VILLAGE

years OF EXCELLENCE

1963-2013

FIRST COMMUNITY VILLAGE

in the begim1iug . .. THE LAND

The Miller Farm Ice House before restoration First Community VIllage Archives

Miller Farm House Courtesy of Nancy and Sam Miller

HIGH ON A H 1 LL overlooking the Scioto River

valley, the 143-year-old limestone ice house nestles

serenely among 1 00-year-old trees, surrounded by a

latticed porch on all four sides. "That porch was the

coolest place in the summer to sit and read a book

or SC\\;" recalled the late Eliza ·Mussman, a Miller

family member \'\·ho much later became a resident

of First Community Village, which now surrounds

the ice house.

The old brick barn, tucked behind Terrace

Apartments in the southeast corner, is another

structure on the Village campus that remains from

the days when it was part of the 1,000-acre Miller

Farm. Here and there are stone hitching posts,

reminding us that 100 years ago this was a thriving,

working farm.

In 1859, Columbusite Henry Miller acquired

the land, \vhich was covered by ,.irgin forest, and

began to build a home and adjacent buildings. His

16-year-old sonJ ames was ailing after an attack of

typhoid fever, and Henry thought that wholesome

life in the counuy might help him.

The late Edward D. Howard, son-in-law of

James, wrote in his recollections:

Henry Miller occupied the home for some years with

his family - his wife, two daughters and son James.

The only access to the city, some four miles distant, was by the old Dublin Road which became almost impassible during winters.

The family did not enjoy so much isolation. About 1866, the family moved back to the city and the son,

James T Miller, just married, took over the home - the beginning of an interesting family, that for the next 95 years impressed its quality on that neighborhood.

Having a family of six daughters and two sons, the capacious family home became a sort of rendezvous for friends, neighbors and relatives, who were always welcome.

Early in the year would be the maple syrup and sugar season. The camp was opened in the maple grove, where

today stands the Scioto Country Club .... Large kettles

were hung and the fires organized. Then would follow

chestnut and marshmallow roasts, camp dinners, singing,

dancing, games and storytelling :__ both terrifying and

exciting. It was a regular seasonal affair for family,

friends and neighbors.

There was a sleighing season ... Mr. Miller's largest

sleigh and fleetest horses were brought into service. On

occasion he would hitch "Storm King" to the cutter

and race with others on a street in Columbus, set aside

for that purpose. During the summers, there would be

lawn parties with a brass band made up of his farm

workmen. Practically every fall, the home would be

opened to the candidates and friends of his political

party. They would bring with them a contingent from

the famous Republican Glee Club. There would be

plenty to eat, and popular patriotic singing. Behind it all

was the work and care of a large farm with its seasonal

requirement of plowing, planting, cultivating and harvesting.

Strategically located over the farm were cottages where

his workmen lived, each with its own garden ...

The time came wheH farming became no longer prac­

ticable, and the greater part of the farm was developed

into the City of Upper Arlington.

King and Ben Thompson bought 880 acres

of the Miller Farm in 1913, creating the Upper

Arlington Company, ·with plans for a unique garden

community, designed by professional planner William

Pitkin Jr. of Rochester, N.Y The Pitkin Plan featured

unusual curving streets that conformed to the

interesting contours of the land and created 2,500

curiously-shaped lots that made the area distinct.

Construction was interrupted in 1916 when the

area was transformed into Camp Willis, a training

camp for Ohio National Guard troops preparing

for duty on the Mexican border. \ \Then Upper

Arlington was finally incorporated as a village in May,

1918, James T. Miller was elected its first Mayor.

