Finding OUR CHALET

I was overjoyed to be given the chance to hunt again. However, what made the deepest impression on me was Mrs Storrow's attitude. She had seen a spot "where I want to stay all the rest of my life" and immediately gave up her own idea because it did not entirely fit the purpose. This was a great stimulus to redouble my efforts and do my best to satisfy her.

I started again, this time towards the village of Adelboden. I liked the place very much but there were some draw-backs. I had another look around and spotted across the valley a little golden tree (by this time it was September) amidst the pines. When I got to the place which overlooks the spot where the Chalet stands now, I was struck with its beauty. Glowing evening sun shed its light on the mountain tops, cow-bells rang in the distance. I felt that there one could find 'peace for the soul' combined with all the other advantages!

I was convinced that I had found the right place and rushed back to the architect's of fice bursting with the latest news: "I've found the perfect spot." This announcement was met with a sceptical smile as apparently I had made this statement 20 times before. "Come and see," was my argument.

We stood there in the evening light feeling that we could find nothing better. We cabled to Mrs Storrow, "We have found the place, shall we get it?" Again we found deep understanding, for a few hours later we had the answer: "Hurrah! Go ahead". We knew that it was not going to be easy to get the peasants to sell their ground. A mountain guide came to our help and took up the preliminary discussions. When the owners were willing to sell, the Swiss Chalet Committee signed the contract in December 1930.

Letters and plans flew hither and thither from Switzerland to America. Mrs Storrow had called the World Committee for June in Adelboden to inspect the site. We could hardly wait, though at the back of my thoughts was the nagging idea that perhaps the place might not come up to expectations. But it did. With great impatience we climbed up the hill while Mr von Sinner, the architect, rushed up with a long pole on his shoulder, much to Mrs Storrow's astonishment. Great was her surprise when she was greeted by an American flag waving from where the Chalet now stands.

A tea party with the World Committee inaugurated 'our ground'. Looking down the hill, I thought I was having visions of the future, because I clearly saw two English Guides walking towards us. They were on holiday in the neighbourhood and had heard about the Chalet.

After my trip to the States in 1931, my first step was to visit the Chalet. I could hardly believe my eyes. A solid concrete block stood ready for the wooden part to be built on top. The timber was ready to be brought up to and be fitted in.

What should the new home be called? Various suggestions were made but very soon the question settled itself. Every single Girl Guide would have the impression that it was her home and would call it, 'Our', 'Unser', 'Notre', Chalet - according to her language.

On December 21 st, 1931 the roof was set. There is an old custom in Switzerland to give a fete to the workmen on this occasion. The carpenters decorate the top with a fir-tree trimmed with coloured ribbons, and in former times they used to sing special songs accompanied by rhythmic hammering. Unfortunately these songs are not known by the younger generation.

Dinner was in the village inn. One of the workmen took out his accordion, a man asked me for a dance. There was one snag: we were only two ladies and we had work ahead of us dancing with them all. They wore heavily nailed boots and occasionally stepped on our toes so I suggested that they should all dance in stockinged feet. From that evening dates our friendship with the village and with our neighbours.

At last, Mrs Storrow visited the Chalet. It was like living in a trance to show her the house and all the gifts which had been sent: the old Swiss cupboard bought by some Americans, the lovely rug sent by the Swedes, the arm-chairs from Holland, the American Room and the library furnished with old Swiss furniture given by British Commissioners, the cutlery from England and France, the china from the Swiss Guides, the Polish beds...