History of Springwell Part V - The Rebirth

This is the final chapter of our Springwell history that we began a few months ago.  It's been fun sharing this story everyone. On with the story.....The Wesley Home was an active community with religious services held each morning at 7:45 in the Chapel. A full church service was held one day a week. The choir was give robes by various churches and sang at the services.

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In March of 1971 Edith Simmonds, grandmother of Frank Simmonds and author of the "Springwell History ", became a resident. She was a church-loving, can-do type of woman and it was not long after she arrived that she was in charge of the quilting room. She had found a new home. She received excellent care and she lived for 99 ½ years.

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In 1999, a trusted employee was given the position of Financial Assistant and about one year later was promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Unknown to anyone, he purchased cars, televisions, and other personal items. His theft was reported to the authorities and he was arrested. Other extenuating circumstances affected the vitality of the home and in 2007 there were only 30 residents remaining. The Wesley, after 140 years, was in decline and a buyer was sought.

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The home’s rebirth started in May of 2008, when Mr. John Chay purchased the home and began the process of rejuvenating its viability, spirit and magnificence. He renamed it “Springwell Senior Living” and repositioned it as a rental retirement community with no large entrance fees required. Phil Golden, a veteran senior living leader, joined Mr. Chay as a co-owner and Chief Operating officer in 2009. While faith remains an important part of daily life, today Springwell offers a wide variety of religious services. It is a vibrant, thriving home to 136 Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care residents from a wide range of backgrounds. It’s exciting future anticipates a beautiful, new 99-unit addition to the 15-acre campus, opening in 2016.

You can read the history from the beginning in our previous posts under the "Springwell History" category.  Special thanks again to Frank Simmonds for writing...and preserving our wonderful history.