First CommuHity Village: 50 Years of ExcclleHC<' 1

ROY BURKHART has a dream

FIRST COMMUNITY CHURCH , a non-denominational

Protestant church founded in 1910 in ~Iarble Cliff.

adjacrnt to the Miller Farm, took pride in its

"cradle to grave'' ministl"). Dr. Roy.-\. Burkhart.

senior minister from 1935 to 1958, became coni:'erned

later in his ministry that the church ought to be

doing something to make the last years of life more

positive. ln his visits to older parishioners, especially

those \\ithout famil) nearb); he often noticed

loneliness and anxiety The church had an excellent

preschool. youth program. Camp Akita and

Couples Circles, but there seemed to he a gap in

the full-service ministl")'.

Retired Associate ~Iinister Dr. Arthur Sandt'rs

recalls that Dr. Burkhart's concept of a place to live

for older people came out of an annual birthday

party for his mother and her friends, who had such

a good rime to~ethcr that he thought there ought to

be a place for them to live together a larger place

where they could enjoy life, unencumbered by the

responsibilitie:. and worries of home maintenance.

Village resident RosemaJ]· Weimer, former secretary

to Dr. Burkhart, recall-. that he was \'el")· depressed

by the "older folks' homes'' and nursing homes

a,·ailablc in the area at that time.

Banelle ~lemoriallmtitute was asked to do a

surny Results indicated that thousands would be

eligible lor a good retirement facility.

Richard C. Pickett, church treasurer at the time

and later sening as rhe second board chairman of

First Communit) Village), remembers that the

concept simmered for a long time. Then three

things happened to bring it forward.

2 Fir>t Cosmmmiry \'r/U!gc: ;o }cars v{ Excclle~Kl'

OTIS MAXFIELD steers the costcept

THE FEDFRAl GOVERNMENT, in orderto encount~:,re

better facilities for older citizens, came out with

an offer to approve 100° o Federal Housing ,\drninistration 'FHA· financing (()r the building

of quality senior housing e~tab!i!)hments that met

stringent guidelines.

The ~!iller family, "ho had been reluctant

to sell the remaining acres of the l\liller propert);

expressed interest in the church'::, concept of a

retirement village there.

Dr. Burkhart and his successor. Dr. Otis

~1axfielcl, knew that two church members,

architect Todd Tibbals - w·ho had built many

multi-family housing units him<>elf - and builder/

developer John Galbreath could help. And help

they did.

The original concept was for a facility for First

Community Church members' use. but when the

28-acre ~filler property became a possible site, the

dsion could be expanded to include the greater

communit): ~Io::.t retirement facilities at this time

consisted of a single building. Church representatives

\isited three places in 1958-59: midrises in Chicago

and Detroit and a group of congregate buildingll in

several nearby towns in Pennsylvania, which shared

services and pro~ramming.

Art Sander recalls, "Otis 1'faxfield, 34 at the

time. enlarged the concept and recognized the pos­

sibilities that might become a reality \\ith the help

of the amazingly gifted people in our church. Todd

Tibbals \'>as surt> it would be filled up b) retirees

\\ho would think of it more as a college campus

\\ith small living areas and interesting programs

offered."

Xelson French. also 34. who chaired the church

Governing Board and had chaired the Long-Range

Planning Committee. remembers how these three

developments came together, but not ,.,irhout a

huge expenditure of ellort on the pan of not only

the Gmwning Board member:. and the church

Deed-signing in the living room of the 100-year-old Miller House, turning over the Miller Estate to First Community Village, in 1961 . Seated are (left to right) Dr. Otis Maxfield, senior minister of First Community Church; William Konold, director and treasurer of First Community Village; Edward D. Howard and James B. Miller, trustees of the Miller Estate. Standing are Mary Moss, director and secretary of the Village; John Johnson, president of the Village Board of D1rectors; Frank A. Sayers, trustee of the Miller Estate; Edward D. Schorr, Jr., executive vice president of the Village; and Roy Allgyer, Village director. First Commumty Vtlloge Archives

Miller Farm property in 1962, just before Village construction began

flfSI Commumty Vi/loge Archtves

Firsr Ccmnruuny Village: 50 }curs •'f EXC"clfrn,t

4 Frrst Community\ il111gr: 50 Y.-m-s 1.'{ E.x,cllmcc

. Dr. Roy A. Burkhart, senior minister emeritus

of First Commun1ty Church, turns the first shovel

of earth at the groundbreaking of the Village

in 1962. First Community Village Archives

On the Miller House porch during the

1962 groundbreaking, Dr. Roy Burkhart

confers with senior minister Dr. Otis Maxfield.

