Oral history interview with Peggy Day and Dennis Gibson

Oral history interview with Peggy Day and Dennis Gibson

Dennis Gibson discusses growing up in New Jersey, his brief attendance at Lehigh University, dropping out to work as a crane mechanic on the Hoboken docks, and drawing a high number in the draft lottery and therefore not being required to serve in the Vietnam War. He describes attending music concerts at the Fillmore East, meeting Melissa Neal, being influenced by the Whole Earth Catalog and back-to-land ideals, and their decision to leave the city and travel to California with Larry Janowski. He recounts that they first visited Melissa’s brother, Craig Neal, at the Mullein Hill Commune and remained there for the winter, moving to the Entropy Acres farmhouse with Craig the following spring, and then breaking up. Dennis relates that he became involved in trucking for the food cooperatives through Jim Higgins, and later for Loaves and Fishes Trucking Company. Meeting Peggy, he was ready for a change, and they married in 1976, and purchased the Entropy Acres property where they have since lived. Dennis concludes by reflecting on their positive interactions with the local culture, and describing his transition to work as a blacksmith in Barton, Vermont.

Peggy Day speaks of growing up in Florida, graduating from Florida State University, and while there, participating in anti-war protests. She describes her long-time interest in Vermont and her decision to move to Stowe, Vermont in 1974, and then to Entropy Acres in West Glover with Amy Bennett, a former Mullein Hill Commune member who was caretaking the property. She describes working at the Parent Child Center in Barton, Vermont, and then as a reporter for the Chronicle, becoming familiar with a variety of community members through her articles about old-time Vermonters, Orleans County Council of Social Agencies (OCCSA), and the Bread and Puppet Theater. She describes meeting Dennis, their marriage in 1976, starting a family, and developing their wreath business as a stay-at-home mom, and she reflects on contributions newcomers have made to their communities.

12 March 2016

AudioFile1970s-46

MP3

Audio Files

Glover (Vt.)

Permission to publish material from the Vermont 1970s Counterculture Project must be obtained from the Vermont Historical Society.

Rowell, Leslie

Day, Peggy, 1951-

Gibson, Dennis, 1949-

West Glover (Vt.)

1 hr., 43 min., 9 sec.

Vermont Historical Society Library, 60 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641-4209