Tea, History, and a Serendipitous Discovery
Day three of the Grove Farm residency was filled with rich conversations and unexpected discoveries. I spent the morning with Clair and Carol Grove at their farm in James Creek, enjoying tea and Carol’s delicious ginger cookies. We talked about their family’s generational farmstead and its transition to becoming part of what is now the Raystown Lake Region. Clair and Carol shared how their property, which has now become Juniata College’s Field Station, offers visitors access to the diverse aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that define this unique area.
As we talked, Clair and Carol recounted the shift from the old homestead and shared stories of how the Woodcock Valley community came together to support each other during the move of his dairy farm, sawmill, and maple syrup operation. Before I left, Clair proudly showed me his unique fireplace, built from stone salvaged from the old Pennsylvania Furnace where his grandfather had once worked refining the iron ore mined in the region.
From there, I took a road trip along Route 45, venturing into the Juniata Valley region—a part of Huntingdon County I hadn’t explored before. The journey proved fruitful when I stumbled upon the Colerain Center for Education and Art. I had the chance to chat with two artists who were just starting their residencies there, and I briefly connected with the staff, capturing a few photos of the facility. It was thrilling to discover this regional gem and to meet other artists inspired by the same landscapes and histories that I’m exploring. This day was a reminder of how interconnected our stories are and how the past continues to influence the creative spirit of the present.
