Pauline Chase-Harrell Obituary

CHASE-HARRELL, Pauline "Polly" 69, resident of Boston and Arrowhead Farm, Newburyport, prominent Boston architechtural historian and President and owner of Boston Affiliates, died Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She was the daughter of the late Glendon and Charlotte (Moulton) Chase, sister and kindred spirit of Dick Chase and sister-in-law of Paula Chase both of Arrowhead Farm, Newburyport; aunt of Justin and Jamie Chase and great aunt of Derek and Bradley Chase, all of Amesbury, MA; cousin of Barbara Washburn, Polly Gurney, Carla Dow and William Crooks; and dear friend to many throughout her life. An hour of visitation will be held Sunday from 12-1 pm at Belleville Congregational Church, 300 High Street, Newburyport, MA, where she had a lifelong affiliation. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Newburyport. After the burial, family and friends are invited to a reception back at Belleville Congregational Church. Flowers are welcomed and memorial contributions may be made to Boston Athenaeum, 10 Â½ Beacon Street, Boston Mass 02108. Arrangements are by Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport.

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Published by Boston Globe on Nov. 20, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Pauline Chase-Harrell

8 Entries

June 28, 2010

Polly was one of the founding Board members of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. She never let us down and caused an impact on the US local government preservation programs that will always be felt.

Virginia Williams

February 9, 2010

I met Polly in 1966 when she began teaching with me at Amity Regional High School outside New Haven, Ct. She, her then-husband John, my husband Redford and I became good friends. Along with another couple, we would exchange dinner parties on the week ends as our usual form of recreation. I was chair of the History Department so very involved with the details of everyone's schedule. I especially remember a wonderful group lecture on American social history and architecture she gave for all eleventh graders. Even then, she had a deep interest in American aesthetics. She decorated an adventurous house and dressed adventuresomely too--initially sometimes a success, sometimes not, but she was taking chances and refining her sensibilities. When I became pregnant and stopped teaching, she took me out shopping. We took the lovely pattern she had chosen and went to the fabric store, where she treated me to the material I choose. A talented seamstress, she then carefully sewed my best maternity outfit. The resulting acqua empire dress with a fancy high belt became one of my favorite outfits ever. I kept it for many years for nostalgic reasons, before bequeathing it to another mother-to-be.
Just a couple of years later, Polly moved to Boston and I first to DC and then North Carolina. We kept in touch. I was of course chilled upon learning of her first cancer. We would occasionally get a chance to visit: us to 15 Concord Square, her to Durham, North Carolina, so we stayed friends. Polly became ever more glamourous. The adventuresome sense of dress now worked all the time. The enthusiasm for aesthetics were resulting in ever more productive projects and her home became a wonderful study of high Victoriana.. She had become an important force for good. I was of course very proud of her.
I remember a few years ago her visiting North Carolina because she had set up an exhibit at the NC Museum of History. We sat on the deck on a beautiful afternoon, sometimes reminising, sometimes sharing new interests.
I last saw Polly in the spring of 2008 when I was in Boston connected with one of my projects. We had lunch together and she was the still upbeat, jaunty, glamourous person she always had been, only more so. Her health seemed not perfect, but Polly had conquered so much that I didn't worry. Well, not much.
Christmas before last her Christmas letter had been late. I called, but didn't sense that her health might be failing, but rather that she had many projects. So this year I waited until February, then called to the disconnected phone. The internet announcement let me know. Such a bright light has gone out. I feel a deep personal loss. I am proud of the many projects she has completed, but saddened by the end of that. She certainly shall remain in my memory in a positive way as long as I live. Virginia Williams, 5811 Buck Quarter Rd. Hillsborough NC 27278, [email protected].

Joanna Brode

January 13, 2010

Our thoughts are with Polly's family. Those of us at Strawbery BAnke Museum valued Polly's tenure on our Board of Advisors. We shall miss her indeed.

Tom Fern

November 22, 2009

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! I enjoyed working with Polly for the past 6 years.

John Lucier

November 22, 2009

I was saddened to hear of Polly's death. My father always spoke highly of both her great intellegence and her work. Strength and peace to you and your family during this cold, dark time.

Jean Lawler

November 21, 2009

I am sorry to hear about Polly's passing and I'm thinking of you, Dick and Paula, and wishing you hope and healing.

Theresa Pease

November 20, 2009

So sorry to learn of Polly's death. Working with her during my ten years at Tufts was always both a pleasure and a learning experience.

Michael Laurano

November 20, 2009

In the untimely passing of Pauline Chase-Harrell the Boston and Newburyport area has lost a deeply committed and effective advocate for preservation of the region's second to none historical treasures and heritage.

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