By Benny Fairchild
OGDENSBURG - When Rev. P.S. Garand wrote "The History of the City of Ogdensburg," in 1927 his 469-page volume included an entry on United Helpers, which was still a year away from celebrating its 30th anniversary.
That entry read:
The United Helpers Home
One of our foremost benevolent institutions in town, is undoubtedly the Society of United Helpers. It was founded in 1898, its first President being Mrs. Mary Earl Knapp. Like with all great works, it had a humble beginning. A small house on Congress Street with three or four children was its cradle. In 1899, the present site, at the extreme western end of State Street, was bought and a building costing *$12,000 was erected on it. Ten years later, namely 1909, an addition for the aged, costing **$25,000, was constructed and in 1924 the present fine and commodious annex, large enough to accommodate one hundred children, as added to the plant. It cost, together with the repairs on the Old Ladies' Department ***$135,421.55. Since then, $35,000 was raised by subscription to finish paying for repairs. The best care is given to all the interns There is a department for babies, one for boys, one for girls and a fourth one for old ladies. Since the beginning of the Institution, more than 1,575 little ones and fifty old ladies have found a happy home in this house of charity. It is supported by voluntary contributions as well as money contributed by the different towns for the support of destitute inmates.
The present President of the Institution is Mrs. Charles de V. Hoard, and its superintendent, Miss Martha M. Hezar.
The books first three pages contains what Rev. Garand called "Sources of Information." While some entries in the book are specifically cited, the United Helpers entry is not, leading one to believe information from that entry came from local newspapers or one of the many "old people" he talked to while researching the book.
"I also consulted old diaries and family records, as well as many old people, regarding the past, and heads of corporations and societies for what I wrote about them," he wrote. "Finally, whatever information I could not secure from the above sources, I gathered from the files of newspapers, especially The Journal and Republican bound and securely kept in the Public Library. These papers have proven to be an invaluable source of information..."
Rev. Garand's entry in what was then Ogdensburg's definitive history, indicates that it didn't take long for United Helpers to leave a mark on the community, and for the community to embrace the United Helpers mission.
With more than 1,500 children directly impacted by the organization's work in its first 30 years, as well as the extensive improvements made to United Helpers facilities, it is clear that the Always Caring philosophy United Helpers is known for today, extended beyond the organization and into the community.
*$12,000 in 1899 is equal to $436,389.40 today
** $25,000 in 1909 is equal to $829,219.78 today
*** $135,421.55 in 1924 is equal $2,390,356.66 today
Calculations made using an online inflation calculator found at www.in2013dollars.com. Note that while the website's name is in2013dollars.com, currency values are converted to 2023 dollars.
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