Recently, articles authored by historian Ron Dupont and me have generated several columns. All good!
Recall that a friend from Sussex Borough had found an old book from 1939 with local information on McCoy’s Corner. With that, I showed artist Louie Larsen’s painting of the McCoy homestead and showed how the farmhouse is today.
Then the book described about Winding Brook Farm. The painting showing the great red barn in its heyday (or should I say “hay” day) in an attractive way.
I later found out the artist was the noted county painter Carol Decker, whose work we looked at closely two weeks ago. This barn brought the question in my column last week by Andrew Gennaro about the location of the barns and silos he painted in 1960.
Going back to Ron’s informative historical article on the old Martin house in the Martins section of Wantage (also known as the “haunted house” or “the Bates motel”) near where Cardinal Coat company once stood. Ron had a great photograph that he took during the home’s better days.
This has yielded yet another great response that answers a personal question. There’s a great detailed painting of the house that has been around for many years. It so happens that the artist who made the painting was none other than Wendy Stamer of Sparta.
I’ve known Wendy for a long time. She provided information for me on her farm when I produced my book titled “Sparta: Head of the Wallkill” many years ago.
She is a graduate of Bucknell and has numerous paintings of buildings, landscapes, pets, birds and flowers. She works with watercolor and oils and teaches classes in watercolor.
She has been deeply involved in our county as a member and president of the Sussex County Art Society, Sparta Woman’s Club Art, and Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council. She has gained many awards, including four Best in Shows, in more than 40 years.
I find her art to be very colorful and lifelike. Her mind’s eye for nature and landscapes captures the same essence of Sussex County that I love.
Wendy has said, “Painting landscapes, wildlife and flowers gives me the opportunity to do what I like best - observe and commune with nature. I am intrigued with the patterns of light, the elegance of shadow, and the incredible mystery and promise of God’s own creation.”
She has certainly taken in the wonders of our county and used her artistic hand to convey them to canvas.
She may be reached at wendystamer@yahoo.com
Bill Truran, Sussex County’s historian, may be contacted at billt1425@gmail.com