Helena Modjeska Chase

Helena Modjeska Chase Johnson Drea (born Helena Modjeska Chase, September 23, 1900 – December 22, 1986) was a versatile artist, writer, poet, musician, photographer, and horsewoman. She had notable achievements as an illustrator of children's books and oil painter. Several of her books have been included in the Library of Congress collection.

Early life
Helena Modjeska Chase was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on September 23, 1900. Her father, Clement Chase, was a prominent publisher and editor of Omaha's "Excelsior" newspaper, as well as a bookstore owner. Her mother, Lula Belle Edwards Chase, came from a socialite background and had ancestors who arrived on the Mayflower.

Helena Modjeska Chase was the fourth and youngest child of Clement and Lula Belle Chase. She was named after the renowned Polish actress Helena Modjeska, who was her godmother.

The Chase family had a vibrant social life and often hosted gatherings, attracting artists, writers, actors, and dancers to their home in Omaha.

Helena's grandfather, Col. Champion Spaulding Chase, had served as the mayor of Omaha. He was also instrumental in bringing Wagnerian Operas to the city, contributing to the cultural enrichment of the community.

It is worth noting that Helena Modjeska Chase's godmother, Helena Modjeska, was a celebrated Shakespearean actress known for her tragic roles. She had a close friendship with the esteemed Polish pianist and President, Paderewski. Helena Modjeska Chase's home in the Catskill Mountains still holds Paderewski's concert grand piano as a treasured relic of that era.

The Chase family's illustrious legacy, marked by their contributions to the arts and their involvement in the community, left a lasting impact on Omaha's cultural scene.

Schooling
After attending kindergarten and public school, Helena Chase continued her education at Brownell Hall, an Episcopal Church School for young ladies near Omaha. During the summers of 1913 and 1914, she also studied at the Art Institute in Chicago.

At the age of 14, Helena Chase displayed her artistic talent, following in her mother's footsteps. Her mother's watercolor work and Helena's own small statuette called "Day Dreams" were often exhibited together. They had both received art lessons at the Art Institute in Chicago.

In 1916, Helena Chase studied at the Latin school in Chicago and took art and dancing lessons at the Chamber's Academy Ballroom. She also attended the Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island,  where she was elected one of the editors of the school magazine, the Quill. During her time there, she excelled in tennis doubles matches.

At the age of 16, in September 1917, Helena Chase designed a special poster for a fundraising effort to support Unit No.1 of the American Fund for French Wounded Civilian Relief. Her poster was selected for exhibition in New York and displayed at the Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington, D.C.

In 1965, Helena Chase Johnson achieved a significant milestone in her education by receiving a Master of Arts Degree in Education from the Putney Graduate School of Teacher Education in Vermont. She dedicated her thesis to studying the art and lives of children from various parts of the world, conducting extensive research during her travels to 38 countries, including those behind the Iron Curtain. Her commitment to education and thirst for knowledge were evident throughout her career.

Helena Chase Johnson had a successful teaching career, including roles in the Art Department at Putney School and Hickory Ridge School in Vermont. She also served as the acting head of the Art Department at Perry-Mansfield Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Helena Chase Johnson's educational journey included attending various schools such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island, and the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts, where she graduated in 1923. She married Harry McClure Johnson in 1923 and settled in Winnetka, Illinois.

Marriage
In 1923, Helena Chase married Harry McClure Johnson, a distinguished trademark attorney who had achieved recognition in New York and Chicago. Harry McClure Johnson was a graduate of Princeton University. The couple settled in Winnetka, Illinois, where they lived in a beautiful mansion. They employed a dedicated and capable staff to provide them with attentive service, reflecting their esteemed position in society.

Death of Husband
Helena Chase Johnson spent the summer months of 1933 at her home on part of the Henry Cook ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In March 1932, her husband, Harry McClure Johnson, passed away at the age of 46 in Toronto, Canada. After his death, Helena moved with her five children to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where she purchased a ranch known as Pine Springs Ranch. She taught art at the Perry Mansfield Camp and raised her children on the 1000-acre horse ranch.

