Graceville Health Center
115 W. 2nd Street
Graceville, Minnesota 56240
(320) 748-7223
888-748-3981 |
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 | History of Grace Home |
The first nursing home on record in Graceville was the Frances Ryan Home which provided care for older citizens in the 1930's. Miss Ryan housed as many as 15 residents at one time, several of them coming from neighboring counties.
In earlier days, Mrs. Gidding's residence cared for convalescents and confinement cases. She often accompanied Dr. C.I. Oliver on his country calls as his nurse.
In Graceville, group accomodations for the elderly seemed to have declined after the 1950's. However, in 1966, the old Holy Trinity Hospital was remodeled, making room for 17 elderly residents in the Home. This group felt very much like one large family in their congenial surroundings. Many of the elderly viewed this residence as their last earthly home where some of them spent from five to nine years of their life.
In January of 1974, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, who owned and staffed the Hospital and the Home, moved from the second floor of the home into a newly constructed separate residence. Their vacated quarters provided an additional eight rooms for the elderly, bringing the total bed capacity to twenty-five. 115 elderly men and women were cared for at Holy Trinity Home from March 1966 to June 1977. Almost simultaneously with the move of the Sisters, plans were being made to erect a new and larger facility for the elderly in Graceville. A Committee of Concerned Citizens began meeting regularly in 1974 to develop plans for the City's own nursing home. They said:
"The nursing home will be an investment in the future of Graceville. Unless we are willing to invest in facilities that are needed and that produce jobs and revenue, Graceville will undoubtedly die a slow death. Without improving our community, the jobs and businesses we now have may well not be able to survive and we might be forced to move elsewhere in order to earn a living."
A Certificate of Need was issued on April 15, 1974 and preliminary public relation work for the Home was begun by the Committee of Concern. Members of this committee were Sister Paula, Sister Pia, Sister Rita, Quentin Larson, Les Simpson, Hazel Hauer, Father Lehman, Dr. Dwight Buller, and Germain Kunz.
The proposed home was to be built on a location across from the Holy Trinity Hospital with 8 single rooms and 26 double rooms. The ground for the new Home was broken in September, 1975, with Hasslen Construction Company of Ortonville receiving the general construction bid.
The Sisters of St. Francis who would do the administrative work at the Home arrived in Graceville on May 6, 1976. Sister Amadeus Klein, Sister Parma Kathman, and Sister Virgeen Ernster made their temporary quarters in make-shift offices in Holy Trinity Hospital, where they assisted with the planning and staffing of the Home.
A strike called by the Pipefitters Union on May 31, 1976, caused a halt to the work at the Home, but patience prevailed and construction could once again begin.
On September 6, 1976 the cornerstone for the new home was laid at a special ceremony. The Service Club started a Fund Drive for Grace Home - a name selected from many suggestions offered by interested citizens. The Service Club presented Sister Amadeus with a $500 check to begin the drive. Various organizations and individuals worked earnestly to raise funds, with proceeds being used for the furnishings of Grace Home.
A granite tribute and flag pole was erected in front of Grace Home on October 28, 1976. The tribute and pole were donated by the Graceville American Legion Post, along with a donation from a group of elementary students at Graceville School.
Public tours of Grace Home were held Sunday, May 22, 1977, before any of the residents moved in. Over 800 people viewed this new facility. On June 13, 1977 the first five residents moved into Grace Home. The five had all been residents of Holy Trinity Home across the street and had eagerly watched the progress of their new home. The first five residents were Edith Issendorf, Rose Stueve, Elizabeth Ludowese, Christine Schwagerl, and Sylvester Hurley. It was a happy day for all - the culmination of many, many months of planning, hard work, volunteer hours, construction, and anticipation.
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