Welcome to Ogdensburg New Jersey. Above you will see the downtown area of Ogdensburg, this photo was taken
around the turn of the century. This is yet another part of the family tree. It is here where the Alexander family,
Frank and Adolfina, decided to set roots after escaping from Russian-held Poland. It is here where Helen Alexander
is born. Little did she know that she was destined to meet Allen Falkman Sr. (Nil's grandson).
From the welcoming sign to
the old historic Sterling Zinc Mine, this is Ogdensburg, New Jersey. This small borough is only 2.25 miles square. But
there are a lot of activities in this area—whether it be the local diners (restaurants to the rest of us), the Lapidary
Museum, or the quiet, peaceful surroundings. Located not far from big cities like Jersey City or New York, Ogdensburg
is situated between the Kittatinny Mountains and the Piedmont Plateau. With a population of just over 2,200, it isn't the
hustling and bustling town you might expect. Rather, it's a laid-back community with some interesting things to do and
see. This is the town where my mother, Helen Alexander, grew up and went to school. Born in Hackettstown (the closest
hospital), she would have attended elementary school in Ogdensburg, but had to travel to Franklin for high school.
Helen was the last of three children. Her older brother, Frank, was five years her senior, followed by her sister
Violet, who was three years older. After finishing high school, Helen likely attended nurse's training at a local
hospital. She later joined the Cadet Nurse Corps and received additional training at Camp Blanding Station Hospital
near Starke, Florida. After a four-week course, she was transferred to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where she met Allen
Falkman (my dad). And as they say, “The rest is history.” Not long after arriving in Algiers, Helen discovered she
was pregnant—with me! She was sent back to the U.S., ending her military career. Back home, she moved in with her
in-laws in Chicago.