This is a hard question to answer because there was no clear-cut end to my time at Topsmead. In fact, the Friends of Topsmead has enabled me to feel connected to the property even in my old age. Miss Edith in her will, gave my parents lifetime access to their home at Topsmead. She was very good to her employees that way. But for me, it’s kind of sad to think of the last years I lived at Topsmead because the main house was empty.

My last full summer as a child would have been in 1946 when I was 9 years old. After that my summer “Topsmead time” was limited to our two-week glorious summer vacations and weekends. This was because my mother opened a luncheonette in Waterbury with her sister, so we town with her. However, my dad commuted to work at Topsmead during the summer. In 1962, my mother retired from her business and Miss Edith completely refurbished our house at Topsmead because my mom was coming back.

By then I had graduated from college and was employed in full-time positions. From 1962 to 1968 I worked in Torrington, so I spent my summers living at Topsmead with Mom and Dad. Then I was transferred to Indiana, and Mom and Dad continued to spend summers at Topsmead until 1995 when Mother entered a convalescent home due to an illness.

I returned to Connecticut in 1976 and in 1980 I bought my parents’ house in Waterbury. My Dad passed away in 1999 and my mom, in 2001 but up until then the house at Topsmead was their “vacation home” and a beautiful diversion during their senior years. I typically continued to spend my vacation time with my parents at Topsmead up until they passed.

I turned our house over to the state in June 2001. My memories of the last years at Topsmead are bittersweet. My brother Jackie, who was my Topsmead companion, passed away in 1977. The ladies were gone too, and the property opened as a State Forest. So Topsmead felt different than it had during its glory days. But memories of the beauty, the bountiful garden, and the wonderful people who made Topsmead so special remain and continue to give me great joy.

Bob Orintas
Son of John Orintas (John was Edith Morton Chase's chauffeur, 1925-1972)

​Growing up at Topsmead was a gift for which I will be forever grateful. We had a level of freedom which would never have been possible living in Waterbury. Three of us were companions: my older brother John (Jackie); Barbara, one of the Abrahamson daughters, whose family rented the Buell cottage from 1941 to 1951; and myself. Barbara later became my sister-in-law, after she married my brother in 1962.
 
We had the run of the farm as long as we behaved ourselves, which we mostly did. At the farm we played badminton and croquet on the lawn between our houses. We visited all the animals: the cows both in the fields and in the barn during milking times; the pigs, who when we went near them got excited and snorted because they thought they were going to be fed; and the turkeys, who would gobble if we just made a noise to get them started.
 
We climbed the apple and plum trees on the farm grounds. We rode our bikes around the farm proper and on all the farm roads and Jefferson Hill Road and Jefferson Hill Road South out to Terryplace and the barns there. In the fall we raked leaves in piles and jumped into and out of the piles.
 
In the fall we picked hazel nuts from the grove of trees located south of the farm going towards Jefferson Hill Road. We would throw branches up in to the trees to knock the nuts to the ground, then gather them up to remove the outer husk and save them for the winter. My brother Jackie enjoyed them as a treat, one of the few he could enjoy on his diabetic diet.
 
One summer, Jackie and I decided to carve out a trail in the woods which led to the pond.  This is in the same area where the Ecology Trail now begins. It was challenging, but fun, and kept us busy for a few weeks. It made getting to the pond from the farm easier.
 
We kids had some responsibilities also. One of mine was to weed the vegetable garden. All three families, the Schnierers, the Abrahamsons, and the Orintas families had vegetable gardens to the east of the farm manager’s house (that today still stands facing the parking lot.)  The gardens were about 25 feet wide and about 35 to 50 feet long. They were all in a row. I remember helping my dad plant various vegetable seeds and make corn hills. Later in the summer, I remember mother having a pot of boiling water on the stove and Dad going out to pick fresh sweetcorn right off the stalks for supper.
 
A few times when the Schnierers went away on vacation, I was given the job of collecting the chicken eggs, washing them, and checking them for defects. Then I boxed them and put the cartons in the dairy refrigerator.
 
We picked blueberries from the blueberry lots after the ladies (Miss Edith, Miss Mary and Miss Lucy) had picked all they wanted.  We also picked the “Windfall” apples from the lawn, and mother would make apple pies from scratch. Dad and I peeled the apples, and we had contests to see who could peel an apple with only one long peel, instead of many small ones. It was fun to try to do.
 
These are some of my fond memories of life as a young boy. To this day Topsmead remains my favorite place on this earth.  

