History at Widows Home

​

• 1844 – Nancy Trotter Bates becomes head of the Dayton Female Association, an organization formed to care for destitute children

  • The Widows Home of Dayton is dedicated to Nancy’s memory

• 1844 – The Dayton Female Orphans Asylum on Charity Hill opens on Magnolia Street (on the current site of Miami Valley Hospital)

  • Simple brick building built using contributions from Dayton residents

• 1866 – Legislative act turns orphan care over to the county

• 1870 – Nancy Trotter Bates reorganizes the Dayton Female Association as the Women’s Christian Association and turns attention toward caring for the widows of Civil War soldiers

• 1870 - Nancy Trotter Bates dies one month before organization of the Women’s Christian Association is complete

  • The group asks her daughter, Susan Winters, to step in as president

• 1875 – The brick orphanage on Magnolia Street is repaired and opened as the Widows Home

  • Original admissions policy stipulated that: “any widows or destitute woman of good moral character over sixty years of age who had resided in Dayton five years could become a permanent ‘inmate’ (today’s resident)”

• 1876 – 34 women stay in the Widows Home for periods varying from overnight to several months

• 1883 – New Victorian-style, 3-story brick house with full basement built on the current Widows Home site

  • Building cost $20,000 to construct

  • All money was raised through private donations including a $5,000 contribution from Susan Winters

  • Built on 2.5 acres donated by Dayton banker, William P. Huffman

• 1951 – 2 new wings added to the original building

  • New wings housed 31 residents and a modern infirmary

• 1957 – Generous bequest from William F. Neff funds further expansion including another dormitory and infirmary, a new dining room, a more modern kitchen, and a solarium

• 1961 – YWCA ends relationship with the facility, so the committee decides to operate independently

  • Incorporated as the Widows Home of Dayton

• 1972 – Former board member, Thelma Dreese, leaves bequest of $750,000 for expansions and renovations including
   

  • Administration offices

  • 2 new apartments

  • TV room

  • Parlor (furnished with donated antiques)

  • Large multipurpose room

  • Beauty parlor

  • Meditation room

  • Large porch

• 1976 – Widows Home of Dayton licensed as a Home for the Aging by the Ohio Department of Health

• 1998 – Ohio legislation adds 29 nursing home beds to facility

• 1998 – Widows Home Foundation created to maintain endowment fund

• 1999 – Widows Home of Dayton becomes Medicare and Medicaid certified

• 2000 – Male residents welcomed to the Widows Home for the first time

• 2007 – Expansion to accommodate 25 new beds completed

• 2008 – First residents and patients admitted to new Rapid Rehab wing