F1rst Commumty Village ArclliVes

stafT, but many dedicated church members. J ohn

V J ohnson chaired the church committee on the

project. John and Dan Galbreath of The Galbreath

Mortgage Company arranged for financing the

$5,621,000 FHA-insured loan through the Mellon

Bank in Pittsburgh. Tibbals, Crumley & Musson

drew up the plans for a campus offering different

levels of care in a California-style architecture.'

The sale of the r-.1iller property was contingent

upon zoning approval by Upper Arlington. The

Upper Arlington Planning Commission eventually

appro\·ed the concept, recommending it to the City

Council. However, opposition arose from neighbors

adjacent to the Miller property who feared dense

population and the necessary employees would

cause their property values to decline. Though the

development was approved by the Upper Arlington

City Council, petitions were circulated requesting a

referendum on the November ballot, which would

have imperiled the project, because the option for

the Miller land would run out in January of 1961.

The church committee had researched this

problem and found that property values had not

decreased around the retirement facilities they had

studied. The elTorts of church volunteers, who

made personal calls to petition-signers to explain

details of the Village concept, resulted in sufficient

withdrawals from the petition to render it invalid.

City buses were to enter into the Village grounds

to deliver and pick up employees (which became a

huge benefit to Village residents who do not want

to drive in bad weather). Road access was to be

located near the main artery of Dublin Road. And

though the non-profit Village would be tax-exempt,

it was agreed it would pay real-estate taxes to

Upper Arlington.

Attorney Dick Pickett, church treasurer, wrote

up the contract for the Miller property and closed

the deal with Ed Howard, an active attorney in his

90s who was trustee of the Miller estate. FHA

approval for the financing followed.

"It was not necessary for the church to co-sign

the $5 million mortgage, but we felt a he.avy moral

duty for the project to succeed," recalls Nelson

French."Village funds were kept carefully separate

by the church."

Building began in the spring of 1962. Meanwhile,

ministers Art Sanders and Terry Smith made visits

to potential residents, and informational gatherings

were held in the old Miller homestead. Minister

Emeritus Dr. Burkhart, who did not live to see the

Village open in 1963, knew his dream would

become a reality under Otis Maxfield when he

turned the first shovelful of earth at the ground­

breaking ceremony on February 18.

The cornerstone laying ceremony at Hillside

House on October 7 featured a talk by former U.S.

Congressman John M. Vorys, representing the

Columbus Sesquicentennial Commission, and van

tours of the grounds.

This $5.6 million center, designed for 450

residents, was the largest such project ever under­

taken by the congregation of a single church. A 1962

newspaper article says, "Rather than being set apart

from the community, residents of First Community

Village will live in the mainstream of community

life but in an environment created expressly to

free their bodies, minds and spirits for the most

important things in their lives." In other words,

rather than shoveling snow and maintaining a

house, energy could be used for travel and planned

outings, discussion groups, lectures, painting and

hobbies, card games and other enjoyable pastimes.

First ComiHitHity Village: 50 Years of Excelle~tcl! 5

~~ ~==---==-====~-=~==-=~-=-==----------------

THE VILLAGE opens its doors

WHEN TJ--1" fiRST "rtONfi'S Bea and Ira Gray,

moved into their Terrace apartment on january 24,

1963 before the official opening, they had a mud

problem because the streets \vere not yet paved.

Bea said they moved to the Village because the

accommodations had no steps, which were a problem

for them, and they \vould feel more secure in case

of health problems. They liked and trusted the

minister-director. And the campus was beautiful,

"vith many established trees. Ten more pioneers

moved in when the Village opened on February 3,

and they all enjoyed dances at Hillside House.