Later in 1933, Miss Lucy and Miss Mary invited Miss Edith to live with them at 33 Church St. which was across the street from 42. Miss Lucy’s and Miss Mary’s brother, John Milton Burrall, and his family lived next door to them at 41 Church St. In late 1933 or early in 1934, Miss Edith decided to make the change to live with Lucy and Mary. In order to make that happen, 33 Church St. would have to be renovated to accommodate the change. Miss Edith hired Fred Webster to design the new interior. Meanwhile, Mr. Webster was working on the design of a summer house for the Orintas family which would be added to the three car garage at the farm complex as well as the dovecote, in conjunction with Miss Shipman to be added to the main house at Topsmead.  1934 was going to be a very busy year. 42 Church St. was put up for sale, but it was several years until it was sold to Dr. Charles Audet for his medical practice.
 
33 Church St. would have to undergo a major renovation.  Contents would have to be removed as the new layout would require the changing of the interior on both floors.  During the renovations, Miss Lucy and Miss Mary would have to relocate to 42 Church St. for the duration of the construction. Furniture had to be moved and stored as well as personal possessions. I don’t know how the housekeeping staff was handled, but there had to be some changes there as all the staff would no longer be needed. I know that Miss Edith had reduced some of the staff at 42 after her mother died. Meanwhile there was always the usual move to Topsmead for the summer months. Thankfully, 33 would be ready in the Fall, so that there would be a smoother transition from Topsmead to there.  
 
A DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERIOR LAYOUT OF 33 CHURCH ST. AS I REMEMBER IT.
 
THE FIRST FLOOR:
We always entered through the back door, so that is how I will begin: first, the kitchen area which occupied the whole width of the house. To the left was a small dining area with a table and four chairs for the staff to use. Beyond that was the butler’s pantry. To the right were two stacked ovens followed by an electric range with at least 6 burners. Next was the sink which had a window above it with a view of the tiny back yard which had a clothes reel and just enough room for the dogs to play in. To the left of that and following to the rear were cabinets, with a door leading to the pantry.  Along the rear wall was an old, large, refrigerator which had its cooling element in the basement.  To the left of that was a doorway which lead to the rear stairs and a small office space for Miss Edith. There was probably a small bathroom in this area. The kitchen was totally remodeled in the late 1950’s or early 1960’s. The floor was a pattern of alternating black and white tiles.

To the left of the doorway for the rear stairs; was a doorway to the cellar stairs. At the bottom right of the stairway was the laundry room where Mrs. Anderson came every Monday to wash, iron and fold all the laundry.  It included a sink, washer, drier, ironing board and folding tables.
 
Towards the front of the house, on the left side, beyond the butler’s pantry was the dining room, followed by a sitting room. At the rear of the sitting room was a door leading to the library. There was also a door in the library which led to Miss Edith’s tiny office by the kitchen. Beyond the sitting room; along the left wall, was the front hallway, the front door, and the staircase to the second floor. Across the hall and to the right was the formal living room at the front of the house.
 
THE SECOND FLOOR
I am not as familiar with the second floor as I was only there two times, to help my father rotate rugs, and was not allowed to wander around the premises.

Dad told me that in the rear of the house, above the kitchen, there were two bedrooms for the cook and the maid. There was probably also a bathroom for them.

Miss Edith’s bedroom was located toward the middle of the second floor on the driveway side. Opposite her bedroom was a stairway to the widow’s walk on top of the house.  On the opposite side of the house were Miss Mary’s and Miss Lucy’s bedrooms.  Miss Lucy’s at the front of the house and then Miss Mary’s.  I believe that there was also a guest bedroom. There also were several bathrooms.
 
My main association with 33 Church St. was when I had to help on Saturday afternoons to bring the laundry from Topsmead to Church St.  The laundry basket would be left on the second floor open area at Topsmead, where the chaise lounge is. It would be ready at 1:00 pm to be brought down to the 33 Church St. laundry room for Mrs. Anderson.  While we were at Church St., I would also mow the lawn and dad would check out the house to make sure everything was ok. Dad would return on Tuesday to bring the laundry back to Topsmead.
 
In 1950, the 42 Church St. property was sold by Dr. Audet as he was retiring. The garages which Miss Edith used to park her cars; and dad’s workplace would no longer be available. She purchased about a 6 or 10 foot length of property from Inez Burrall at 41 Church St. so that she could build a two car garage and workspace for dad at 33 Church St.  Fred Webster was again requested to design the garage addition.

Please note that some of the information in this article was obtained from articles published in the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper about the Chase family.
 
In the late 1800’s Church Street was an unpaved, tree lined, street going south from West Main to Grand Street in the center of Waterbury. St. John’s Episcopal Church was located at the corner of West Main and Church. Waterbury City Hall and the Bronson Library were located at its southern end on Grand Street. Many prominent Waterbury families lived on Church Street: The Gosses, the Eltons, and two homes of the Burrall family.
 
