United Helpers has a Long History of Overcoming Challenges

 By Benny Fairchild

In 1948 changes in state law necessitated the closure of the nursery at the United Helpers Home. The home continued to admit older children and senior women until laws again changed in 1959 putting an official end to the Society of the United Helper's original mission of caring for children in need.

It was in 1959 when the State Department of Social Welfare mandated that children be in placed in foster homes, rather than what they considered to be institutional settings.

While this blow could have signaled the beginning of the end, it simply marked a shift in the United Helpers mission. As the need for elder care continued to increase, United Helpers began making plans for another expansion at its State Street location, however a fire in the spring of 1968 made further renovations to the property not feasible.

It was at that time that the Society purchased the Pythian Home, which for a brief period housed United Helpers residents. The home would later be torn down to make way for the original United Helpers Nursing Home. Over the years the building would also be known as RiverLedge and United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care.

The nursing home opened in 1972, and less than 10 years later in 1979 an adult residence would also be built on the property. This home offered seniors a place to live, where they could maintain a sense of independence, but receive medication management services, and have meals prepared for them. In 1979 United Helpers also took ownership of two other nursing homes in the area, Cedars in Ogdensburg and Moongate in Canton.

The shift from caring for children to caring for the elderly was complete, although anyone familiar with the United Helpers story knows that additional changes for the organization lurk on the horizon.

On Thursday, July 16, 1970 ground was broken for construction of what would eventually become United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg. When this photo was discovered in the United Helpers Archives, it was accompanied by a newspaper clipping, allowing us to identify the individuals pictured. From left, United Helpers attorney Eric Gordon, Finance Committee Chairman John Winthrop, Project Engineer Robert Walker, Project Supervisor Scott Rutherford, Charles Sandwith, of McConville, Inc., Building Committee Co-chair Helen S. Randles, Board Vice President Christopher Acker, Society President Dr. Alta Brown, Daniel McConville, of McConville Inc., Architect Doug Lyon, Ogdensburg Mayor John F. Byrnes and Nursing Home Consultant George Needle.