The Re":Jim Bidle was the first minister-director,

and all the original employees found themselves

doing a variety of tasks in this new kind of facility.

The late Peggy Royer used to tell of handling news­

paper subscriptions for residents, as well as serving

as the administrator's secretary and salesperson for

prospective residents. Terrace apartments were groups of cottages

v.rith their own garden space for independent

Villagers, many of whom had cars. Garden apart­

ments, also for independent residents, ,.,·ere long

one-floor units with interior hallways and lounges

with a central dining room offering optional meal

plans. Hillside House was the main 4-floor building

that oifered assisted living to those who, vvith a little

help, could lead a normal social life. The libra!))

store, beauty shop, chapel, auditorium and another

dining room were located conveniently in the

building. The clinic featured a small infirmary for

residents vvitb short-term illnesses. Nelson French recalls that the Village helped

pioneer the concept in this area of having different

levels of retirement living available on one campus,

so as health needs changed, the living options were

in the same location. ''As circumstances change, you

don't have to go anywhere else. It provides security,"

says Robert D. Afurtha, director of finance and

administration at the church and secretary of t~e

Village board at that time.

6 Fir;t Commtmity \11/age: 50 Yc<1rs iJ{ Exallmcc

Terrace Apartments in the spring (top) and Garden Apartments in the

winter (above)

Firsr Community Village Archives

Hillside House as it looked at completion in 1963

Courtesy of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company

Fim Community Village: 50 Yt>ars of Exec/lena 7

8 First Commw1ity Village· ~0 Yc.~rs of Excellcll(<'

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale presents the 1963

Guideposts award- for creating the Village­

to Church Governing Board Chair Fred Aschinger

and First Community Village Board President

John Johnson.

First Commumty Village Archives

An early Strawberry Festival

GUIDEPOSTS award recognizes FCC

NORM \'\I VINCENT PE \U and his wife Ruth,

co-edimr-. of Guideposts magatine, visited Columbus

in ~on-mher to present First Communit) Church

'"ith the 1963 Guideposts Church Award "for

conspicuous initiative and creativity in its seni<?r

citizens program, which resulted in the construction

of First Community \~illage." The Rev. Peale, author

of 71te Power of Positil'e 71tilfkiHg, spoke at a luncheon

for 300 chic leaders on ''Ho'' to Stay .-\live .\11 Your Life" before presenting the award at the church

that evening. ~1rs. Peale spoke at a tea sponsored

by the United Church \\'omen of Columbus and

Franklin Count): held at the \'illagc.

GROWING pains

v•o".' !"~'~"' '"''G ALSO •.'\f" ''"' being a\\'are and flexible in adju~ting tone\\' \·entures. The \ 'illage began as a

rental project, but move-ins were slow. Forrunatcl))

the first couple of years of the mortgage loan

required interest payments onl} for this stan-up

period. \\'hen a ~1ellon bank representative came to

visit the \'illage. upon being returned to the airport,

he admitt<.'d that he had been prepared to foreclose,

but \vas so impressed by what was being accomplished

that he ~ranted an extension.

Bob ~lurtha was asked to come to the \ 'illage

from the church, half-time, to help make some

needed changes. Garden apartments, which had all

been single rooms, were enlarged and kitchenettes

added. ln 1965 the South Garden area was remodeled

into the Convalarium, a licensed skilled nursing

facilit): to accommodate residents with permanent

health problems, open also to folks from the

surrounding community in need of temporary or

permanent medical care. A residents' council was

established as a \·chicle to give residents a voice and

help management \\ith suggestions. Hillside Hall

was made a voting precinct in Upper Arlin~on.

making voting easier lor \ 'illage residents and

nearby neighbors.