Miss Edith’s grandfather, Augustus Sabin Chase, purchased 42 Church Street in 1867. Her father, Henry Sabin Chase purchased it from his father in 1889 when his parents relocated to Rose Hill on Prospect Street. Henry had been living in the Willow St. area before his marriage. 42 Church became Henry Chase’s permanent home with his marriage to Alice Morton on April 4, 1889. Four of Henry’s other siblings: Irving, Fred, Helen and Mary eventually purchased homes around Rose Hill in the area of Prospect Street and Grove Street. They essentially formed a Chase compound. The exception was Henry’s youngest sister Alice, who married and lived in Southeast Connecticut.
 
The Henry Chase family grew to include five children living at their 42 Church Street home; first was the arrival of Mildred in 1890, Edith in 1891, Ann in 1892, Katherine in 1893, and finally Rodney in 1897. The children grew up in the house and then Miss Edith’s siblings began to marry. First, Ann in 1913 to Alfred Hart, then Mildred in 1915 to Richard Ely, Katherine in 1917 to Edgar Stillman; and finally, Rodney in 1925 to Florence Martin who was from San Francisco.
 
Miss Edith’s father died on March 4, 1918. So, after Rodney’s wedding, only Miss Edith and her mother were permanent residents of 42. It was a large house, built in the Victorian style. Mrs. Chase remodeled the exterior of the house to a more “modern appearance” in 1925. Miss Edith’s mother often discussed that the house was too large for them. The property extended the width of an entire block from Church Street all the way over to State Street. Behind the house was a walled garden, and beyond that a large garage courtyard area. There were three garage bays on one side of the courtyard, an apartment above the connector and five bays on the opposite side. Given the size of the house, the staff included a cook, several maids, a butler and two chauffeurs: one for Mrs. Chase and one for Miss Edith.
 
Miss Edith’s mother, Alice Morton Chase, passed away on May 6, 1933 while Miss Edith, Miss Mary, Miss Lucy and Carrie Griggs were on an European trip. Rodney cabled Miss Edith in Paris. She and Miss Mary were able to book passage the next day on a ship leaving from Cherbourg, France. Miss Lucy and Carrie Griggs booked passage later. 
 
Miss Edith was now the sole occupant of 42 Church St. Next month I’ll tell you what Miss Chase decided to do next.

In October of 1929, four years after the main house was completed, and two years after purchasing the Buell farm, Miss Edith purchased another 36 acres, in two pieces from George Buell. The smaller piece, about 4 acres, bordered Topsmead Farm along Jefferson Hill Road to the south, and filled in a gap between the farm and the property she acquired in 1926 that included Terryplace. The second parcel was about 32 acres, and this piece became the most southerly piece of land at Topsmead along the east side of Jefferson Hill Road South.
 
THE DUMP
Every home in the day had a place where trash was burned or buried as there were no trucks that came by to take trash away like we have today. Near the very southern end of the Topsmead estate was an open field road which went eastward, almost to Buell Road and the border of Miss Edith’s property. The road took a sharp left for several hundred feet that led to a fairly steep slope, and this spot was used as the dump. On Mondays Dad or one of the men would collect the garbage and waste from the main house and farm and then cart it here to be “dumped” down the embankment. This was about the farthest distance from the rest of the property. After dumping the waste, the garbage pails were washed at the well at Terryplace, and then returned to the house.
 
THE BLUEBERRY LOTS
Along the open field road on the way to the dump, to the left and right, several hundred feet along the east side of the road were hundreds of low growing blueberry bushes, only about a foot high. In season, these bushes produced an ample quantity of blueberries. Further to the east, several hundred feet away, going down a steep slope was an abundance of taller high bush blueberries. These bushes required a bit of effort to get to as the terrain was rougher. Late each spring, the ladies would pick the berries, and when they felt they had picked an adequate supply for the main house, they announced to the employees that they could pick whatever they wanted. We all enjoyed many blueberry pies and muffins thanks to these bushes. Sadly, today this area is covered with pine trees, and only the road to the dump area remains.

The location at Topsmead which everyone referred to as “Terryplace” was part of three parcels of land purchased from Frank Turkington in 1923 that comprised about 65 acres. The property included both sides of Jefferson Hill Road South. The smaller of the three pieces, about 8 acres, was on the east side of the road and bordered land to the north and east owned until 1925 by Philip and George Buell.