In 1935, Helena acquired a winter home in La Jolla, California. In 1939, she bought "The Little Hotel by the Sea," now known as the Grande Colonial Hotel, in La Jolla and renamed it "La Posada." She owned and operated the hotel for over 25 years. During World War II, she rented out her farm in Vermont and became involved in property buying and selling. She also wrote a book titled "Horse Trading in Houses."

Helena had a passion for horses and began her herd through a wild horse roundup in the Sand Wash area. She brought back a wild black filly that produced palomino offspring. She enjoyed horseback riding in the rugged terrain, often exploring the Continental Divide and the mountains surrounding Steamboat Springs. She would occasionally sell horses or ponies to cover expenses, which was a difficult and sad experience for her and her children.

At some point, she sold her Shetland ponies to Hannes Von Trapp, the youngest son of the Trapp family singers, in Stowe, Vermont.

Poet and Writer
Helena Chase Johnson was a published author of children's books, poems, and a children's juvenile magazine titled "Adventure Trails." In December 1962, her poems were printed in the fifth volume of Poetry "Skylines" under the imprint of "The Gateway Press."

Helena was an active member of writing organizations such as the Penn Women of Colorado, the Quill Club of Colorado Springs, and the Poetry Fellowship of Colorado Springs. Her poems appeared in various papers and magazines, and she made significant contributions to the field of children's literature. She founded the "Adventure Trails" magazine in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, which featured books authored by children and sold internationally.

In 1945, Helena established "Adventure Trails Publications" at her ranch in Steamboat Springs. Her daughters Elizabeth and Priscilla wrote and published books under this venture, including "The Vengeance of the Vixen" and "How the Eggplant Came to Be." Helena also published books under the pseudonym Charity Chase, such as "Peanuts' (And cowboy Jimmy)."

Helena was passionate about music and served on the board of the Colorado Springs Chorale. She was skilled in playing several instruments, including the viola, and performed as the third solo violist in the Bach Brandenburg Concerto with the Putney Chamber Orchestra. She was also involved in the Putney Symphony Orchestra.

Throughout her career, Helena's work was recognized and honored. She was featured in the Annual Anthology of the poetry fellowship of Colorado Springs, won Honorable Mention in the Nellie Budget Miller Poetry contest, and had her poems published in the Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. She was listed in the "Who's Who of American Women" and the "Who's Who of Women in the West."

Artist Painter
In July 1933, Helena Chase Johnson painted a picture of an Indian papoose that she observed during a Sun Dance in Vernal, Utah. Her paintings have been exhibited across the US, and she has received recognition and prizes for her work. She is listed in the "Dictionary of International Biography," "Who's Who in the West," and "Who's Who of American Women," among other biographical works. Helena Chase Johnson contributed three oil portraits to the 1944 annual exhibit of the Denver Art Museum.

In August 1949, doll portraits painted by Helena Chase Johnson were displayed in the children's department of the Denver Public Library. These portraits included an old kid-bodied wax doll and portraits of twin dolls from Brattleboro, Vermont, and a doll in an elegant white costume from the Pioneer Museum in Colorado Springs. Many of Mrs. Johnson's paintings have been used to illustrate printed stories.

Helena Chase Johnson hosted one-person art shows, showcasing her portraits and still life studies. Her talent for photography was also recognized, as Kodak selected her exceptional enlargements for display.

Throughout her life, Helena remained active in painting and writing. She had a family of five children, 22 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. Her portraits and still lifes were featured in numerous one-man exhibitions and exhibits throughout the United States.

2nd Marriage
In 1965, Helena Chase Johnson married Dr. William Francis Drea at Grace Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs. Dr. Drea was a well-known physician in Colorado Springs. Helena's wedding ceremony included musical performances by Dr. Julius Baird on the organ, and she was given in marriage by her son-in-law, Gunther Paetsch. The couple held their reception at "The Pines" on Cheyenne Mountain, where Helena resided.

