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Dogs (on leashes) LOVE Topsmead!
Miss Edith with her dog Jacques
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ASK BOB
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The new format for Bob's "Remembering Topsmead"
Bob Orintas, the son of John Orintas, Miss Edith Chase's chauffeur, has been sharing his wonderful essays recounting his memories of Topsmead on our website each month for more than four years! Thank you Bob! In thinking about what else to chronicle, it occurred to us that perhaps our readers might have some questions for Bob which he has not yet addressed. So, we decided to offer the opportunity for everyone to do so. We hope you jump right in.
Please send your questions via the button below. Starting in April, your question may be one that Bob responds to in our newsletter and on the website! |
QUESTION #3: THE POND, WHEN WAS IT BUILT AND HOW WAS IT USED?
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The pond was dug in late 1937, about November into December. It is spring fed and easily maintains its water level. There is a spillway on the northeast side which creates a brook that goes down to Buell Road.
In 1938 a small picnic area was cleared on the Northeast side. A metal table and 4 chairs were placed there for enjoyment and relaxation. Also in 1938, several rainbow trout were stocked, hopefully to reproduce, but that didn’t work out. In 1939 several ducks were purchased, and duck houses were built for them, but the ducks didn’t stay. The picnic area was used periodically for lunches and Miss Edith would often go there to read, relax, bring a snack and feed the fish and the ducks. >>read more 
THE CHASE SISTERS. ANNE, KATHERINE, MILDRED, and MISS EDITH on the right.
THE CHASE SISTERS. ANNE, KATHERINE, MILDRED, and MISS EDITH on the right.
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by Margaret Hunt (photos by Margaret Hunt)
Topsmead Meadow in Summer
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Renewed Appreciation (June-July)
photos by Margaret Hunt After her graduation from The Farmington School, Miss Edith Morton Chase went on the obligatory Grand Tour of Europe with her chaperones Lucy and Mary Burrall. That trip was the beginning of a lifelong travel friendship among the three women. Feeling a certain kinship with these three women, who clearly enjoyed each other's friendship, I checked into my Aer Lingus flight on May 20 from Bradley Airport to Dublin, Ireland, with my retired teacher friend Priscilla.
Although Miss Edith and the Burrall sisters most likely traveled in a bit more luxury than we did (we lugged our suitcases around and depended on the excellent Irish public bus system), I am sure that they felt the same sense of added perspective and the excitement of meeting new people that we felt being away from our home country. During the three weeks that my friend Priscilla and I spent traveling around Ireland, I never felt far from Topsmead. The landscape of Ireland with its crazy quilts of pastures defined by hedgerows and stone walls was reminiscent of the fields of Topsmead. The many, many cows and sheep free ranging in the pastures echoed the past residents of the Topsmead landscape when it was in its full working farm mode. The small towns that we spent time in had the same cozy neighborhood feeling as the small towns of Litchfield County. -read complete Musings essay- |