On any given Friday, tucked within the rolling hills of Coventry, Scandinavian melodies can be heard and the sounds of laughter and folk singing will carry into the night. As the cars pull into the drive of this 18th century home on Friday evenings, the instruments come out and the food is laid out on the table in anticipation of another night of music and entertainment.
Regina Mason and her husband Steven have created a place in which people gather for festivals, nights of song and celebrations throughout the year. Their home, purchased just eight years ago from Dave Denny, an Appalachian fiddler, required a lot of restoration to make it look like it does now. Keeping in tune with original rustic features and atmosphere of the house, the Masons worked hard to restore the home, but also to keep the old feel of it and use traditional and simple design concepts. “There are good energies here,” said Regina.
The first part of the home was built in 1779 and the second in 1859. The home holds a library with hundreds of titles, a rustic kitchen with bare open shelves and wooden accents, an office for Steven who works outside the home as an architect, a room currently being used as the sewing studio and many other rooms which house a variety of rustic furniture.
The Masons operate a small farm at 1216 Route 235, known as BelleWeather. At a quick glance, seeing how much the sheep mean to Regina is easy. Throughout the home, spinning wheels, new and old, line the halls and can be seen in many of the rooms. Regina, a fiber artist, spins her own yarn from her sheep and makes puppets, hats, scarves and other clothing. She also does felting, knitting, weaving and teaches workshops.
Besides raising the animals on their small farm, Regina has home-schooled her five children for the past 24 years, using Waldorf methods of education. Home schooling was a decision Regina reached following an illness her daughter encountered, which ultimately caused her to miss a lot of school time. Regina says she couldn’t see her daughter going back and getting sick again, therefore she decided to teach them herself.
Through the years Regina says home schooling her children was a perfect fit and together they have seen a lot of positive outcomes. Her children – Chandi, Noah, Hannah, Cara and Johannes – were all home schooled and range from age 6 to 25 with her oldest daughter Chandi, recently graduating from Harvard with her masters degree. Steven also has another daughter, Chloe.
At home now is the youngest of six, Johannes, who is learning to play violin and plays piano along with the guests who arrive each week. Johannes, a talkative, outgoing six-year-old, explains fishing is his passion, and he spends his free time creating flies to use when he goes fly fishing.
Teaching traditions to her children and to the community Regina explains is an important aspect of her family’s life. Not only teaching what a hat is, but where it comes from and how it is made are essential when teaching children, she says. Regina explains along their 35 acres of land there are the sheep, the horses, dogs, cats, new and old apple orchards and a pond that had to be restored as well.
For different seasons the Masons put on festivals such as a May Day celebration, a pumpkin walk following the return of the autumn fairy and a 12 days of Christmas celebration where there is a different event planned for 12 days including the lighting of the tree with candles. “Over the course of the year, probably over 100 people come here for the events we plan,” said Regina.
Teaching her children to express themselves with sound was also an aspect which Regina says helps them build as a people. The family room, instead of a television and a computer, contains a grand piano, violins, antique record players, an organ and other instruments that give the children, as well as guests, the opportunity to explore the wonders of producing sound and melodies. In time, Regina says she would like to expand her teachings with other home school groups. She also has days where she allows children to watch as well as have a hands on approach to cutting sheep fur to get it ready for spinning. Her studio is going to get underway soon, and she hopes to offer more to the public. For more information about the festivals or events, call the Masons at 693-3210.
Editor’s Note: People in the Chenango community perform extraordinary feats under extraordinary circumstances every day. Oftentimes they go unnoticed or unappreciated; “Chenango Stories” puts the spotlight on those people whose compelling stories you might not otherwise hear. If you know someone who is interested in telling their “Chenango Story,” contact Jill Osterhout at 337-3075 or e-mail: josterhout@evesun.com.