Carey House dedicated

The Salvation Army's new shelter for the homeless was dedicated yesterday in a moving hour-long ceremony under a tent that was set up behind the Army's Union Ave. center. The 30-bed Carey House is the completely remodeled, 3,500 square foot yellow home located just across Spring St. from where 200 or so people gathered on a perfect day for the dedication.

Included in the crowd were no less than 16 members of the family of Commissioners Edward and Faith (Seaver) Carey, for whom the building is named. Four generations of the clan came to Laconia for the occasion from as far away as California.

Edward Carey, born in England, was commissioned in this country in 1924 and was in active service for 49 years. He was National Commander of The Salvation Army in 1971-72 and died, at age 95, in 2001.

The Carey's son, Donald, attended the ceremony and called the shelter "a fitting tribute to dedicated lives". He presented the Laconia center's Major David Dickson with framed portraits of his parents, to be displayed in the shelter.

Major Richard Munn, Commissioner of the Army's New England Division told the assembled that Edward Carey became aware the shelter would be named for him shortly before his death. The idea was proposed by Laconia's Major Karin Dickson.

The dedication address was given by Commissioner Todd Bassett, current National Commander of The Salvation Army. Bassett informed the audience of some of the history of the 139 year old organization and its founder, Gen. William Booth. He said the Army now operates 1,380 centers around the U.S. and provides nine-million nights of housing for the homeless each year.

"It needs to be done, and someone needs to do it right," Bassett said.

N.H. Commissioner of Health and Human Services John Stephens echoed that sentiment, saying "all of us need to continue to do this work."

The president of the Lakes Region United Way noted his agency thinks so highly of the Army's work in this area it has targeted $300,000 in funding over the last 10 years. Jack Terrill said United Way in increasing its commitment to The Salvation Army to $75,000 for 2005.

"Today our community is better off than it was yesterday," said Terrill.

The Carey House will increase The Salvation Army's local capacity for shelter from 10 to 30 beds. It will house men, women and children and includes one two-bedroom apartment. The shelter will be staffed 24-hours a day, seven-day a week.

$260,000 of the $435,000 needed to fund the renovation project came in the form of a federal grant. Mayor Mark Fraser said he was "very proud" the city was able to participate with the Army in obtaining the grant. He thanked Bill Beyer, chairman of The Salvation Army's local advisory board, for bringing the issue of homelessness to City Councils attention.

Fraser then challenged other Lakes Region communities to "do their share". The Carey House is Belknap County's only homeless shelter.

After the ceremony those in attendance were given tours of the Carey House. Although a small measure of finish work remains to be done, visitors were told the shelter will be able to begin accepting guests by October 1.

Meridian Construction Corp. of Laconia has served as the general contractor on the project and company Vice-President Tim Long was on hand to present a ceremonial key to the building to Major David Dickson and the Army's regional shelter director, Michelle French-Labrecque. Long said he came to have a true appreciation for the importance of the Carey House as renovation work progressed.

French-Labrecque received a spontaneous standing ovation when Beyer, who served as the host, began to recognize her contribution to making the Carey House become a reality. "I don't even have to tell you what she's done," said Beyer. "You already know."

French-Labrecque runs the Army's homeless shelter in Concord and Beyer indicated it was a stroke of genius to ask her to head the Laconia effort as well.

Tim Long served as Meridian's construction site supervisor. Architectural work was done by Kyle Barker of the Jordan & Barker firm of Concord.