Widows Home of Dayton Records

The current Widows Home is dedicated to the memory of Nancy Trotter Bates. Mrs. Bates became the head of the Dayton Female Association, incorporated in 1844, to provide for the comfort, maintenance and proper education of destitute children. From the contributions received from Dayton citizens, a lot on Magnolia Street (where Miami Valley Hospital now stands) was purchased and a little brick building was erected. It became known as the Dayton Female Orphans' Asylum on Charity Hill. Here orphans were cared for with the help of church and public donations until a legislative act in 1866 turned the care of orphans over to the county. A new orphans' home was built on Summit Street.

The little brick house stood empty for a while, but the Civil War left another destitute group - the widows of Civil war soldiers. With that in mind, Mrs. Bates turned her attention to this new need. To legally acquire the property for the endeavors, the women reorganized as the Women's Christian Association (forerunner of today's YWCA) in 1870. Mrs. Bates died a month before the reorganization, so her daughter, Susan Winters, was asked to become president of the group.

Sometime in 1872, a legislative enactment permitted the transfer of the property with its Endowment Fund of the Women's Christian Association. The property consisted of a small brick house in a dilapidated condition, with some acreage, and a wooden structure nearby.

In 1875, the need for assistance to destitute women became so great that the brick building was repaired, the broken windows replaced, and a pump fitted into the well. Also, a decision was made to tear down the wooden structure and to construct a fence from some of the lumber. As a result of this dedication, the new Widows Home opened its doors in 1875 with acknowledgment that any widow or destitute woman of good moral character over age sixty years who had resided in Dayton five years could become a permanent "inmate" (today's resident). Thirty-four women were sheltered in 1876 with some staying several years and some staying overnight.

The need became even more apparent for the construction of a new building as the little brick house was too small. As a result, two friends came forward with $1000 each for the construction of a new Home with the provision that the committee could secure ten $1000 contributions. Mrs. Winters generously gave $5000 while others added their thousands until the goal was reached.

During the year 1883, a new Victorian style, 3-story brick house with a full basement was built at the cost of $20,000 on the current 2 ½ acre site donated by a Dayton banker, William P. Huffman.

In 1951, some sixty-eight years later, it was decided by the committee of the Home for the safety of the women that two ground floor wings be added to the original building and that the two upper floors of the same building be abandoned for living purposes. The new quarters were constructed to house thirty-one women and to contain a modern infirmary. Borrowing from the Endowment Fund and private solicitation financed this.

The building was still in the minds of the committee; the need for better facilities to care for more women was urgent. It so happened that in 1957, an unexpected bequest from a very generous businessman, William F. Neff, enabled the committee to proceed with the construction of another dormitory and fully equipped infirmary wing, a new paneled dining room, modern kitchen and solarium.

Meanwhile, in 1961, the YWCA severed its ties with the Home. Therefore, the committee elected to become incorporated as the Widows Home of Dayton, which has since operated independently. The original brick Victorian house was razed in 1972 to make way for the last section of development. Its erection came as a result of a $750,000 bequest from a former board member, Thelma Dreese. It includes the administration offices, two apartments, a TV room, parlor, large multipurpose room, beauty parlor and a meditation room. It also included a large porch, the one thing the ladies wanted most. Before the Victorian house was demolished, an auction was held to get rid of all the articles of furniture that had accumulated through the years, the most beautiful antiques were retained and now furnish the parlor and other various locations throughout the Home.

Because of new federal regulations in 1976, the Ohio Department of Health licensed the Widows Home of Dayton as a Home-for-the Aging (a combination nursing and rest home beds). As a nonprofit, philanthropic health care facility, a Board of Trustees operates the Widows Home, which is comprised of volunteer members. Traditionally the Home accepted only widows and destitute women; and in more recent years, needy women sixty-five years or older. The current building is 50,933 square feet, has 50 beds and always has a waiting list. The Home has been accepting men since the year 2000.