Helen’s mother died when Helen was very young and she was raised by her grandmother and guardian, Mary Blackmer. At an early age she came to live in South Hadley Center with the late Byron Smith family at the home in College Street which was later purchased by Mount Holyoke College and became the Byron Smith House in Morgan Street. Later, the daughter, Miss Rebecca Smith built a home at 14 Silver Street and Miss Blackmer lived there until the death of Miss Smith. Having no near relatives, Miss Blackmer made her home for a time in Park Street and for the last three and one half years of her life lived with Mrs. Helen Goodwin in Silver Street. She never married. She died at age 81 at her home at 24 Silver Street after a short illness. 688

She died June 26 and was buried the following Tuesday.688