Otis Maxfield today recalls, "Dr. Burkhart and I

believed in the church) concept that you begin with

babies and stay related to folks through all stages of

their life. When John Galbreath and others oflered

their help, and the ~filler property became available

(for this retirement community concept), v1:e

were able to take an idea and make it tan~ble ....

Through the difficult process, there were tensions

between hope and rcalit}~ but " ·e felt if we could learn

during this experience, it would help others in the

future. Its time had come.''

By the end of its first year, the \'illage had 200

residents. By the end of the fifth year, occupancy ,,·as at 90° o, and the clusi\·e .. break-e\ en" point had

been reached. By 19i0, the Yillagc was enjoying a

secure financial position, and most new residents

came as a result of the recommendations of friends

'' ho were residents. Administrators were surprised

that ne'' residents from our of state, as well as the Ohio area, were being amacted to the Yillage.

Fir;r Couummity \1//,tgc:: SO )(·,~~~ of ExctliCIIce 9

I

EARLY VI LLAG E activities

P-IE ANNUAL STR,AWDrJH1" rJ.:STIVA[_ held out­

door:. inJunt\ featured thousands of berric~ prepared by \~illa~c women for strawberry shoncake !>en ice to Yillagers and their guests. Re\: Jim Bidle crowned Villager Helen Kramer the strawberry queen in 1963. T he festival continued into the 1990s. ·

An exciting event in the fall of 1963 was the first marriage of residents who met at the \ ·illage: H elen De!iclm and \\ llliam \ \'hite.

Cla.sse~ in exercise, painting and crafts \\ere be!:,run by Dora Reynolds, the ne\'- recreation and craft director.

Dr. Link Murph}; who had a nearby private practice. was chosen medical director, althou~h residents wt're free to choose their own physicians. L·uer his son, "Dr. Bob .. ~ furph). rook that position. Later. Dr. Steven Lichtblau served as medical director for 24 years.

\olunteers played a huge part in the early success of the \'ill age. ~lost of them "ere women fi·om the church, "ho helped \\ith programs. errands and transportation of residents who didn't drive. This eased many nc,,· residents' transitions to \'illag<· life. A 1970 article tells of an appreciation luncheon held for 115 \ ·illage voluntecr!l, including a number of residents themselves. Chris ~kClelland. no\\ a resident of the \ ~illage, W<l!i one of the fir-;t \ c>lumeers. prO\iding transportation and \isits for 35 ye.trs before moving in. "I lO\ed my volunteer years," she says. "My mother was one of the first pioneer residents, so that got me started. I made 0\ er I 00 good friends, and it was a gratifying thing ...

\!Hager ~!arrha \\'heeler, a third-genemtion resident, was one of the first volunteer organiL.ers when the \'illage opened. "I remember my grand­mother, who was very sociable," she recalls, "telling me, 'You know if I were back home, I wouldn't have anyone to call on me. But here, there are people all around me.' She lived to be 103. I ha,·e such a love for this place. I watched my grand­parents and mother through their last years here. There is no other place I want to go." Martha served on the Village Board of Trustees and was the first resident elected to the board. (fhe Village mayor serves automatically as an ex officio member.

10 First Cosmmmit}' Village: 50 Ycars of Excdlmce

THE SECOND decade

I'· L l H YOUNGfR. I succeeded Robert Murtha as executive director of the \ 'luage in 1972. The tenth anniYcrsary "as the occasion lor many celebratory e\'ents. Dr. ArthurS. Flemming. head of the U.S. Commission on Aging and (()rmer secretary of Health, Education and Welfare during the Eisenhower administration. spoke at the largest gathering.

An interesting t) po in a 1972 Columbus Dispatclr article announced the appointment of Dr. D. S. Cowles as the new medical director of "'First Commwnst \'illage." In the ensuing apology ("Our lace is red ­but not the left-\\ing\<lliety'', the newspaper identified the new medical director as D1: D. S. Bo,,les.

The Village purchased additional properties to the south in 197 5 and to the west in 1981, bringing the total campus area to 30 acres.

