Warlé - A Celebration of Leon Ingall and Warren Kronemeyer

As part of marking June 2022 as LGBTQ Pride Month, Grace Cottage Hospital, in association with Valley Cares, hosted a remembrance, celebration, and commemoration of the legacy of Leon Ingall & Warren Kronemeyer, which included a presentation “Warlé, Yesterday, and Today” by their cousin, Andrew Ingall. In 2004, Warren Kronemeyer generously donated their home and 9.85 acres on Route 35 in Townshend that he had owned with his lifetime partner of 58 years, Leon Ingall, to Grace Cottage (the couple operated their business, Warlé Antiques, in their beautiful 1810 Federal style red brick home). In 2005, Grace Cottage donated the house and property to Valley Cares for their assisted- and independent living project which, since it opened in 2007, has been providing excellent care and housing for elders in our community. Leon & Warren were with us in spirit the day of the presentation in the form of remembrances, stories and artifacts shared by those in the community who knew and loved them both. This engaging and inspiring presentation took place on Tuesday, June 28 at 2 pm with a small audience of those who knew Leon & Warren. Owing to COVID-gathering restrictions and space constraints, this was a virtual presentation, open to all via ZOOM. Andrew Ingall is the creator of Warlé, Yesterday, and Today, a project that re-envisions his cousins’ mid-century boutique as a pop-up site for discussion, storytelling, and art that inspires action on behalf of LGBTQ+ elders and refugees. Using archival documents, photography, original artifacts, and recreations of objects, Andy has conjured Warlé, a New York Upper East Side boutique and interior decorating business established in 1958 by Leon Ingall and Warren Kronemeyer, Andy's cousins who were partners both in business and in life for 58 years. Leon was a Jewish refugee and fashion designer who fled Bolshevik Russia, relocated to Weimar Berlin, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1940. Warren was a ghostwriter, journalist, antiques dealer, and operative for the U.S. Office of Strategic Services. Warren and Leon left New York in 1980 and relocated their business to Townshend, Vermont and became beloved citizens of this rural community. Andy Ingall has been working in arts, culture, and community engagement for over twenty years as a curator, scholar, writer, performer, and producer. He received a B.A. from Columbia College and an M.A. in Performance Studies from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. His collaborators have included cultural workers, artists, scholars, faith leaders, activists, health care professionals, and funeral directors. #LGBTQElders #LGBTQSeniors #LGBTQSeniorhousing #LGBTQAging #LGBTQEldercare #LGBTQHealthcare #LGBTQHealthequity #LGBTQEquity #LGBTQWellness #LGBTQRefugees #QUEERElders #QUEERSeniors #QUEERSeniorhousing #QUEERAging #QUEEREldercare #QUEERHealthcare #QUEERHealthequity #QUEEREquity #QUEERWellness #QUEERRefugees #Gracecottage #Valleycares #TownshendVT #TownshendVermont