A Chatham Hall Life: Arvia Crosby Morris '46

Following Chatham Hall, I went to Wellesley College. Following Wellesley, I moved to New York City staying in a flat with Eleanor Owens ‘46, my Chatham Hall roommate. With a job to pay the rent, I made an eye-opening post-war European trip with an unforgettable tour of London bomb sites that brought history and my love of art alive.

I moved to Washington D.C., sharing a tiny townhouse in Georgetown with Eleanor and had a low ladder job at the National Geographic. These were McCarthy and Nixon years, and the city was very accessible to young and curious strangers. 

Bill Morris, whom I had met years before thanks to Chatham classmate, Maggie Ohrstrom ’46, and I were married in 1954 and moved back to New York City. His job at the Bankers Trust Company sent us and then two children, my son, Spencer, and daughter, Arvia, to London in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. As Americans we were greeted with warm hospitality. It was fascinating to be a part of the post-war scene in Europe with the rise of the Beatles, Chubby Checker, and the Profumo Affair. We enjoyed vacations abroad and made lifelong friends. These connections are still part of my life with ties to the next generation with whom I enjoy regular emails and texting. In 1964, we returned to New York City with three children including our youngest daughter, Adrienne, as well as to the family apple farm, Cedar Heights Orchards. Bill retired early, as did I, after some years managing a small retail franchise in New York City for a Scottish company.

The family property in Rhinebeck, NY has roots deep in the past and was a huge part of our lives as a family. We moved to Rhinebeck and started a pick-your-own apple business, which has now been in operation for more than 30 years. The year 2020 was phenomenal as the crop was huge and so many families came with kids and dogs – everyone loving to be outdoors, picking apples, and feeling safe.  We now have about 750 apple trees, some planted for cider for my son’s cidery, Sowams Cider Works, in Warren, RI. 

I developed a passion for horticulture and opportunities as a garden designer inspired by our land, and have even been published in Private Gardens of the Hudson Valley!

My daughter, Adrienne, works at Brown University and, along with her husband and daughter, enjoys spending time at the farm and helping with the pick-your-own. My daughter, Arvia, lives in Seattle and is now retired after a successful career as a biologist in biotech. She works hard for climate legislation in Washington state. 

It is my hope that all the Chatham family - those still at School or wherever you are - pay attention to the problems in the world and our nation. As educated women, this is such an opportunity to make a positive contribution for your own satisfaction and to inspire others to do the same by listening, observing, and acting."