Beaver Brook Cottage and Classroom opens to community

Quonset hut reborn as place to gather, learn, relax and recharge

By SANDY LONG

NARROWSBURG, NY — Tucked away at the end of a quiet road in Narrowsburg’s more forested reaches is a pleasantly peculiar building. The semi-cylindrical form, sheathed attractively in weathered wood, is still recognizable as a type of building used extensively during World War II, known as a Quonset hut. Some 170,000 huts were produced near Quonset, Rhode Island during the war. The practical structures proved popular with civilians, who have since demonstrated considerable creativity in transforming them into other uses.

Such was the scenario for Mary Greene, founder and director of the Upper Delaware Writers Collective (UDWC), whose home is only a short walk away from the former hut. “When I moved in, I noticed this strange structure behind my house,” said Greene. Constructed from a kit, the shelter was built by its former owner and his family to serve as a camping retreat.

Greene founded the Upper Delaware Writer’s Collective in 1993 to facilitate and foster the literary arts in the Delaware River valley. The group began meeting in Greene’s home and, with some 20 members today, it has outgrown its cozy quarters.

Greene found herself increasingly frustrated at the lack of an appropriate space within the community where she could expand the activities of the group. “In my work with the UDWC, I was in need of a class space where I could conduct workshops,” said Greene. “Actually, the entire community needs access to such a space.”

When the hut came on the market, Greene saw her opportunity to create what she needed. But the transformation would involve a significant investment of time and resources. She purchased the hut in late 2004, then spent the next two years renovating it. Greene had the cement floors replaced with wood. Grahamsville carpenter Dale Porter restructured interior walls resembling a metal rib cage into sculpted scapes that capture and reflect natural light. Insulation and utilities were added and a rough road was improved for accessibility.

But Greene took care not to take the project too far. “I wanted to fix it up minimally and use it as a learning space, where teachers of all kinds can hold healing circles, lead nature walks, conduct movement, writing and craft classes and organize community educational opportunities.” Ultimately, Greene aims to establish a core group of locally based teachers. All workshops are sponsored by the UDWC, which will receive a small percentage of the proceeds in support of the non-profit organization’s work.

Complementing the capabilities of the space is its peaceful and adaptable aesthetic. Surrounded by forest, with overarching skies, the only sounds are those of nature—birdsong and breezes rustling the trees. Lending a sense of spirit to the dwelling is an assortment of antiques such as weathered wooden pillars, a slouchy leather chair for curling up with journal and pen and even a nicely preserved potty chair.

Greene is also making Beaver Brook Cottage available for use as a vacation retreat, with full kitchen and bath facilities, and two bedrooms that comfortably sleep up to six people. The facility boasts a cozy wood stove in addition to its regular heating source.

Greene sees the cottage as a place for learning and for letting go, for dancing or for disappearing for a while, a place to finish your book—or to start one. “Readings, celebrations, book publishing parties, yoga classes—the possibilities are wide,” she explained.

Beaver Brook Cottage’s inaugural workshop is scheduled for September 22, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The session will be led by Patty de Llosa, author of “The Practice of Presence,” who will guide participants in an exploration of specific practices to recover the authentic self. (See page 13 in this issue for a review of the book.) Next up, Triad Dance Ensemble is renting the space to prepare for their upcoming performance at the Tusten Theater in October.

Greene, who is also associate editor at The River Reporter, hopes that Beaver Brook Cottage, whether sought to soothe the spirit as a peaceful writer’s garret, with little more than birdsong for company, or enlivened with opportunities to experience something new, will become a place where learning and relaxing in the restorative natural setting go hand in hand.

“It’s a really versatile space that can be adapted to a variety of uses,” she said. “I’m blessed that I was able to buy it and make it available to the community.”

For additional information about teaching or attending classes, and to register for the September 22 workshop, contact Greene at 845/252-7506 or mogreene44@yahoo.com.