In 1979,James E. Parsons followed Paul Younger as executi,·e director.

The Jones-\ 'ill age Partnership Program also began that year and \\'as enjoyed for o,·er 20 years. Created bv the career counselors at nearbvJones

I I

.Junior High School, the six-week program matched eighth graders ,,;th Village residents \\hom they \isited weekly, intef\ie\\t'd and wrote reports about. <:)orne firm friendships resulted from this -;haring. and many eighth-graders. at a pi,·otal point in their lh·cs, found new inspiration for their lives ahead and many residents found young friends that came to visit after the program was over. Jones received hundreds of requests from other schools in how to initiate such a program and receiYed r<.'W~nition from the American Association of Retired Persons. a Governor's Call to Sef\ice award, and a ="ational Creative Partnership award. The Village has since conducted similar intergenerational exchange progran1S, including one v.ith Grand\icw Edison fourth-graders.

At the 1980 J:.bunders Day celebration, U.S. Senator John Glenn gave an inspiring hour-long talk about critical issues affecting older citizens and current world affairs.

Early volunteer Chris McClelland (center) drives two residents on errands 1n 1980.

Firsr Commumry V11/agt Archives

Waiting to make presentations during the 1980

Founders Day celebration are (left to right): Todd Tibbals, Village architect; Richard Pickett. second

Village Board chairman; Dr. Harold Englund, senior minister of First Community Church; and Robert

Murtha, Village executive director. F1rsr Community VIllage Archives

HEALTHCARE CENTER is built

HARRY E. HOBSON became executive director of

the Village in 1984. Soon after, the Village obtained

the "Miller Triangle" at \:Valtham Road and Route

33 from the Miller family, and Upper Arlington

City Council approved plans for a new $5 million

two-story, 175-bed nursing care facility to be built

on the land. This brought the total campus area

to 34 acres. The new Healthcare Center opened in

August 1986. Martin Janis, former director of

the Ohio Commission on Aging, spoke at the

dedication. The former Convalarium was remodeled into

35 independent living luxury apartments and

renamed the South Garden. These larger apartment'!,

with full-size kitchens, proved much in demand.

Soon after, the Villagers raised money for a van

with a wheelchair lift that made regular rounds to

nearby grocery stores, shopping centers, churches

and performances, supplementing the city bus

service. T he van proved so successful that a

25-passenger bus was added a few years later.

landmark ACCREDITATION

A PROUD MOMFN~ in Village history came in

1986, when First Community Village became the

fourth retirement community in the U.S. and the

first in Central Ohio to receive accreditation from

the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, a

national accrediting agency in Washington, D.C.

The award followed an intensive nine-month

review of every facet of the Village's operations

and reflected standards of excellence in finance,

governance and administration, resident life and

services and health care.

12 First Community Village: 50 Yrars of Excellence

OUTREACH to the community

FIRST COMMUNITY VILlAGE became a "retirement

community without walls" in 1993 with the

establishment of its Community Outreach Program.

which oiTered assistance to older adults in their O\\n

homes in northwest franklin County.

Services included medical bookkeeping assistance,

medical appointment arrangements, transportation,

evening meal delivery, housekeeping assistance, and

grocery shopping and delivery Amy Schosslcr, the

original coordinator, reported the following year

that the program had been amazingly successful

and was serving nearly 200 clients. Personal care

services were added, plus a registered nurse to assist

with basic health screenings.

Miller Ice House with original porch restoration

Courtesy of Bruce Lynn

The new Healthcare Center opens in 1986. (above)

The first Village bus is ready to go in 1989. (left) First Community Village Archives

Firrt Comruusrity Villclgt': ;o Year;; of Excellt11Ce 13

1-l First Cosmmmity Village: 50 Years of Exccllcuce

Resident Mary Lou Kime, who served five terms

as Village Mayor, approaches the Burkhart Center

via the patio.

