HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 11-01 County digs in for a new home THE REVIEW County digs in for a new home
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By KATHY HOLMES Norgard added, "The new nursing 'lounges with the outside.
home is something the aged citizens in our Dunwell expects the new nursing home
Ground was broken and the footings county have waited a long time for." to be completed in two years.In February
begun Oct.26 on the new Ramsey County Kavaloski explained how energy savers of 1980,the residents will be moved into
Nursing Home,located behind the older have been incorporated into the new the new home.Then,the old building will
building on White Bear Avenue in home."Kitchen and laundry exhaust will be demolished.
Maplewood. be recycled back into the heating system. The ground-breaking ceremony for the
According to Jim Kavaloski, ad- That way,operating costs will be ata new nursing home will be held Nov.2 at 3
ministrative assistant to the county minimum." p.m.Many officials from Maplewood,St.
executive director,the water service will Kavaloski said that the architects Paul, the Nursing Home Assn. and
be started next week.After the foundation worked with the staff and administrator Ramsey County will be present.
is finished,employees from the Witcher at the existing home to plan the new Kavaloski talked about the history of
Construction Company will be working facility. the Ramsey County Nursing Home.The
through the winter on the new home.For Thomas Dunwell, architect from old facility,he said,was built in 1885 and
an,temporary hookups will be installed Buetow and Associates-Patch Erickson additions were built in 1915,1924 and 1927.
for water and power.Trailer houses will Madson associated architects,said that The Ramsey County Nursing Home was
also be moved to the site next week for the the new nursing home will be a two-story originally referred to as the county poor
construction workers. brick building.The three L-shaped wings farm which housed all ages until 1950
will share a central nursing station. when it became a nursing home.
A $4.2 million project, the 180-bed It was truly a farm. Residents grew
facility will replace the old Ramsey "We want to create a residential at- their own foodstuffs and ran a dairy
County Nursing Home."The new nursing mosphere instead of an institutional operation.Land used for this is now the
home was a major priority of mine when I feeling," Dunwell said, There will be Goodrich Golf Course,Aldrich Arena and
came on board four years ago," said three lounges to each wing of the home, Wakefield Park.
county commissioner Hal Norgard. besides recreational and craft areas,a Since 1950,the facility became known
He said that the building will conform to beauty shop,a large dining area for staff as the Ramsey County Nursing Home.
the requirements of the Minnesota and residents and laundry facilities. But the facility has gradually
Department of Public Welfare Rule 49 The porches will be retained,Dunwell deteriorated and recently has only gained
which will enable the county to pay for the said,and there will be easy access to the licensing through waivers.
new facility construction cost without outside.Walking paths will surround the The older building will probably stand
levying local taxpayers. building and courtyards will connect the until June of 1980.