To the editor:
I had the pleasure of meeting with Quartermaster John Visi at the VFW Post 6933, formerly known as The Chapel, built in 1864 to assist Civil War veterans and their families.
Post 6933 is situated next to the Noroton Heights Fire Department and the Little League Field. Why not have a post-game picnic supper here with a cold drink? The bar opens at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, and there are ample tables for post-game dinners or winning celebrations!
The Chapel is the last surviving building of what was known as Fitch’s Home for Soldiers and Their Orphans. This was the first Veteran’s Home in the United States. The Chapel was the main religious building in the complex until it’s closure in 1940 and later used as a civic and social hall for veterans residing in Fitch’s Home.
Contributed photo
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6933 at 210 Noroton Ave.
Many people however do not know about our VFW or its history relating to the Town of Darien, State of Connecticut and the United States. This was a special place that cared for veterans of the Civil War, the Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, the Mexican War and World War I.
It has seen changes over the years including moving to its current location at 205 Noroton Ave. from its original location in what is now the Heights at Darien housing complex. The Darien VFW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving back to the local communities and supporting veterans and their family members.
As a child growing up in Darien, I and my family would attend Christmas parties and summer picnics here. I loved hearing my father chatting (and playing horseshoes) with other veterans and their families. My father would go there on Sunday nights for a quick beer with his “buddies” and bring us home snack packs of cheese and crackers, which are still available in the bar area today.
Touring the upper great room, there were plaques and other memorabilia on the walls, giving it a mini-museum vibe. Of particular interest to me was a 1946 plaque listing Connecticut soldiers returning from World War II. And my father’s name was there!
Along with my father, I recognized many names of people we knew growing up — are you among them? It’s worth a visit (and perhaps a donation) to this venerable building to find out!
You can sit at the bar in the lower room and have a drink and a visit with the old-timers of Darien as well as the newly registered veterans like my nephew, who was in Desert Storm — there was his photo in the archived albums along with my father from WWII! So exciting to see my family members in these albums — how many people in town have members also included here that they don’t know about?
But as important as these memories are to me, there is so much more to this historical treasure. How many people in Darien would find this walk down veteran’s memories interesting, and most important, applicable to their own family history, much as I did!
The Fitch Home was closed in 1940 and then used by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Reserve Radio Training School to train radio specialists during World War II. In the 1950s Post 6933 purchased the Chapel from the State of Connecticut, and it was moved to its present location at 205 Noroton Ave.
The Chapel continues to serve the Town of Darien, and neighboring towns, as a community meeting site for civic organizations, a reception hall for social functions, and at one time a rehearsal site for Boy Scout and Cub Scout drill teams. An Irish dancing troupe has even practiced there.
While not the only VFW building in Connecticut, it is the oldest and we are endeavoring to support saving this historic building that is open to residents of Darien as well as neighboring communities.
It was heartening to see that a fundraiser was held at the Piedmont Club in late March to provide funding for the upkeep of Post 6399. It was attended by over 200 people to help revitalize this great family place for people to congregate and enjoy!
Sonya Vai (Mr. Speeding Ticket) was there for a “Circle Comedy” night on April 26. Earlier that year the PTO in Darien schools held an event there and the comments were revealing: “We never knew this was here,” “What a great place.” It’s an accommodating place for any celebration! We hope you will make use of the spacious room for your next event and help keep VFW Post 6933 thriving.
— Nanci Natale