THE GRAND ARMY HOME FOR VETERANS

(No date indicated)

By Marjorie Paneitz

 

            Just a few miles west of Waupaca, on Highway 22, is located one of the most unique veterans’ homes in the United States.  It is unique because it is probably the first veterans’ home which admitted mothers of veterans as well as wives and widows.

            It all began at the Department Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at Janesville, Wis., in 1884 where the plan for a state veterans’ home originated and a committee was appointed to put the plan in operation.

            At the Department Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic in Milwaukee in 1887, Dr. F.A. Marden, of Milwaukee, made the motion that a committee of five be appointed to consider the advisability of establishing a home for veterans (heretofore cared for in the almshouses of the state) and if possible, to also provide for the women.  The motion was carried thereby giving Dr. Marden the honor of being the first man to suggest the establishment of a Home for the needy wife or widow, as well as the soldier.  A later amendment opened the Home to veterans’ mothers.

            The committee of five men selected at the 1887 Encampment were Dr. F.A. Marden, A.O. Wright, B.F. Bryant, James Cumberledge and J.H. Marston.  These men promptly set in motion activities toward the end in view and on the 10^th day of March, 1887, the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home was duly incorporated.  It was to be maintained by State aid, gifts of money, solicited contributions and contributions from Grand Army of the Republic posts and corps of the Women’s Relief Corps.

            Many sites for the Home were offered and from then the committee selected the Greenwood Park Hotel, 3-1/2 miles from Waupaca, on the beautiful Chain o’ Lakes which was a gift from the patriotic and generous citizens of the city of Waupaca.  This realty consisted of 78 acres and the Greenwood Park Hotel with several surrounding small buildings.

            Possession of the property was secured on Oct. 1, 1887, and, because of the buildings already present, was opened immediately with a few members while repairs were still being carried on to completion.  By February, 1888, improvements at the Home were such that the membership capacity was then 50 members.

            By 1890 the Board of Trustees of the Wisconsin Veterans began to realize the Home family was getting beyond the possibility of being cared for by private contributions and they decided to ask the State Legislature for an appropriation to be used for the erection of new buildings, to provide sufficient fire protection and to secure cemetery grounds.  The State agreed to grant the request for an appropriation providing the Home would give the State a deed to the property.

            On May 28^th, 1890, the appropriation was granted and accepted by the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home and the property upon which the Home had been established was deeded to the State of Wisconsin subject to the condition that the premises and land would always be used for and devoted to the maintenance of a Home for dependent Union soldiers, sailors, and marines, their wives and widows.

            In 1923, the law was amended to permit admission of veterans of the Spanish American War, Philippine Insurrection and China Relief Expedition.  As the need has arisen with the passing of the years, the law has been amended to admit veterans of later wars.

            By 1924 the number of buildings had increased from the eight original buildings to 86 buildings.

            In 1929 the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home was placed under the control of the Adjutant General’s Department and the name changed to ‘Grand Army Home for Veterans”.  In 1941 the post office was changed from Wisconsin Veterans’ Home to “King”, Wis.

            In 1945 the Home was placed under the control and direction of the department of Veterans’ Affairs and still remains under this direction.

            A new central heating plant, started in 1951 and completed in 1952, was the first building in a ten-year proposed construction program, recommended by the Board of Veterans Affairs.

            The next building to be constructed will be a domiciliary-infirmary building, a much needed building as the present domiciliary-hospital building, built in 1929, only has a bed capacity of 95.

            Future plans provide for doubling the capacity of the Home from approximately 500 (present capacity) to 1000 members.

            The Home now consists of 172 acres of land, with 35 under cultivation, and 112 buildings.  The present membership is 281 men and 174 women and there are 222 classified employees.

            In the seventy years the Home has been in operation it has had only twelve commandants.  They are:  A.J. Langworthy, Columbus Caldwell, Charles J. Ellis, Joseph H. Woodnorth, Benjamin F. Bryant, John W. Ganes, Frederick S. Veeder, Jerome A. Watrous, John Turner, William A. Holden, Carl L. Brosius and G.H. Stordock.

            The present staff of the Home is Gilman H. Stordoc, commandant; Leo M. Jackson, business manager; Arlin C. Barden, assistant to business manager; Dr. James H. Murphy, chief surgeon; Waldo G. Hansen, chief operating engineer; Rev. Ralph R. Holliday, chaplain; L.M. Schroeder, fire chief; Milton Paulson, storekeeper; Loyal Baxter, labor foreman and Roy Porter, farm and garden supervisor.