The two pieces of land on the west side of the road totaled about 58 acres. The northern piece of about 11 acres bordered the area where the wildlife viewing shed, and the butterfly garden now stand. (This piece of property would later be acquired by Miss Edith from Martin Beirne in 1926.) On the southern parcel, there was an entrance from Jefferson Hill Road South which still exists.


About 500 feet from the entrance, along an unpaved field road, was an old barn. It had a stone foundation, with a dugout entrance which was used to store a “stone boat”. This was a big flat platform on skids used to haul the stones for building the walls around Topsmead. On the main floor of the barn, small equipment was stored, because the ceiling was only about 6 feet high. Above this was a mezzanine area that housed the buggy and the one-horse sleigh and was reached by a set of open stairs. The beams in the barn were huge and the frame was constructed with wooden pegs. Later, Miss Edith had another barn built attached to this one, but it was much taller to accommodate the hay loader which was about 12 to 15 feet high. Most of the other haying equipment was also stored there including the hay wagon, the hay rake and the windrow rake. Hay, along with apples, were the two primary farm crops grown at Topsmead.

THE PICNIC AREA
On the south side of the entrance from Jefferson Hill Road South, a picnic area was established.  A stone fireplace/barbeque was built, the remains of which still stand today. A three-sided shed adjacent to the stone barbeque held a picnic table, benches, and equipment as well as firewood. I believe that the shed was expanded later. A bit further past the barn on an unpaved field road, a hand-pumped well supplied the area with water. Also, to the south and west was a grove of trees which provided a shady spot.
​
Miss Edith enjoyed hosting family and friends at Terryplace for informal picnics. Sometimes she did the cooking! Employees at Topsmead were also welcome to hold their own picnics there. Our family hosted a picnic there each year. One year it would be my mother’s side of the family, the other year, my father’s family. We all parked our cars across the field road and would periodically run a car back to our house near the barns if needed.


A SAD ENDING
In the mid to late 1970s, after the state had acquired the property as a State Forest, they used the barns at Terryplace to store equipment. The barns were burglarized by thieves, and then they set fire to the barns, to cover their tracks. Both barns burned to the ground due to the lack of a water supply in the area.  I believe that the thieves were eventually caught.    

THE FIRST POND
This pond is located not too far away from either the main house or Underhill. There is a grass path from the gravel drive to the pond and it is clearly visible today. The digging for this pond began in October/November of 1937. Miss Edith purchased the land, over 44 acres, from Mary Jones in June of 1921. It comprises all the property out to the corner - from the current Chase Road north to East Litchfield Road and over to Buell Road. When the ladies lived at Topsmead there was a small clearing to the left of the pond to accommodate a metal table and 4 metal chairs. They were painted a dark blue/green color to blend with the surroundings. They used this area for an occasional picnic or just for some quiet reading or relaxation.
 
The pond is spring fed and originally some rainbow trout were stocked, but without success. In the late 1930’s and early 1940’s Miss Edith attempted to raise ducks on the pond. Duck houses were installed along the southern edge of the pond for about 20 ducks, but sadly the ducks didn’t stay for long.
 
In the 1950’s a small flat-bottomed boat was built and tied up by a large rock on the west side of the pond, in the area where there was a grove of weeping willow trees. The boat was used for a short while, but apparently the effort to get in and out wasn’t worth it for such a short cruise around the pond.
 
In the 1950’s, the pond was overrun by a large number of frogs. My elder brother John Jr. who was a fisheries biologist, introduced a few large-mouthed bass to the pond, and by the end of the season, the frogs were no longer a problem.
 
THE SECOND POND
In the late 1950’s; and early 1960‘s; Miss Edith and Bernard Stairs, the Farm Manager, discussed an additional pond on the land purchased in April of 1959 from Philip Buell. One consideration for this pond was as an additional water supply in case of a fire. The pond was dug, and I think it was about a quarter of an acre in size. It was located in a depression in the land not far from Buell Road, near where Marsh Road intersects. Initially, it could be seen from Buell Road, but now it is no longer visible due to the planting of many pine trees.
 

​I am unsure of the exact date when the garden was established, but by the mid-1920’s the garden at Underhill was there. Town records show that the 5-acre Underhill property was purchased in September of 1921. I am not sure if the small barn that remains was there at the time or was built later by Miss Edith. I have a photograph from 1926 where you can see the barn and the guest house in the background.

The primary entrance to Underhill was from East Litchfield Road. There was a gravel lane that went to a small barn and then up along the east side of the garden, by the pond, and ultimately to the main house. You can still walk on that lane today. On the left, as you entered Underhill was a small apple orchard. On the right was a small guest house, built in 1926.
 
