St. Stephen seniors' residence to close

The board of trustees of the Maria F. Ganong Old Folks Home, better known as Lonicera Hall, plans to close the 91‑year‑old seniors' residence in St. Stephen. The board says in a written statement dated April 16 that "the organization will begin the process of winding down operations and dissolving the corporation following a comprehensive review of its long‑term sustainability."

"The board's priority throughout the wind‑down process is the well‑being of current residents. Trustees and staff will be working closely with residents, families and the appropriate community and provincial agencies to support a respectful and orderly transition," the statement reads, adding, "A detailed transition plan is being developed and will be shared directly with residents and families. The board remains committed to ensuring that every resident receives the support they need during this period of change."

"The decision follows an in‑depth assessment of financial, operational and demographic factors. Persistent challenges -- including declining occupancy, rising operating costs, changes in the senior care environment and the limitations of a volunteer‑based governance model -- have made it increasingly difficult to operate the facility in a sustainable and responsible manner," the statement reads, adding, "We recognize the long history of the organization and the important role it has played in the community. However, after reviewing the current operational realities, it became clear that continuing operations is no longer viable."

The organization's treasurer K. Randall Reid confirms that 13 people currently live at Lonicera Hall, leaving seven of the 20 rooms vacant. He also confirms that staff and trustees are working with the provincial Department of Social Development and others on finding new homes for the residents. He said the trustees purposefully did not announce a firm date for when the doors will be locked to allow as much time as needed for the residents to settle into new homes. Decisions on the future of the property will follow.

Shipbuilder James Porter built the original house, facing the St. Croix River, in 1841. James and Maria Ganong acquired the property later and, in 1903, had it swung around 180 degrees to face Union Street and added the wrap‑around porch. They called their home Lonicera Hall after the botanical name for honey‑suckle that they grew on the property. Gilbert Ganong, co‑founder of Ganong Bros. Ltd. candy‑makers, served as a Conservative member of Parliament from 1896 to 1908 and became lieutenant governor of New Brunswick in 1917, the year he died. Maria died in 1934, and her home opened as a seniors' residence in 1935. James and Maria Ganong's portraits still hang in the main hall near the front entrance.

The home provides meals, laundry services and other support, and a chairlift and elevator were added in recent years. Lonicera Hall almost closed in 2020, but a new board hired Trudy Higgins as administrator and seemed to bring new life to the institution. Last year, a successful campaign raised $60,000 for a generator. Fairly recent residents, since deceased, include two former mayors of St. Stephen. Still, the organization struggled to fill rooms and pay bills.

Today, New Brunswick offers the Extra‑Mural Program, home support services, the Nursing Home Without Walls and other support aimed at allowing people to live at home longer. When people really do need institutional care, they can move into special care and nursing homes with government subsidies. The provincial government has announced that St. Stephen and other communities will get new nursing homes.

St. Stephen Mayor Allan MacEachern says, "So there are more options, but that's also hurting their [Lonicera Hall's] business case, obviously, and they've been struggling many, many years. Everything boils down to money, obviously, but they need to have the residents to have the business case to be successful, and to support staff and all those things."

MacEachern, who grew up in St. Stephen, has his own memories linked to Lonicera Hall – or, if you will, the Old Folks Home. "I used to mow the lawns there when I was a kid for a couple of summers. My grandmother worked and volunteered there. It [the announcement that the home will close] was quite a shock to us, but we've got to figure it out. We've got to get the right people in the room." He has spoken to people at Future St. Stephen and had a call in to Premier Susan Holt. "People are talking about it. I'm hoping we can turn this around and figure something out."