Our Home

Personal Testimonial from Edna Pison ~ Bradley Home Resident

Set back from the street, behind a low brick wall, flowers bordering the walkway to the canopied front entrance, is The Bradley Home. I am happy to say, along with many others, that this is now my home.

I had mixed feelings about leaving my lifetime home, but I knew it was time--just as I knew it was time to retire without waiting for the mandatory age. Mixed feelings aside, coming to Bradley was an easy transition because Bradley is home, and the residents and staff are like family. This is surely what our benefactor, Clarence P. Bradley, had in mind when he established The Bradley Home in his will: “Said purposes are to found in Meriden...and provide for the perpetual maintenance of a Home for Aged and indigent men and women, inhabitants of this State, and preferably those belonging to Meriden or else from there.”

I feel a personal connection to the building because when The Bradley Home was built in the mid-thirties by the H. Wales Lines Co., my father was a carpenter for Lines (he later became a construction superintendent for the company), and since coming to live here, I have often thought that my dad might have hung the doors in my room, or laid the floor--whatever--he worked on the building, and I feel a personal connection.

When I entered Bradley last year, repainting, new carpeting and wallpaper were in the final stages of completion. The rooms had been redone, and a new individually controlled heating and air-conditioning system was already in place. The quality of upkeep matches the quality of care, which is synonymous with the name Bradley.

As I became more familiar with the building, I also became aware of the beauty of the woodwork in the public rooms. There are five, or is it six, fireplaces. The loveliest, all marble, is located in the Clarence P. Bradley room just off the main entrance. It was taken from the old Wilcox mansion, purchased by the Bradley estate to erect this building. The Bradley room also contains another treasure, an intriguing piece of furniture, called a cylinder music box, which produces music from perforated cylinders similar to a player piano. The room is also furnished with Victorian era chairs; two settees and small tables, one of which is marble topped. Old china vases and two now electrified oil lamps add to the peaceful visual beauty of the room. I also learned that present and former residents gave several items to Bradley. Each resident left a mark.

For those who may not know, The Bradley Home was erected on the site of the Wilcox mansion, which was next to Bradley’s adjoining property to the south at 320 Colony Street. When The Bradley Home was built on the site of the Wilcox property, it faced Wilcox Avenue, but the official address was kept as 320 Colony Street.

The completed Bradley Home building was opened for public inspection on October 15, 1938. I would say that it was “assisted living “ long before the term came into general use. Interestingly, the entrance requirements are the same today as in l938, with these two changes made about ten years ago: residents are now allowed to keep their cars, and, if they wish, residents may pay a monthly fee rather than transfer all their assets at one time.

My first remembrance of The Bradley Home was a visit to Sadie Pickard, retired shorthand teacher of Meriden High School. (Those were the ancient days of shorthand and typewriters). I came with Dorothy Ritchie Hayes, my close friend since 7th grade. Dot and I often visited with Sadie after our graduation, so we were on a first-name basis. It was in the early sixties when Sadie came to live at Bradley, and when Dot and I came to visit her. She was in the infirmary (Pavilion). At that time it was located upstairs. I cannot recall what we all talked about that day, but I remember clearly what Sadie said toward the end of our visit: “Have fun while you’re young, because when you’re old, it will be too late.” Now that I am a few years older than Sadie was when we last saw her, I look back on my workaholic days and realize that now is the time when I’m having fun; that is, as I define it.

As for my friend, Dot, she and her husband, Steve Hayes, came to live at Bradley in l993. I can remember Dot saying to me many years before retirement age that she would go to Bradley one day when she was ready. Admired her planning and certainty, and I am sorry that I was not here while Dot was still alive, because unlike me, Dot was always active and full of fun. Steve is still a resident and over the years has done much to help in various ways such as keeping the weaving looms in working order, repairing old clocks or small jewelry.

What interesting things occupy my time? To begin with there are exercise classes. Yes, they are fun as well as necessary. We could get pretty creaky and rusty here what with all the care given us (we no longer need to do our own cooking or housecleaning). And we all need to limber up. So off I go to the Movements to Music class where other like-minded people wait for Althea Prigitano to put on a tape of lively music, and we’re off--hands, arms feel legs get a workout; and during leg lifts Althea admonishes us “to tighten those tummy muscles”. Part of the class is given over to strengthening arm muscles, and we use l-2-3-4 pound hand weights according to our ability.

Another class, Powerful Aging, also stresses flexibility of arms and legs with the added emphasis in improving our balance. One class member has noticeably improved her walking. Denise Allen makes t his fun for all.

Tai-Chi classes are given under the able guidance of Barbara Ritchie who leads us through age-old movements to help us achieve mental and physical serenity.

The large library, with its comfortable chairs, is a pleasant place to enjoy some quiet, peaceful moments. There are always residents ready to sit and chat. Our Recreation Director, Mary Ann Nader, arranges to bring us varied programs or monthly social gatherings. Recently, we enjoyed a “black cow” float party. How long has it been since I last tasted root beer?

For those of us who consider walking an important daily activity, the surrounding, well-kept grounds are inviting and accessible. The pathways lead throughout the spacious grounds and colorful gardens. The delightful gardens, by the way, are faithfully tended by volunteers fondly called “Bradley Blossoms”. Weather too hot, cold or wet? The corridors of this quadrangle building are just the thing with the added benefit of stopping to chat with a neighbor.

I have heard that we have residents who are second and third generation. More than one current resident can say that a parent, aunt or uncle was at one time a resident. Some children of former residents have had their names on a list awaiting the day when they will be ready to enter.

One of my surprises in coming to Bradley last year was that there were several people I already knew. One, Shirley Neuman Galuzzo, lived on the next street from me back in the early thirties, but frequently she and her brother, Eugene, visited their grandmother who lived two houses up the street, and she and her brother would come to play with me and my brothers, Bob and Joe. Now Shirley is again my neighbor as her room is just a few doors down the corridor from mine. Most residents discover they have some social connections here through church membership, former employment or special interest groups to which they belonged. There always seems to be a connection to someone.

One of our active residents, Kay Janiga, was Bradley’s Director of Nursing from l963-l969. Now that speaks well of her opinion of Bradley---to come back years later as a resident. Kay brightens the day for many of us with a hearty laugh, a helping hand, or even a good book discussion!

My days are filled with stimulating activity or peaceful relaxation, as I choose. If I want a change of scenery from my room, I go to the library or the large, screened porch on my corridor. The many, large old trees, many planted by Clarence Bradley, create a view from both my room and the porch that I find pleasing. I was interested to learn that the Connecticut Botanical Society in l996 designated three of our fine trees “large enough to make the Connecticut notable tree list”, naming the Golden Rain tree, as the state champion for its species. Many birds also call Bradley home, it seems (without a doubt, they too, are second and third generation?!?) In the spring, with my window wide open, and the many birds peeping and chirping (wish I could recognize their calls), I feel as though I were being serenaded. I am glad to be home.