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St.
Joseph's Home
705
Clyman
The old St. Joe's
Home
The new St. Joe's Home
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1956
Watertown Daily Times, 09 27 1956
Joseph E. Davies, Watertown-born former U.S.
ambassador to Russia, has sent a check to the sisters who operate St. Joseph's
Home for the Aged in Watertown. Mrs.
Bertha Voss, a resident at the home, said she read an article in the Times some
months ago about Mr. Davies' plans to turn over his Washington estate to the
Federal government as an official residence for vice presidents and that this
inspired her to write to Mr. Davies. She
suggested that if he wished he could do some good by helping the “good sisters
who operate this home in Watertown.” He
wrote back asking to whom he has to make out the check and Mrs. Voss replied to
his inquiry and today the check was received.
1992
Watertown Daily Times, 11
28 1992
When St. Joseph's Home for the Aged was opened 50 years ago by the
Sisters of Charity, it was struggling for food and money to take care of its
six bedridden residents.
"I can remember an ice cream social on the front lawn to raise
money to help the sisters get started" said Madge Kwapil, 94, now a resident of the home where she established
St. Joseph's Auxiliary many years ago and served as its first president.
"The first sisters had no money at all. They depended on food donations
from the community to feed residents. Notre Dame donated the beds and
individual people donated the mattresses. Back in those days, most mattresses
were double and there was a sister who remade the double mattresses into single
ones for the residents."
Thanks to the faith of the sisters and support from the community, the
home grew through several expansions to its present sprawling two-story
facility at 705 Clyman St. It is tucked away in a residential section of the
city filled with large homes.
St. Joseph's has kept a low-key profile over the years in keeping with
the quiet neighborhood and the soft-spoken nature of the sisters. It serves 26
residents and has rooms available for two more. "We aren't full because
people don't know about us," said Mother M. Christine O'Connor, S.C.M.C.,
who has been administrator since March.
The two grand old homes where St. Joseph's began are long gone, but
money is still in short supply due to expenses and needed repairs. The home
classified by the state as a community-based care facility or CBRF, does not
fall under Medicare payment criteria. Its only income is from residents, some
of whom are unable to pay the $40 a day rate.
"We must charge that much to keep up with expenses," said
Mother Christine, successor to Mother Elodie who had been administrator of the
home for five years. "We have 18 staff members on the payroll which is a
big expense. Some of our residents can't pay the full amount and we won't put
them out. We accept what they can pay," said the nun, who has taken a vow
of poverty along with other sisters in her convent. She is considering adding
an adult day-care center to serve the community and for increased revenue.
St. Joseph's is owned and operated by Sisters of Charity of Our Lady the
Mother of the Church, headquartered in Baltic, Conn. In addition to Mother
Christine, the staff includes Sister Marie Antoinette, who has been secretary
and bookkeeper for the past six years, and Sister Marie Elizabeth, who performs
housekeeping duties. All have taken a vow to do charitable works.
Mother Christine has been involved in health care for over 30 years. A
native of Willimantic, Conn., she served it St. Elizabeth's in Janesville and
at homes in Willimantic and Pomfret Center, Conn., before coming to Watertown.
While in Willimantic, she was involved in construction of a 37-bed home and
establishment of an adult day-care center and shelter for homeless families.
She is a certified food services manager.
The facility, popularly known as St. Joe's, is home to elderly residents
from Watertown and surrounding communities who are unable to live by
themselves, but do not need nursing home care. All residents have single rooms
with many of them filled with their own furniture, afghans, family photos and
other personal touches. Meals, laundry and hair care as well as other services
are provided. Residents are free to come and go according to their own
schedules. A nurse is on duty to dispense medications. Special meals are
prepared according to individual diets. The cook visits Fair Day each month to
take advantage of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Although the sisters are Catholic, persons of any denomination are
welcome to fill the two vacant resident rooms. The religious statues in the
halls are remnants of a bygone era in the Catholic church and do not reflect
the ecumenical nature of residents.
"We only have six or seven Catholic residents now. We're not trying
to win residents over. We never push anyone - that wouldn't be proper,"
said Mother Christine. She added that any of the residents are welcome to come
to the chapel for church services which are well attended by visitors from
outside the home on Saturdays and Sundays. The
services are conducted every day at 7 a.m. by the Rev. Ray Ashenbrenner,
resident chaplain and Dominican priest who came to the home in July from
Chicago.
St. Joseph's was opened in November of 1942 in a home formerly owned by Dr. Adolf Wallner. One of the three
sisters who opened the facility was Sister Valesia who died in 1958 and is
buried in St. Henry's Cemetery. Another large home was purchased and the
two homes were connected by an enclosed corridor. One of the homes purchased by
the order was moved intact to South Twelfth St. Units were added in 1945, 1952
and 1963. The sisters from Baltic, Conn., took over operation of the home in
1974.
1998
Watertown Daily Times, 09 19 1998
St. Joseph's Retirement Home, a longtime Watertown
institution, is closing its doors after 57 years of service to the community. The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of
the Church, based in Baltic, Conn., made the announcement today. The sisters own and operate St. Joseph's home,
located at 705 Clyman St. “It's a sad
day at the home today,” said Mother Theresita, superior general of the Sisters
of Charity. She said St. Joseph's
officials were meeting today with residents and their families to inform them
of the decision and to discuss placement options.
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Site of St. Joseph’s Home is now The Landmark Building with its
independent senior living apartments.
