Pageant of Hiawatha Helps Raise Funds to Support United Helpers

 By Benny Fairchild

In 1855 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a book of poems titled "The Song of Hiawatha." Aside from an introduction the book contained 22 poems, each telling a different tale related to the life of a fictional Ojibwe warrior named Hiawatha.

According to the Maine Historical Society's website, included in the epic series of poems is the tragic love story of Hiawatha and a Dakota woman named Minnehaha. The entire series of events takes place along the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan.

Longfellow's work would eventually become the foundation for one of United Helpers' first major fundraisers, a pageant with a cast of more than 100 people, including many children from the United Helpers Home held June 30 - July 2, 1915, at the Fairgrounds in Ogdensburg. 

According to an advertisement in the June 21 edition of The Ogdensburg Journal promoting the pageant, four shows were held over the course of three days with general admission tickets costing only 25 cents. The ad noted, "Reserved seats and motor car parking space extra."

An article detailing the show in the June 17 edition of The Ogdensburg Advance and St. Lawrence Weekly Democrat.

"Of all the poems written by Longfellow, perhaps none lends itself better to dramatic presentation than "Hiawatha. And it is certain that none is more interesting to the lovers of American Romance," the article reads. "Indian dances and music will be introduced and real Indian teepees and a campfire will make the setting most realistic."

While we were unable to find how much money was raised by the production, we did find a thank you note published in the July 9 edition of The Ogdensburg Journal.

"The President of the United Helpers Home and the Committee in charge of the presentation of the pageant of Hiawatha wish to thank all those who so generously assisted in making the pageant a success."

To read "The Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's work in its entirety, please visit https://www.hwlongfellow.org/poems_poem.php?pid=62.