Baptist Manor celebrating 35th anniversary
Baptist Manor will kick off the celebration of its 35th year of serving seniors with a reception and celebration on the anniversary of its grand opening, Dec. 12, from 2-4 p.m. Baptist Homes Society owns and manages the 100-unit Housing and Urban Development (HUD) apartment complex. Since opening its doors in December of 1979, it has been fully occupied – often with a long waiting list.
Plans to build Baptist Manor began back in 1965 when the board of directors started exploring options for affordable housing for independent seniors. After many meetings and racking their brains to figure a way to finance such a large project, they decided to look into government financing. In 1976, the Baptist Homes Society became one of 70 projects around the country selected for a HUD direct loan program.
Prior to opening, more than 400 people expressed interest in moving into Baptist Manor. Residents began moving in on Dec. 26, 1979, and by April of 1980, every apartment was occupied. Since then, the wait list averages at around 18 months.
Nearly 10 years later, in 1990, 41 of the original 100 tenants still remained at Baptist Manor. One of those tenants has now moved to Baptist Homes Nursing Center, which is located just a hallway away.
One of Baptist Manor’s unique attributes as a HUD housing community is its affiliation with Baptist Homes Society. Residents can take advantage of several programs and amenities, like the wellness center and on-site dining, that other facilities do not offer.
Leona Cimino and her husband moved to Baptist Manor in January of 1980, shortly after it opened. After a fall, Leona went to rehabilitation therapy in Baptist Homes. “It was nice that I only had to go downstairs [for therapy],” she said.
Leona’s husband has passed away and she has since transitioned to the healthcare center at Baptist Homes, but she and many others enjoyed many years at Baptist Manor.
The Baptist Homes campus also provides a gift shop, nondenominational church services, a beauty salon, a medical clinic and assigned parking.
In 1979, Lois Perry was hired as the first manager of the apartments. Having previously worked as secretary to the director of nursing, she really believed in Baptist Homes Society’s mission. So much so, that she went on to live in Baptist Manor after her retirement.