Susan Henry, A Westchester Original

Large rugged oaks line Mead Street, in the Northern Westchester community of Waccabuc.

These hardy trees that have survived centuries remind us that quiet tenacity and stately elegance can be more powerful than thunderous storms or rushing water. This point is underscored as you pass several historic homes that neighbor the Waccabuc Country Club and arrive at the elegant English Gothic-styled Mead Memorial Chapel. Built in 1905 from area stone and timber by Sarah Frances Studwell Mead, the charming church is well-kept and still welcomes guests for Christmas Eve services, weddings, special events and benefit concerts. One of the trustees charged with maintaining the church is a great-grandchild of Mead’s—Susan Henry.

 

The first Meads settled in the area in 1776, and Henry is a direct descendant. When she grew up, Mead Street was unpaved and although she was raised at Pinecroft Farm on the street, she and husband Jim bought their current home—built in 1819 and now listed in the National Registry of Historic Homes— nearly fifty years ago from her aunt and set about restoring it.

The house had been mostly vacant and in disrepair when they took over. “It was what they call a ‘money pit,’” Henry says, smiling at the memory. “We kept the original pine floors and footprint of the structure, but updated the plumbing and electrical.” The basement remains somewhat of a museum, featuring the original “summer kitchen” and numerous “kitchen primitive” artifacts —like wood spinning wheels, butter churns, tables and chairs that are so narrow a modern American would barely be able to squeeze in one.

There is also a host of patinated tools with names and uses that remain a mystery. “I can’t figure what this is,” she says, holding up a long two-handled metal object with flat sides. We can’t think of a past or present practical use for it, unless there were giant nuts to crack, perhaps. “One day, I’d like to find an expert who can tell me what it was for,” she says, setting the tool gently against the wall, next to an antiquated baby cradle.

 

Perhaps the cradle briefly held the unnamed Infant Son Mead, born in 1832 and who lived only one day; his grave is in the small Mead Cemetery where dozens of Henry’s ancestors are buried, just down the street.

 

In the fourteen years I have known Susan Henry, she has remained unchanged. Her thick hair is still bright-white, cut at the jawline and combed back neatly to frame her face. I study charming oil paintings of her great-great grandparents, which hang in the living and dining rooms of her home, and look for similar facial features. There, in one, I see the same defined jaw and gentle smile; in another, the same clear and direct gaze.

 

With such deeply rooted connections to this area, local micro and macro land issues are of great personal interest to Henry. She and her husband work their land, growing a variety of vegetables and tending an orchard with apple and peach trees, blueberries and raspberries. Jim is also beekeeper and winemaker, tending a small variety of grapes. Since 1975 he has produced and bottled—all by hand—his own red and white wines under the label, “Homestead Vineyard,” which he shares generously and privately. With three grown children, eight grandchildren, and an extended network of family and longtime friends—this means a lot of lucky people get to sample his devoted and tasty efforts.

 

It’s a beautiful day and we are greeted outside by Hudson, a three-year-old black Labrador who seems used to frequent visitors who admire the property—and him. Henry has been a Westchester Master Gardener since 1998 and as I look over her bountiful gardens and orchards I ask what is her best suggestion for successful gardening. “Make sure the soil is tested every year. And composting—it is really great for the plants,” she says.

 

Henry has been active on many boards, including the Friends of Lasdon Park and Arboretum. “I’ve known her since we were kids,” says Martha Spofford, currently of Ridgefield, who also worked with Henry in the Rusticus Garden Club chapter in Bedford. “She is one of the most dependable people, gets the job done.” Ellen Schrier, a neighbor who has volunteered alongside Henry in a landowners group, echoes that sentiment. “She’s the role model of community service, outshines us all. She has served on more boards and committees than I can count, and spearheaded many of them.”

 

Under a large shady tree bordered by a small hedge and a short, weathered stone wall, Henry sits on a teak bench with a small brass plaque that bears her name as the recipient of the 2008 Westchester Land Trust Preservation Angel Award. Henry was a co-founder of the organization in 1988 and remains on the Board of Directors, as well as currently chairing the Lewisboro chapter. The mission of the WLT—which has been extremely successful—is to protect environmentally important open space and the character of Westchester communities, mostly by working with private landowners who create conservation easements or donate land.

 

Bobbe Stulz, a long-time director at the WLT, says, “Susan is quiet and reserved and doesn’t make a fanfare, but has done more in the community than anyone I know. Because of her and other dedicated individuals, over 5000 acres of private land has been protected so far. ”

 

Jim Nordgren, on the WLT advisory board, says of Henry, “She spearheaded the Old Field and Leon Levy Preserve efforts. Slow and steady tenacity is the way to get large-scale projects done, and Susan is a perfect example of that work ethic. She’s also a bridge from one generation of volunteers to the next by providing a continuum of leadership.”

 

As many in Westchester know, small community politics can rival the ardor and anger of national politics. Over the years, friendships have ended in Lewisboro over disagreements regarding everything from cell tower placement, wetlands setbacks, school budgets or whether or not the town should construct an ice skating rink. The community newspaper’s “Letters to the Editor” pages have sometimes been filled with misdirected vitriol toward groups or individuals. Through it all, Henry has kept a Zen-like gentility, never participating in gossip or losing sight of the ultimate noble goal: making and preserving a better community, and doing it with dignity toward others.

 

I ask what more would she like to accomplish. “Continuing the land efforts, certainly,” she answers, without hesitation. “There is so much still to do.” She gazes wistfully and adds, “I’d like to do some more traveling. We’ve been to the Americas, Greece, Turkey, Japan, Iran... China was two years ago. And we went fly fishing in New Zealand. Did you know we were in Egypt during the January demonstrations?”   I did not. “It caught us all by surprise. Our hotel overlooked Tahrir Square, and it was quite noisy, but we never felt in danger in the hotel. I now realize how lucky we were to witness history, but also that we got out as soon as we did, everyone on the same plane.”

She’d like to return to Egypt to take the cruise on the Nile that was canceled during that trip. She accepted there was a disappointment in plans, but will wait patiently for the political storm in Egypt to pass and the travel opportunity to reappear.

 

Just another example of how Henry has always achieved long-term and and worthy goals.

 

To learn more about the Westchester Land Trust, visit WestchesterLandTrust.org

 

Email Dana Ramos at GoToDana@gmail.com

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