There he is! Dutch Wehage! I knew Dutch. I have a longtime friend who grew up in Provincetown, who later got married on a commune in Western MA. And I met Dutch in a Buddhist group in the 1980's. We compared notes at some point and found out we had this Provincetown connection, and I told my friend "Hey, I met someone you know- he was actually at your wedding!" And she deflected the conversation- which happened every time I brought him up. Finally I asked her, "What is wrong with Dutch? Why do you always act weird about him?" and she told me the whole thing. Her father and mother were artists in P-town and were very offended by him and his part in the heist, as most artists in town were. When I met Dutch, he had a vintage car- old, big, wide, low- with a trunkful of very interesting stone sculptures that he was trying to sell- "for a friend." I have photos of them all spread out on our lawn. Later I heard those were not really part of an agreement with that friend- it was an "independent venture" of his. I liked Dutch. He may not have reformed, and he made me uncomfortable, but he was a character, and had warmth and intelligence. I guess his last time in jail was for using LSD as part of a therapeutic treatment for patients- I may have that all confused but that is what I recall. And it may have worked. And he may have sold some of that sculpture and given the proceeds to his friend. RIP Dutch.
I'd like to imagine I might have more to offer- but I don't. Provincetown has a long history of characters and stories, and those who lived there and frequented its bars and studios had great tales to tell. There may be a gold mine of stories still waiting to be found. The article in the NY times about the couple who stole a de Kooning was what brought this up for me. You no doubt have seen it: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/arts/de-kooning-higgins-sharp-harwood-fbi.html
There he is! Dutch Wehage! I knew Dutch. I have a longtime friend who grew up in Provincetown, who later got married on a commune in Western MA. And I met Dutch in a Buddhist group in the 1980's. We compared notes at some point and found out we had this Provincetown connection, and I told my friend "Hey, I met someone you know- he was actually at your wedding!" And she deflected the conversation- which happened every time I brought him up. Finally I asked her, "What is wrong with Dutch? Why do you always act weird about him?" and she told me the whole thing. Her father and mother were artists in P-town and were very offended by him and his part in the heist, as most artists in town were. When I met Dutch, he had a vintage car- old, big, wide, low- with a trunkful of very interesting stone sculptures that he was trying to sell- "for a friend." I have photos of them all spread out on our lawn. Later I heard those were not really part of an agreement with that friend- it was an "independent venture" of his. I liked Dutch. He may not have reformed, and he made me uncomfortable, but he was a character, and had warmth and intelligence. I guess his last time in jail was for using LSD as part of a therapeutic treatment for patients- I may have that all confused but that is what I recall. And it may have worked. And he may have sold some of that sculpture and given the proceeds to his friend. RIP Dutch.
This is great info. Thank you. Feel free to email me anytime: anthony.m.amore@gmail.com
I'd like to imagine I might have more to offer- but I don't. Provincetown has a long history of characters and stories, and those who lived there and frequented its bars and studios had great tales to tell. There may be a gold mine of stories still waiting to be found. The article in the NY times about the couple who stole a de Kooning was what brought this up for me. You no doubt have seen it: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/arts/de-kooning-higgins-sharp-harwood-fbi.html