The garden which was situated directly ahead and on a gradual rise, as you entered Underhill, was large and had a formal layout. I estimate it was about 50 feet wide by 100 feet long and was divided into 4 quadrants defined by grass paths about two feet wide. The paths led to a round central grassy area about 20 feet in diameter. Here there was a rectangular grape arbor with 4 built-in benches where white grapes grew. The garden was bordered along the east and west sides with grape arbors, about 5 feet high that had purple grapes.
 
As one entered Underhill from East Litchfield Road the first thing you saw was a grassy area that contained three white peach trees, and beyond that was a flower border of perennials about 4 feet deep. This made an attractive border for the front of the garden. Beyond this area was where the garden produce was grown. All kinds of fruits and vegetables were grown in the Underhill garden. There were strawberries and red currant bushes which were raised for currant jelly. The vegetables included corn, pole beans, peas, string beans, asparagus, tomatoes, lettuce, beets, cabbage, and much more.

Attached to the barn, two structures were built that are no longer there. First, a loft area was attached directly to the barn this was initially used as living quarters for my dad and mom; then attached to it, a greenhouse about 12-15 feet wide by about 20 feet long. There were also cold frames along the west side of the barn. Also nearby was an in-ground well that supplied water to the buildings and to the garden where there were several above-ground spigots to which a hose could be attached.
 
Each winter, Miss Edith and the gardener would order the seeds for the upcoming season. These were started in the greenhouse, then moved to the cold frames, and finally planted in the garden. I know that George Wilson, Miss Edith’s chauffeur, and Decimo Simoncelli, the main house gardener, tended to the garden in the early years. I have a picture of George Wilson tilling the soil with the barn and the guest house in the background. This had to be in 1926, as sadly he passed away suddenly in 1927.

Alec Derouin who was hired in 1920 to be a butler at 42 Church St. in Waterbury became the Underhill gardener in 1934. He and his wife, Eva lived in a house, on East Litchfield Road a short distance away.  This was on a piece of property that Miss Edith purchased from the Beirne family in 1936.  

Initially, many of the vegetables were canned in glass jars. They were prepared in the kitchen and then boiled in kettles to seal the jars for storage. In later years, produce was frozen and taken to the Litchfield Locker Co. for storage. Dad had to keep track of everything in the locker, exactly where it was stored and the date frozen.  The oldest items were used first, and nothing was kept for over one year.  Older items were given either to friends or Topsmead workers.
​
As you can see Topsmead’s Underhill garden was an essential part of the estate and it sustained the household with food throughout the year. I prepared a diagram of the Underhill garden to help visualize what it was like.

The driver of Miss Edith's team of horses, Paul Gay, left in March of 1946. Gay hadn’t used his skills as a teamster since Mandy, Miss Edith’s riding horse, died in 1934 and the draft horses died in late 1942.

Paul and Emma Schnierer retired at the end of March 1951; he was the farm manager, and she kept the farm books and operated the dairy.
 
George Taft was hired as the farm manager in April of 1951. He, his wife, Lois, and their 5 children moved into the farmhouse displacing the maid and cook who occupied the two rooms in the front of the farmhouse. They moved into the Buell Cottage across the driveway. They in turn displaced the Abrahamson family who had been renting the cottage since 1942.
 
Four years later Mr. Taft left as farm manager in March of 1955 and was replaced by Bernard Stairs. His family included his wife Norma and their three children: John, William, and Elaine. In time two other children were born: Larry and Brenda. Mr. Stairs remained the farm manager until Miss Edith’s death in 1972. In her will she gave the Stairs and my parents life use of their homes. She also specified that Bernard Stairs had use of the barns, farm equipment, and 17 acres of land. Miss Edith set up a special trust fund that paid for the insurance and utilities for the properties involved. Bernie Stairs became the first supervisor of Topsmead State Forest.
 
Decimo Simoncelli (Decho as everyone called him), handyman and gardener, was an easy-going individual, who got along with everyone.  He was of particular help to Miss Lucy; maintaining the gardens at the main house and helping her with the cutting of flowers for display in the house.  He died in April of 1965 after 40 years of service at Topsmead. This was a great loss to all who worked with him.  
 
Other people who I remember included Kenneth Moore who was hired in March of 1965 as a handyman. He, his wife Bonnie, and his family lived in a house on East Litchfield Road until 1972.
 
Another employee I remember is Walter Lignor, who was hired in April 1966 as a handyman. He and his family lived in the old guest cottage until 1972.  This was the guest house which was originally built at Underhill in 1926 and was moved across East Litchfield Road in 1947 or 1948. This house was later moved again to Marsh Road where it remains today.