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