From Immigrants to Entrepreneurs to the Building of Darien
Our Town | written by: PETER SAVERINE, 4th generation Darien resident, with BILL FRATE, BARBARA ANDRIANUS, JEFF SAVERINE, and Piedmont Associates archives
Mike Vitti, Piedmont Club President at the Piedmont Club | original oil painting by Jeff Saverine
PERHAPS YOU’VE BEEN to a sports team dinner there, a meeting, a fundraiser or community event. Possibly you’ve been a guest for a cold drink and some camaraderie. Maybe this town gem has yet to hit your radar screen.
But whether you know it or not, Darien’s Piedmont Club, aka Piedmont Associates, at 152 Hecker Avenue has contributed enormously to the shaping of our town. We would not be what we are today without the energy and devotion to Darien that has pervaded its walls.
Established by a handful of men as the “Society of Umberto Principe di Piemonte” on July 25, 1916, the organization aimed to aid Italian immigrants arriving in Noroton Heights. Their mission was to assist newcomers in finding employment and housing, and provide a supportive community during challenging times for immigrants who predominantly became the tradesmen who built our vibrant community. Soon, they also filled roles as local mail carriers, police officers, firefighters and business people—forming the heart of Darien. Many of those original members went on to leave a multi-generational imprint on the town, one that continues to this day with family names such as Frate, Bruno, Zangrillo, Palmer, Poccia, Genovese, Grasso, Valenti, Conti, Vitti, Canto, Fracola, Improta, Saverine, Forte, Calve, Augustus, Esposito and more.
The Piedmont Club on Hecker Avenue
Initially, Piedmont Club meetings were held at the old Noroton Heights Firehouse on Linden Avenue. As membership grew, a 20’ x 30’ barn was constructed on Antonio Frate’s property at the corner of Linden Avenue and Gardiner Street. In 1921, the society purchased a building on Elm Street (now Wistar Court) where the 65 members volunteered their time to renovate the new clubhouse, working evenings and weekends to bring their vision to life.
In 1948, the Post-WWII era saw the founders welcoming a new generation to the club that included returning veterans and young entrepreneurs. The organization transitioned from a mutual aid society to a social club, reorganizing as Piedmont Associates. The clubhouse underwent significant structural improvements. In 1949, the club burned the paid off mortgage on the property that was held by William Ziegler, who, with legal advisor Charles Williamson, became the first honorary, non-Italian members of the club.
According to board member and fourth generation Piedmonter Bill Frate, “The club is living history of the great Italian heritage that helped build and continues to improve the town of Darien. A visit to the club will reveal walls of photos documenting members, past and present—too many to mention.”
The construction of Interstate 95 in 1954 necessitated the relocation of the clubhouse. The building was moved to its current location on land that had housed Tait’s Greenhouse. The relocation included renovations that extended the two-story building by 55 feet to accommodate kitchen
facilities, an auditorium, an expanded club room and full-service bars on both floors. Additionally, a stage, dance floor and outdoor bocce court were added. To save expenses, lore has it that members dug the footings by hand on which to proudly set their classically designed structure. In 2016, the Piedmont Club celebrated its centennial, marking 100 years of community service and cultural preservation.
Today, the Piedmont Club, under its President Mike Vitti, with the dedicated assistance of his family members, continues to serve as a hub for social gatherings, promoting Italian and Italian American heritage. It supports various community-based programs, charitable causes and sponsors boys and girls Little League teams, Darien Youth Hockey, Darien Junior Football and a bocce team. The club also played a pivotal role in founding the Darien Old Timers Athletic Association in 1961, which annually recognizes outstanding athletic achievements and supports local youth through scholarships and community assistance. Additionally, half the proceeds from the Charles A. Saverine Annual Golf Outing, named in 2021 to honor the 18 years Charles served as club treasurer, are awarded to support youth athletics.
The club also offers facility rentals for events such as weddings, birthdays, celebrations of life, reunions and holiday gatherings. Among the organizations that hold meetings and events at the Piedmont Club are the Darien Police Dept. Union, Darien Boat Club, BNI Business Networking, Darien Old Timer’s Association, Darien High School (DHS) sports teams, the Noroton Fire Department (Oktoberfest) and Walter Schalk Dance/Pender Keady (dance rehearsals). Fundraisers hosted at the Piedmont Club include Wave Strong, support for local friends with medical challenges, cancer research efforts, and Noroton V.F.W. Many religions and ethnic groups rent the facility for special occasions and celebrations as well.
Wave Strong 2024 holiday fundraiser hosted by Tim Stisser at the Piedmont Club
Although the Piedmont Club began as an Italian American heritage club and members continue to share their trade expertise and time to help reduce costs in maintaining their beloved building, as the town became more diverse, so has the makeup of its membership.
“You never know who you will meet for friendly conversations on sports, local and world politics, finances and family,” said Vitti. “The club room was packed this year as multiple generations cheered on DHS during the rainy Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl,” he continued.
At this hidden town treasure that has had the pulse of dedicated Darienites for generations, you will always find a cold beer, a great drink and a friendly face behind the bar, kinship around the pool table or in a pickup game of cards, and boundless good energy. The Piedmont Club remains
a testament to the enduring spirit of community and cultural heritage in Darien.
To find out more about the Piedmont Club and membership opportunities, visit piedmontclub.org. “A wonderful way to get introduced to the Piedmont Club is to attend one of the monthly Men’s Night dinners as the guest of a member,” added Vitti.
