Rose Valley 
THE POTTERY 
and the interchange of 
thought is helpful and 
exhilarating. 
Rose Valley invites 
all who wish to con- 
tribute the work of 
their hands and hrains 
f o r the o; o o d o f the 
com in unity to come 
and live there. It also 
invites co-operation of 
capital to further the 
enterprise which is full 
of ]■) ro m i se. L a n d m ay 
he leased to those who 
desire to build shops, 
studios, or dwellings, 
or it may be bought 
outright by those who 
have decided to throw 
in their lot with these 
arts men. 
Most of the houses 
are built of local ma¬ 
terial. Nestling among 
fields and trees they seem part of the whole, and are 
fitting homes for the artists, authors, craftsmen, and 
others who aim to do things that are worth while. 
Already about one hundred permanent residents have 
taken up their abode at Rose Valley, including Mr. 
Price and Mr. McLanahan, who are making the 
success of their ideal their life-work. 
The waters of Ridley Creek have been used for 
the water supply, and were found to possess in them¬ 
selves power to operate pumps for supplying water 
to the level of the house-tanks, as well as providing 
water power for the workshops. 
The ruined walls of the old mill have been utilized 
as they stood in the construction of the furniture 
shops which overlook the wooded hillsides, and are 
bright and roomy. The workmen, busy with lathe 
and carving, seem somehow to belong to the sunlit 
atmosphere, their bright intelligence showing their 
interest in their work, and appreciation of their sur¬ 
roundings. That “art is the expression of man’s 
pleasure in labor,” has been proved in the character 
and quality of work that has been done. The Gothic 
carving on some of the tables shows an artist hand, 
giving to the world examples of the best which man 
can produce. Stimulation has been given by the 
practical teaching of John Maene, master-craftsman, 
who is said to be the best wood carver in the country 
to-day, and by W. L. Price, whose designs in domes¬ 
tic Gothic architecture are so well known. Chairs 
and tables of honest construction are made with 
tenon and pin, and are of the kind that last a lifetime. 
1 he Rose Valley Association does not organize, 
or run the shops. Rose Valley is said to be an 
opportunity for private enterprise to show what can 
be done in the way of good honest hand-crafts. The 
function of the association is to see that this original 
o 
purpose is carried out, and assists by giving a guar¬ 
antee of good workmanship in the Rose Valley seal 
or craft “trade mark,” which stands for honesty 
and good quality of work and material. The .symbol 
adopted is that of a buckled belt, an emblem of 
unity and brotherhood. A wild rose with the letter 
V on the petals completes the device. As soon as the 
character and quality of the work entitle him to it, 
a craftsman may use this seal. The association is 
the judge of this. 
W. P. Jarvis, master-potter, has established himself 
at Rose Valley, and has produced an egg-shell glaze 
which has already attracted attention. Each piece 
of pottery is distinct and unique, as he aims to direct 
the markings which are produced by the action of 
the heat. Mr. Jarvis is also an author, having written 
many well-known works on pottery, including the 
“Encyclopaedia of Ceramics.” 
Resides the furniture and pottery industries there 
is the print shop, where hooks are made, and which 
publishes a chronicle of Rose Valley life; this pub¬ 
lication is called, “ Phe Artsman,” and is edited by 
Horace Trauhle, one of the leading spirits of the 
valley. 
One of the most interesting features of Rose Valley 
is the Guild Hall fashioned out of an old stone mill 
into a beautiful common house. All the work of 
remodeling, finishing, decorating, and furnishing was 
a labor of love, every person of the community 
doing his or her best to make the Guild Hall a 
163 
