History
1932
Frame of the building
Lutheran Home was established on what had been the 20 acre farm of Henry Kluever.
Lutheran Home was a refuge for residents who, during the depression, may have otherwise been without a home. The original frame house of Henry Kluever provided the initial housing for Lutheran Home.
1939
In 1932, Lutheran Home was a frame house serving 6 residents and, in 1939, the original three-story building was constructed. Additions completed in 1951 and 1958 allowed the Home to serve 90 residents. The original building of Lutheran Home offered only private rooms for residents because this reflected the Home's belief in providing a homelike and private environment for residents. This was a very progressive idea in 1939 as nursing homes did not routinely begin offering private rooms until the 1980s and 1990s.
1958
Lutheran Home became the first nursing home in northern Ohio to offer physical and occupational therapy.
1959
Through a grant from the Cleveland Foundation, Lutheran Home assessed the need for social workers in long-term care.
At the completion of the study, Lutheran Home hired its first social worker.
1961
The first independent living cottage building was built at Lutheran Home.
Within the next five years, a total of 12 independent living cottage units were constructed.
1964
Lutheran Home became one of the first nursing homes in the nation to employ a medical director and was among the first nursing homes in the Cleveland area to affiliate with a hospital, which rarely occurred prior to the establishment of Medicare.
1968
Luther House
The Lutheran Home opened the Luther House Independent Living Apartments in Mayfield Heights. The creation of Luther House and the adjacent Schnurmann House was an interfaith effort of Lutheran Home and the Jewish-based Schnurmann Foundation to provide affordable, quality senior living apartments. Luther House today serves over 170 residents, while Schnurmann House serves over 250 residents. The Luther House/Schnurmann House Service Center plans social and recreational activities, serves lunch Monday through Friday (with delivery to those unable to come to the center), and provides van transportation to appointments, shopping centers and social outings. Luther House and Schnurmann House were established by the generous donation of Miss Cornelia Schnurmann, the last member of her Jewish German family to survive the holocaust. She was thankful for the efforts of Lutherans and other Christians who helped her escape Nazi Germany. In gratitude, Miss Schnurmann donated the partial restitution of her family's one-time fortune to developing dignified housing for older adults of all faiths.
1980
After several years of planning, new construction began on the 152-bed expansion of Lutheran Home.
This expansion also included a new chapel, village square, main dining room and service areas.
At the time of the expansion, 300 individuals were on Lutheran Home's waiting list. The expansion was completed in 1983.
2002
Lutheran Home celebrated its 70th anniversary and service to more than 4000 individuals.
2008
Construction of Main Street and renovations of the 1980 building are completed.
2009
In January, the 40-bed Paragon wing and 43 assisted living units are opened. The facility’s original 1930 building is torn down.
Treasure Trove of History
A collection of photos from the Lutheran Home at Concord Reserve Westlake Porter Public Library has been added to the Westlake Porter Public Library Local History photo collection. The photos are of the Lutheran Home’s facilities, staff and residents, and go back as far as the 1940s. Many were used in Lutheran Home publications.
The addition came about when Lutheran Home staff discovered the photos when preparing to raze our1939 building. Thinking of the library’s Local History Collection, Vice President of Campus and Community Relations Cindy Rudolph approached Library Director Andrew Mangels and Local History Specialist Zac Springer. The duo jumped at the chance to digitize the collection, which can be found at http://history.westlakelibrary.org/.
Because of the age of the photos, identification of individuals in them is ongoing. If you recognize someone in the photos, please contact Zac Springer at 440-250-5460 or Zac.Springer@westlakelibrary.org.
Contact Lutheran Home at Concord Reserve today at 440-871-0090 or browse the website for more information Helpful Links, or Mission and Vision Statement.
The Paragon 2011
