History of St. Clare's Hospital

A Catholic hospital had long been a hope for the people of Schenectady - its earliest known reference, correspondence between church officials in New York City and Albany, dating back to 1917. But for one reason or another - money and land, to name just two - interest in and support for the hospital never gained momentum.

Its ultimate rise was due in no small part to the efforts of the late Barney Fowler, a renowned area journalist and Frank Dickershaid, retired roofing contractor. Taking note of the growing industrial strength of Schenectady and its related population boom, Dickershaid and Fowler knew the time was at hand to bring this project to fruition.

In 1942, they approached the offices of Albany's Bishop Edmund Gibbons and were advised "that petitions, bearing the signatures of at least 20,000 persons," would be indicative of sufficient interest, "to get things going."

The petition was crafted, printed and distributed throughout Schenectady and within six weeks, 25,000 names had been gathered.

Seven years passed, however, before the dream was realized. World War II was fought and won and two fund drives launched before St. Clare's Hospital opened its doors Sept. 1, 1949 under the auspices of the Albany Catholic Diocese and the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor.

Included among the many descriptions about St. Clare's is one of its most beloved.

These buildings do no rest upon a foundation of cement and sand but upon the solid rock of love and faith. Its corridors are filled with whispered prayers. There is a soft and tranquil beauty in its pastel colored walls and the hush of peace about its business of healing.

St. Clare's Hospital officially surrendered its license and Catholic identity on June 16, 2008 due to insurmountable financial pressures. Ellis Hospital in Schenectady has assumed responsibility for the services previously provided by St. Clare's. Today, St. Clare's Hospital is called the Ellis Health Center.