by Barbara Carlson
To conclude the multi-part exploration of the art and life of Rudolf and Margaret Wetterau, and the Woodstock Map of Artists Houses, I asked Barbara Carlson, granddaughter of the Woodstock painter John F. Carlson, to offer her memories, thoughts and incites on the maps of Woodstock created by the Wetteraus and her uncle Robert Eric Carlson.
Rudolf and Margaret Wetterau
Map of Woodstock Artists Houses, 1926
Photo Engraving
Collection of Paula Nelson
and John Kleinhans
Robert Eric Carlson (1916-2004)
Woodstock, as it were, 1995
Carlson Family Archives
The Wetterau Map
It was maybe 1955 when I first noticed the black and white framed piece forever hanging in our house. There was a beautiful horse drawn in the sharpest black line, like a freshly sharpened pencil. I was enraptured. And the horse was at the bottom of the frame - a height that I could see well. I loved that horse. I wanted to draw one just like it. (Turns out it represented the Maverick Horse, which actually looks nothing like that delicate fine sketch.)
Eventually, I must have got up on a chair or stool to see better — because I found other beautiful, sharp fine black ink renderings — deer, an artist at an easel, a swimmer, tiny trees, a mill with smoke coming out of the chimney, a baseball pitcher pitching, and somebody skiing fast! This map was always worth exploring. Once I could read, I saw many names of people I knew - including Carlson! My own family! And Webster! I knew them too! And Petersham!! This was getting better all the time.
Robert and David Carlson, 1943
John E. Carlson Collection
Peter Carlson, c. 1941-1945
John E. Carlson Collection
I loved to spend time with my father David and his two brothers. They each smoked pipes and had drinks and laughed all the time. Their conversations were peppered with many names I came to recognize again and again: Speicher, Bellows, Rosen, Wylie, Cramer, Whitehead, Cantine, Mattson, Wetterau, Chase, Elwyn, Mower… on and on it went.
When I was quite small, my father put me on his shoulders and off we went into the woods for a walk — or to go see a friend! Like Alan Wetterau, (Rudolf and Margaret's son) - who my father called Wett. Wett called my father Smith, like my uncles did. So we children were started very young on walking through the woods - and we’re still at it.
Details Up Mountains
and Crossing Roads
I learned how to go through the woods to all the places on the Wetterau map. In a more or less direct line, I crossed streams and roads, went up and down mountains, got lost then found my way again. The grownups’ conversation would mention people who lived miles from our house. Bearsville! Zena! Curiosity took me on many all-day ventures. Fast forward ——> It is now 2024 and I’m STILL finding new insights by staring at that Wetterau map — I sometimes think “so & so” always lived “there”. No. They moved around to different houses before I was born and all through the years for one reason or another. Just look at the map and you will see. It doesn’t lie!
John F. Carlson and his Son,
Robert Eric Carlson, Woodstock,
c. 1920-1925
John E. Carlson Collection
Robert Eric Carlson, Self Portrait, 1937
Collection of B. C. Ballas
Robert Eric Carlson Playing Wooden Recorder, c. 1995-2000
John E. Carlson Collection
The Robert Carlson Map
John H. Striebel (1891-1962)
Bohemians at Apple Rock, n.d.
Oil on canvas
Private Collection
My uncle Robert Eric Carlson (REC) was a fine artist with a paint brush, with clay potting, sculpting and more. With musical instruments — including his wonderful bass singing voice, he was a pro. My grandfather (JFC) was an enthusiastic singer too - as pictured in the painting by John H. Striebel.
Unknown Photographer
Original Carlson Studio and House,
North Side, Woodstock, N.Y. c. 1928
Courtesy of Carlson Family
Pictured are JFC and his three sons
left to right: JFC, David, Peter,
and Robert E. Carlson
JFC woodcut block print designs were of the family at home (not shown). One was a view of the south face of his studio and its porch looking on to the south meadow where the apple trees and birches were. My father and uncles grew up in that house in the 1910’s the same as we did in the 1950’s.