First Community Village Archives

Hillside House becomes the Burkhart Center

following the 1994 renovation.

Courtesy of Bruce Lynn

HILLSIDE HOUSE re-swmed

BFITY CLARK. who had bt>en raised at First Com­

munity Church. moved to the Village from New

Jersey in 1983 and worked for several years at

nearby Highlights for Cltildrc11 magazine.

Living at the \ Ill age in 1993 \\·hen Hillsid~

House was under:_J;oin~ a S2. 7 million rcnO\·ation,

'he realized that nowhnc in the Village was there

a tribULe to Dr. Ro~ Burkhart. whose dream had

become the \"illage. That fall she received approval

tor her committee to raise money to plant an oak

tree \\ith a brass plaque, honoring Dr. Burkhart,

in the Hillsidt> yard. The special gifts committee

approved and further rt>commended that Hilb.idt>

H all be renamed the Burkhart Center at the

time of the reno,·ated building's dedication on

September 7. 199-l-. The Burkhart tree is thridng. It is hoped it \\;11

remain a long-lasting tribute to a nationally-known

minister, author of many book'S on applied psychology,

religion and communication, and pioneer in the

concept of full guidanct> ministry It grows outsidt>

the 1802 entrance in the Burkhart courtyard.

\\"hen asked what she enjoys about living at

First Communit) \"illa~e. Betty listed four serdccs

she appreciated the most:

l) The Village bus, which takes Villagers to

nearby groceries, churches and to programs

on and orr the campm..

2; The full -time programs. including lecturt>s.

musicales and di~cussion groups.

3 The Clinic, located in the Burkhart Center

and stafled 2-l- hours a day. \\·hich maintains

medical records lor all residents. \'illagtr:­

have pull-cords in their apartments that

automatically alert the Clinic in emergencies,

greatly adding to their security.

4-) The library in the Burkhart Center, which

has a good supply of large-print books

besides irs regular offerings.

'The \ ·illage is a \\·onderfu.l place.·· Betty

concluded. " It cater:- to our desires.··

NEW DEVELOPMENTS, new century

THE YEAR 2000 showTd a hug<.; growth in the

retirement community industry The fit>ld had

become very spccialibed, regulated and compPtitive.

The expectations of older Americans had changed

with a gradual alteration in lifestyles . . For in:.tance,

when the \ ·illa~e was built. research showed that

older person ... did not like air conditioning. Since

then, air conditioning had been added graduall),

for habits had changed!

The governance of the Village net>ded stream­

lining under these conditions, and the church felt its

mission to create the \'illage had been completed,

so the governance connections bet\\ een the church

and the \ 'illa~e \\ere largely separated. The church

maintained a prt>sence through a member on the

Village Board, chosen by the church Governing

Board.

Dennis Concilla - the \ "illage board member

representing the church in 2001 - said, "The

church was proud of the \vork they had done, but

it was time for the Village to go out on irs 0\\11, so

it could face the competiti\T nature of the present

industry."

THE CHELSEA at tlte Village

ON APR! L 25, 2004, First Community Village

celebrated the ~round breaking for tht> Chelsea. a

S40 million pn~ect that replaced nm-thirds of tl1e

\ lllage's t:'lcilities and added 86 ne\\ aparnnents

and 3j ne\\ manor homes.

New amenitie!'l included a swimming pool,

fitness area, home theatre and classrooms, accom­

modating the needs and lifestyles of today's retirees.

"We are a \ita!. actin· group of tribal elders for

whom the \\oriel continues to be an intt>resting and

eYohingplace," said Gre) ,\ustin. \1llage ~layor

in 200-l-. "Consequentl)~ we were excited to haw a

pan in recle,·eloping the Village into a state-of-the­

art retirement community.··

NEW PIONEERS at the Village

MING FISHER. a 21st century Village pioneer,

moved into her ne" home in the Chebea onjune

30. 2007- the first resident to do so.

