JERSEY: Helen Gubser’s get an unimaginable surprise with dedication of new bench
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By Steven Spencer
Submitted photo
Helen Gubser was recently surprised with a new bench outside the Jerseyville Public Library, a surprise that her late husband Dick Gubser had been planning for years.
If you’ve been to the Jerseyville Public Library lately you may have noticed the new bronze bench outside that has quite a story to it.
Longtime Library Board Member and volunteer, Helen Gubser, received an unimaginable surprise a couple weeks ago with the unveiling of the bench outside the entrance of the library honoring her decades of service.
Helen wasn’t just recognized for her contributions to the community with a simple bench. The bench is a large bronze piece decorated with a sculpture of a child reading and features legs that resemble a stack of books.
But what makes the bench truly special is that it was dedicated to Helen by her late husband, Dick Gubser, and it’s a surprise he had been planning to give her for several years.
Helen said a conversation she and her husband had years ago, after the previous addition to the library, must have stayed on his mind all that time and led to the incredible surprise.
“In the early 90s, right after the 1987 addition was finished, we took a trip west,” she said. “We just happened to stop in a really upscale art gallery and they had a lot of western bronzes, but they also had a couple of benches. I said ‘Oh wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have one of these benches outside our new library?”
Dick responded with a “Yeah,” Helen said, but she had forgotten all about it after they got a look at the price tag.
“I guess it was in the back of his mind all that time,” Helen said. “Then when we were adding this addition on, he must have decided this was the time. He talked to Anita, our former director, and he talked to Judy. They had it all planned out, but said let’s wait til the building is done.”
Submitted photo
Helen said the bench is more than just a bench for sitting. It’s a buddy bench, made for making new friends. So people can sit down with a new book and make friends with a new buddy.
Unfortunately, Dick died in March of 2024 before the addition to the library was completed, but he had mentioned the bench to their oldest son.
“For some reason he did mention it,” Helen said. “He got together with his siblings and decided, ‘Well dad can’t do it, but we can.’”
Although Dick wasn’t able to see the completed library with Helen’s bench out front, he was able to pick out the bench himself.
Helen said after a little digging her children were able to find the exact bench that had been picked out.
“He already picked out that bench. He had all the information and he was ready to order it as soon as it was time,” Helen said.
Submitted photo
Helen Gubser with her children Brad and Steve Gubser and Julie Noe.
Helen has been a part of the library for 45 years and said she’s enjoyed every minute of it.
“I love the library,” she said.
Library Director Judy Pruitt said the library couldn’t run without Helen because of her career as a librarian and the expertise she brings.
Dick first mentioned the bench to her a few years ago, and since they had to wait for the most recent expansion to be completed a spot was saved for the bench.
“Dick planned the whole thing for years,” Pruitt said.
Helen said the bench is an incredible gift and she’s very moved by the surprise.
“It’s just so touching to me,” Helen said. “I’ve been crying ever since Sunday.”