Robert Eric Carlson (1916-2004)
Christmas Greetings from the Carlsons
(Robert Eric Carlson, Penny Carlson,
and John Eric Carlson), 1963
John E. Carlson Collection
Robert Eric Carlson (1916-2004)
Merry Christmas from the Carlsons - Robert Eric Carlson,
Penny Carlson and John Eric Carlson), 1962
John E. Carlson Collection
Robert Eric Carlson (1916-2004)
Birthday Card to Ben Webster (date unknown)
Carlson Family Archives
When Christmas rolled around REC made Christmas cards as his father, John F. Carlson had done. REC's Christmas cards were sketches of his young family at home or sledding down the meadow. He always included their dog with a comical expression.
Robert Eric Carlson Property Map, c. 1990
Carlson Family Archives
Map of Woodstock, c. 1940s
John Eric Carlson Collection
He also made maps of sections of the large property where we all lived (see above). There were slopes with hundreds of tiny baby white pines, low areas that were swampy after it rained, a steep shale bank where we made arrowheads, and wet-weather creeks with tadpoles. There were moss carpeted glens and huge stretches of endless white pine needle beds beneath the pines, so springy under foot. Soft and lovely to lie on. He gave each region of the map a special name, often including an animal or bird who lived there, and that creature had a particular attitude. Sometimes the animal was imaginary, conjured out of a cedar tree stump. REC “published” the map just for the family and we all loved it, kids and grownups alike.
Robert Eric Carlson (1916-2004)
Woodstock, as it were, 1995
Carlson Family Archives
Robert Carlson Map - Slightly Expanded - Top and Bottom Halfs
Detail of Map of Artist Houses
with Fatty Schnable - Glasco Turnpike - Just East of Lower Byrdcliffe
In 1995, REC did a map of the Woodstock valley, (above) the same region that the Wetterau map shows. But REC mapped the houses of his own friends and families— the way he remembered them as a young boy. The map is titled: Woodstock - as it were, ca. 1920. So droll. REC didn’t repeat what the Wetterau map showed, and he included only the who, what and where of his own young boyhood. My favorite is “Fatty Schnable” who nobody seems to know now — or ever. We never heard of him when we were small, but Fatty must have made a big impression on my uncle. I dread to think.
If you want to read a very entertaining book about early Woodstock, look for The Vanishing Village, by Will P. Rose published in 1963. It’s on Amazon, and on several rare book sites too. You can also find it on InternetArchive.org and search it for anything you like or read it cover to cover - or purchase a copy at the shop of the Historical Society of Woodstock.
Hans Schleicher and Woodstock Friends, c. 1935-1940
Back Row Left to Right:
Dorothy McEvoy, Robert Eric Carlson,
Barbara Chase, Hans Schleicher, Charles Chase, Aileen Cramer.
Second Row:
Unknown and Virginia Kingsbury.
First Row:
John Faggi, John Kingsbury, David Carlson.
Schleicher Family Archives
Barbara Carlson Making Pottery in Woodstock , c. 1956
Carlson Family Archives
Will remembers the time from about 1895 to 1900 and tells us of his own childhood life in the Village as a very young boy. His child’s voice and perspective is priceless. Many names we know so well appear throughout the book: Elwyn, Longyear, Shultis, Harder, Short, etc. The book ends in 1900 when tragically, artists began to come from NYC to paint the natural surroundings. And they ruined everything we traditionally loved with their wild ways. The young boy’s language - so innocent yet so telling - will keep you turning the pages.
Robert Eric Carlson passed away in December 2004. To learn more about his life and accomplishments see his obituary in the Woodstock Times ((http://woodstock.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=robert%20eric%20carlson&i=f&by=2005&bdd=2000&d=01005-12312005&m=between&ord=k1&fn=woodstock_times_usa_new_york_woodstock_20050127_english_4&df=1&dt=1).
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