"lL was just like coming home ... to come to First

Community Village," says ~fing. ':-\nd it's been such a joy ewr since then to be here.··

Injul}; the Village's Administrative Oflices

also moved to the Chelsea. As new apartments

and manor homes "·ere completed. more pioneef'>

made moves. Six inches of overnight snowfall

didn't deter residents of the Burkhart Center, as

they migrated to the new building on December -1-.

NEW PA.RTN E R addresses challenges

c;c .. E Tr ,,.. -- -- - , ........ ~::: .. arri' ed for the \l.llage

as the 2000s progrc!l!led .• \difficult debt structure led to a halt of manor home construction in 2008. Then, on April 18, 2010, First Community Village filed Chapter I I bankruptcy.

Dedicated to providing residents with continued

quality care, the Village developed a blueprint to

setcle tlw bankrupt<) by affiliatin~ with :\ational Church Residences in December 2010.

A leader in integrating St'nior housing with health care . .1\ational Church Residence!> brought

renewed commitment LO the already extensh·e services and facilities that hdp \'illagc residents age

in place with dignity and comfort. The Village's short-term rehabilitation unit added in 20091 -

along with independent living, assisted lh·ing and long-term care options provide the support that

makes the \ 'illa~e a state-of-the-art continuing care retirement communi!:):

"First Community Village has long been the

area's premier, and preferred, retirement venue." said Thomas \\: Slemmer, Pre.,ident and CEO of

l'iational Church Residences. ')\nd we are fully prepared to continue that mission. The bottom line

is that its problems are now behind First Community Village, and the future couldn't be brighter."

Since the restructuring. First Community

\'ill age has n·novated the H ealthcare Center to

better serve residents and short-term rehab visitors.

ln bOLh 20 12 and 2013. the Burkhart Center and

the Hcalthcare Center each receiwd a deficiency­

free survey by the Ohio Department of Health. a

status e1~oyed by fewer than eight percent of' 'iuch

facilities nationall~: Also in 20 13. First Communi!:)'

\'ill age rtcei' ed a Best of Columbus a"·ard for rest

and retirement homt'S.

a history of G lYING

PllllANTHROP'I: HAS PlAYED an essential role at

First Community \'illage from the very beginning.

~lany people have gin•n their time. talent and

resources to build and sustain the \'illage. The largest

single gift received was from long-time resident

Charlotte Damron Smith. "ho left SlA million w the Village in her estate. That gill and numerous

others have allowed the First Community\ 'ill age

fhundation to play an integral role in supporting

the highest qualit)' care and the em ironment that

is the Village's hallmark. Gifi.s to the Foundation's

Su~taining Fund have helped residents who run out

of resources through no fault of their own,

enabling them to continue living at the Village.

Phi.lanthrop) also has helped pay for the constntCtion

of the Chelsea and the renO\-ation of the Healthcare

Center. :\ ursing scholarships, campus beautification,

resident enrichment programming and professional

de\elopment for the '>tan· are ju~r a fe\\· other " ·ays

that gifts to the First Community \ 'illage Foundation

have been utilized to help enrich the lives of

everyone that the \ 'illa!1;<" ~erYes.

r · ~ · .. ' '" .. · ··we spend our fJist 20 years

learning to live, the next 4-0 year::; making a li\ing.

then the following years living." First Community

\ 'illage continues to li,·e up to it<; mission of making

those last years rich and fulfilling.

An artists rendering of the plan for the Chelsea

(above) closely resembles what Villagers see today.

F1rst Commumty Vrllage Archives

From 2011, a manor home is seen

under construction, and independent

living resrdents make quilts.

Frrst Community Village Archrves

' =en

Fir;r Catmmmity Vii/,Jg:<: ~0 Ye11r; vf hcdlmc.- 17

FIRST COMMUNITY VILLAGE

I

·~ National Ch.Jrch Residences FIRST COMMUNITYYIUAGE

1800 Riverside Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43.212

614.486.9511