Helena Johnson lived in both Colorado Springs and the "Signal Pine Farm" in Putney, Vermont. She was a member of the Quill Club and Poetry Fellowship in Colorado Springs. As a member of the Arabian Horse Association, she raised Polish-bred registered Arabian Horses. She also bred Shetland ponies and wild Mustangs from Douglas Mountain, Colorado.

Later in life, after raising her five children, Helena joined the Putney Graduate School of Teacher Education's "World Study Trip" and earned a Master of Education degree in 1958. During her travels in 1956-1957, she visited 38 countries, including Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and Africa.

Helena Chase Johnson achieved recognition as an artist and writer. She published books for children through Adventure Trails Publications, some of which are included in the Library of Congress. Her works have appeared in anthologies such as "Timberlines," "Golden Harvest," "Quadrennium DI Polynesia," and "Skylines." Some of her poems have been set to music, and she has received numerous honors and awards for her contributions.

Helena Chase Johnson Drea's verse from her book "The Child's World" reflects her sentiment towards children:

Throughout her life, Helena pursued various artistic and creative endeavors. She exhibited her paintings in public libraries across the country, taught at schools in Chutney, Vermont, and Hickory Ridge, and raised Mustangs, Palominos, and Arabian Horses on Rock Cliff Ranch and in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Real Estate
Helena Chase Johnson had a strong involvement in real estate and purchased "The Little Hotel by the Sea" in La Jolla, California in 1939. After renovations, she owned and operated the hotel, which became known as "La Posada," for over 25 years. The hotel, featuring seven small rooms, earned the distinction of being the "Smallest hotel in the World with an Elevator" due to its six-person solid mahogany wood elevator. Helena and her five children celebrated the grand opening of the hotel in 1940, with their two Shetland ponies, Peanuts and Pardner, serving as official greeters.

Helena pursued a diverse range of interests and talents throughout her life. She studied various forms of dance, including Asiatic and ballroom dancing, and taught rhythms at Putney. She was also a skilled musician, playing the piano, viola, banjo, drums, and cello. Her musical abilities led her to become the 3rd Solo Violist in the Bach Brandenburg Concerto with the Putney Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, she had a passion for painting, writing, traveling, horse breeding, real estate, children's books, reading, art, and music. She had a particular interest in genealogy and embarked on a world trip to study children's art for her thesis.

Chase had poems published in many papers and magazines. She was also an amateur musician herself playing several instruments, including the viola, on which she was 3rd Solo Violist in the Bach Brandenburg Concerto in the Putney Chamber Orchestra under Norwood Hinkle while living in Vermont. She also played the piano, cello, drums and banjo. She played the piano since she was a child and studied the cello in California. She played the drums in Hull House in Chicago and was a virtuoso banjo player.

Helena's poems were published in numerous newspapers and magazines, showcasing her talent as a writer. She was actively involved in various organizations, including being a member of the Unitarian community and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Her sister, Carmelita Hinton, founded The Putney School in Putney, Vermont.

Helena Chase Johnson died at the age of 86 on December 22, 1986, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Harry McClure Johnson a scientist in Maryland and Washington DC, She left behind five surviving children: Mansi Kern, a folk musician; Dr. Harry McClure Johnson, a scientist; Elizabeth Stickney, a teacher; Sarah Jane Shaw, an Arabian horse breeder; and Priscilla McClure Paetsch, a prominent violinist. Helena also had 22 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Ancestry
Helena Modjeska Chase Johnson Drea was descended from several Mayflower pilgrims.

On her mother's side, Lula Belle Edwards Chase traced her ancestry directly to five individuals who arrived on the Mayflower, including Governor William Bradford, John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. These individuals were part of the English ship's voyage in 1620, which marked the beginning of the Pilgrims' settlement in the New World.

William Bradford, who successfully completed the perilous journey on the Mayflower, went on to become Governor and was among the 41 Pilgrims who signed the Mayflower Compact in 1620 while still aboard the ship.