Vinnie Secord and Emily Messenger are long time members of the Stony Hill Village community. Stony Hill was built in the 1970s and 1980s by the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Assistance Program. Today, this vital community is home to residents aged 62+ and individuals with disabilities.
At 92, Vinnie Secord calls Stony Hill Village “the best decision I ever made.” After her husband passed away, Secord, then living in East Hampton, found herself at a crossroads. She moved into a condo community in Granby to be closer to her children, but the rising costs made it unsustainable. When she was accepted to Stony Hill Village she hesitated. “At first, the idea of a low-income community sounded demeaning,” she admits, “but it turned out to be just the answer.”
Secord, a former secretary at Aetna and mother of four, has now lived at Stony Hill Village for seven years. “I can do what I want. I am independent, and living here gives us all hope,” she says. “I feel like I belong. Another blessing of our community is we look up at open skies and tree tops, marveling in Mother Nature’s seasonal miracles all around us.” Her days are filled with things she loves—gardening, reading, learning something new, picnicking and sharing life with others. She enjoys being close to the Granby Senior Center and Library, both within walking distance. “They have great programs,” she says, “and the people are inspiring and wonderful.” She’s deeply grateful to Stony Hill Village, the Granby Police Department and the team at the Granby Senior Center for helping make their lives comfortable, secure, meaningful and purposeful.
Emily Messenger has been at Stony Hill Village for more than 20 years. She is 93 years old and has three daughters. Messenger grew up on a dairy farm in Eastern Connecticut, was married for 40 years, and moved to Granby after she was married. She said, “I fell in love with Granby”. She got her BA in education at UConn, was trained as an elementary school teacher and taught second and third grades at Kelly Lane School for 20 years. Messenger also has been an active member of the First Congregational Church of Granby since 1954. She taught Sunday School, served on several committees and was a loyal member of the choir. After retirement, she taught ESL, volunteered as a reader for a second-grade class, experimented with stained glass, studied writing for children, built and learned to play a dulcimer. At the age of 80 she wrote her first poem and published a book of poetry called Emily’s Musings: Songs of Faith, Joy and Love.
She loves being able to see nature out of her front window at Stony Hill Village and that her apartment is in a very quiet section of the Village. Her favorite aspect of living at Stony Hill Village is her wonderful next-door neighbor, with whom she has become good friends. Messenger also loves that the Granby Senior Center is so close. She goes to dinners and activities there. She enjoys Stony Hill Village because of the people. She said, “People make the difference.”
Secord and Messenger are just two examples of the wonderful residents at Stony Hill Village. They appreciate the Village and the community appreciates them. Granby is fortunate to have this vital housing community that assists a growing population of older adults. Appropriate affordable housing provides for better health and safety outcomes for aging and disabled persons, and helps provide more economic stability, allowing people to spend more of their income on healthcare and food.
To submit an application to live at Stony Hill Village, find an application at granbyhomesforseniors.org under “Additional Links and Information.”
The complex is owned by a local 501c(3) non-profit, Granby Homes for Senior Citizens, Inc. The support Stony Hill Village receives from the community is very important. To tour the property or get more information, send an email to: stonyhillgranby@gmail.com. To donate to Granby Homes for Senior Citizens, Inc., visit granbyhomesforseniors.org, and click on the link under the “Donate” tab; or, mail a check to Granby Homes for Senior Citizens, Inc., 259 Salmon Brook Street-SHV1, Granby, CT 06035.